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Allocating Costs for Your New Kitchen
Determing Where the Money Goes
If you have not read the article What Will a New Kitchen Cost?, we encourage you do so now. The following article explains how to determine your budget using the 5-15 Rule for both new construction and remodeling.
Once you have determined your budget , deciding where and how it should be spent can be confusing, especially with all of the options that are available.
A recent national survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association offers a guideline for allocating your construction budget.
They found that on average, consumers working with a kitchen designer spent:
4% on Design Fees
17% on Installation
|
29% on Cabinetry & Hardware
14% on Appliances & Ventilation
10% on Countertops
4% on Faucets/sinks/plumbing
|
|
7% on Flooring
5% on Lighting/electrical
5% on Wall & Ceilings
4% on Doors & Windows
1% on Other
|
How much you actually spend on what, will depend on your priorities and willingness to compromise.
If you really want a $3000 range and the cost is more than the allocation for appliances, you may be able to adjust your spending in the other areas, and still have the type of kitchen you want.
The table below illustrates the cost allocation for the 3 budget levels for a $300,000 house, based on the NKBA figures.
Typical Kitchen Project - Allocation Table* - $300,000 House
* based on NKBA average figures above |
|---|
% of Home
Value |
Project
Budget |
Category |
% of
Budget |
Allocated
Cost |
| 5% |
$15,000 |
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 4,350
2,100
1,500
600
1,050
750
750
600
150
$ 11,850
600
2,550
|
| 8% |
$24,000 |
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 6,960
3,360
2,400
960
1,680
1,200
1,200
960
240
$ 18,960
960
4,080
|
| 15% |
$45,000 |
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 13,050
6,300
4,500
1,800
3,150
2,250
2,250
1,800
450
$ 35,550
1,800
7,650
|
Your Money's Worth
Manufacturers typically offer several levels of quality within each budget range.
This actually makes easier to spend more on the items that mean the most to you, a little less on other things, and still have the type of kitchen you really want.
Below is a summary of what can be expected within each budget level for our sample $300,000 house. This summary is by no means complete and is intended only to provide a quick comparison of features.
| Kitchen Budget vs. Available Options |
|---|
|
Budget Amount
$5,000 - $20,000 |
Budget Amount
$20,000 - $45.000 |
Budget Amount
$45,000 + |
| Cabinets |
Stock
|
Semi-Custom |
Custom |
| Countertops |
Laminate |
Wood, tile, or solid surface |
Stainless steel, stone, or solid surface
|
| Appliances |
Freestanding with standard features |
Built-in w/ Standard Features
or Freestanding with paneled fronts
|
Built-in with professional-style features |
Faucets/Fixtures/
Plumbing |
Stainless steel, self-rimming single- or double-bowl sink, food disposal |
Multiple undermount, enameled cast iron or stainless steel sinks, food disposer |
Multiple solid surface, integral sinks and pot-filler faucet by the range, food disposal, hot water dispenser,
|
| Lighting/Electrical |
central overhead fixture, fixture over sink |
overhead fixture, fixture over sink, or recessed lighting |
recessed lighting, task lighting over work centers
|
| Flooring |
Vinyl or Laminate
|
Ceramic Tile |
Stone or Hardwood |
| Walls, Moldings, Architectural Details |
Painted or vinyl walls and ceilings with simple or no trim and moldings |
Some detail work in moldings and trim |
Extensive moldings and trim, hand-carved accents, glass tops, chrome finishes
|
80/20 Rule
All projects have a way of growing beyond initial budgets, no matter what the amount. Plan on spending only 80 percent of what you can afford. Put the additional 20 percent in reserve to cover changes, unforeseen problems, and miscellaneous charges.
The High-End Custom Kitchen
In addition to being larger, the budget for the high-end custom kitchen is usually allocated to more than one room (butler's pantry, catering kitchen, scullery, larder, etc.), increasing the number of cabinets required, as well as duplicate appliances used in designated work areas (cooking, baking, food prep, etc)0.
| High-End Custom Kitchen Features |
|---|
| Cabinets |
|
Custom |
| Countertops |
|
Multiple work surfaces suited to task
Stainless Steel, Stone (marble, granite, etc.), Wood |
| Appliances |
|
Professional Equipment (built-in or freestanding)
Duplicate equipment such as Dishwashers
Warming ovens, Refrigeration drawers, Wine Chillers, |
| Faucets/Fixtures/Plumbing |
|
Multiple sinks & faucets
Pot Filler by the cooktop/range
|
| Lighting/Electrical |
|
Overhead Lighting recessed or track
Task Lighting at all work centers
Interior cabinet lighting
|
| Flooring |
|
Stone, Ceramic Tile, Hardwood |
Doors, Windows, Walls,
Moldings & Architectural Details |
|
Detailed Crown Molding
Detailed Trim Molding
Hand Carved Accents
|
However, the same percentages used to allocate expenses for the typical kitchen project can also be used as a guideline for the high-end custom kitchen.
The table below uses the 20% maximum budget for the sample $500,000, $750,000, and $1,000,000 homes.
| High-End Kitchen Project - 20% maximum - Allocation Table |
|---|
Project
Budget |
Category |
% of
Budget |
Allocated
Cost |
$100,000
20% of
$500K
Home
|
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 29,000
14,000
10,000
4,000
7,000
5,000
5,000
1,000
4,000
$ 79,000
4,000
17,000
|
Project
Budget |
Category |
% of
Budget |
Allocated
Cost |
$150,000
20% of
$750K
Home
|
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 43,500
21,000
15,000
6,000
10,500
7,500
7,500
6,000
1,500
$ 118,500
6,000
25,500
|
Project
Budget |
Category |
% of
Budget |
Allocated
Cost |
$200,000
20% of
$1M
Home
|
Cabinetry & Hardware
Appliances & Ventilation
Countertops
Faucets/Fixtures
Flooring
Lighting & Electrical
Doors & Windows
Walls & Celings
Other
Total Materials
Design Fees 1
Installation 2
|
29%
14%
10%
4%
7%
5%
5%
4%
1%
4%
17%
|
$ 58,000
28,000
20,000
8,000
14,000
10,000
10,000
8,000
2,000
$ 158,000
8,000
34,000
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