Budgeting Your Project: Tip 2
This is part of an ongoing series that addresses one of everyone’s most common questions: How much will it cost? In today’s blog, I am going to guide you into the tricky question of budgeting for a new build, remodel or addition. There are NO simple, easy answers here, so I hope these ideas will help.
My first suggestion, addressed in my previous blog, was to have a detailed, comprehensive plan drawn by an architect or designer.
Today’s tip: Create a detailed budgeting spreadsheet for your kitchen design or home renovation project, and if that’s not your strength, start learning. Can’t you just have a contractor or interior designer tell you how much it will cost? Yes, but I’ve seen bids from contractors and quotes from architects vary by hundreds of thousands of dollars for the same remodeling project. Doing your research with guidance from an architect, kitchen designer, or remodeling contractor will help you build a budget tailored to your unique needs, style, and long-term goals.
For every product and labor quote, create a column for each estimate or item. If you receive three contractor quotes for labor, include three columns. The same goes for your interior design products: if you’re comparing four types of hardwood flooring, list each option in its own column to make pricing comparisons easier. Then begin adding rows—one for flooring, another for labor, a third for kitchen appliances, windows, and other remodeling materials. At the bottom, you’ll be developing—yes—your project budget and bottom line.
Your rows can start as broad as contractor estimates or be broken down into specific construction and kitchen renovation products, including windows, doors, and flooring. A door can cost a few hundred dollars or many thousands of dollars, and flooring can range from engineered wood to imported antique hardwood. These design and material choices make a significant difference in your overall renovation cost and final budget.
The point of all this is that you need to do your homework—the more design research and renovation planning you do, the more accurate your kitchen remodeling spreadsheet and budget become. Yes, you can get ballpark estimates from contractors, architects, or interior designers. That’s a great start. But especially for higher-end design options, you’ll want to document those variations and get real pricing, not just rough estimates.
The best advice I can offer is to avoid making random decisions. When I’m designing a kitchen, I walk clients through our cabinet lines and explain why pricing varies. I also review the different options for countertops and kitchen appliances. These choices can shift your remodeling budget by tens of thousands of dollars. Start researching before you order and add your options to your kitchen renovation spreadsheet. That way, you can decide where to save and where to splurge—feeling confident you’ve made informed, design-forward choices that fit your goals and budget. Add rows for every item you can think of. At Fresh Design, we use project management and budget spreadsheets that mirror real kitchen projects. For example, our kitchen planning sheets include sinks (one, two, or three), faucets (filtered water, instant hot, pot fillers, and prep faucets), along with countertops, backsplashes, lighting, flooring, furniture, appliances, hardware, and more.
Lastly, speak with recommended, experienced interior designers and remodeling contractors. I can review a room or floor plan, ask targeted questions, and provide a reliable kitchen renovation estimate right from our first meeting. The more experience a professional has, the more accurate their design and remodeling cost estimate will be.
Sometimes when I share an estimate during an initial kitchen design consultation, a prospective client’s response is a clear “nope”—and that’s okay. I’d rather confirm early that a home renovation project isn’t the right fit. For most homeowners who choose to move forward, I always provide a budget tracking spreadsheet so you can confidently monitor your kitchen remodeling costs as the project progresses.
