Ongoing: Kitchen Remodel Thread

[Bob Vila]

Well, the mother of remodeling projects is upon me. Our kitchen remodel. Since buying our house almost 6 years ago, we've said we've hated it. It was supposed to be one of the first projects we did, but time, money and all the other necessities in life took precedence (not to mention having our son, Grady).

With that said, I've been a busy bee planning this remodel out. We've secured our cabinetry and I'm buying the slab of granite tonight in prep for the next two months of pure fun.

Background:
Our house was built in 1942, and with it comes antiquated footprints. Each space is its own room. To counteract that with our remodel, we're completely opening up our space. Knocking down two walls, one between our kitchen and dining room (non-load bearing) and a wall between our kitchen and mudroom (load bearing). While the square footage doesn't increase, the access and openness increases immensely.

Planning:
Being a project manager as my profession, the ability to plan comes naturally. My wife laughs at my book of documents that have been created for this project already. I've started this project as I would at work, what's in scope, what's out, RFP's, estimates, etc. Its a sickness, but the grand hope is save us time and money.

Budget:
We're allocating $16,000 for this remodel, from soup to nuts. Most of the work will be done by myself with the exception of a few things:

• removing the load bearing wall and installing the LVL (insurance purposes)
• Removing and installing baseboard heat as well as kickspace heater
• Moving the 220 line for the stove

The rest of the work will be done by me and whoever else wants to stop in and lend a hand.

Purpose:
My purpose of this thread is to document my thoughts, details and progress with others in the hopes you could learn something along the way

Timeframe:
We're having a demo "party" on the 24th of March. The 10yd dumpster gets dropped off the day before and all the packing will be done by then. My goal is to be done with the kitchen by Memorial Day in time for us to use the outside party area haha

Misc:
This isn't our first kitchen remodel, I revamped our condo's kitchen about 7 years back, however, that one was the same footprint and basically just cabinets, floor, lighting and appliances. This remodel is going down to the studs and constructing back up.

Have any of you guys gone through this process? Feel free to share your thoughts!

 

[Bob Vila]

New Kitchen Layout Renderings

I'll upload current state pictures as well as some other plans that I have later tonight when I'm on my home network.

 

[neonmike]

One suggestion, don't let B help you. If he shows up with a drill and a 3/8 bit close the door and walk away lol.

 

[Bob Vila]

he's definitely staying away from dryer hoses and wiring. He can be the kid from Gone in 60 who orders Pizza. "People gotta eat, right?!"

 

[neonmike]

Hehe he is Freb. Looks good though, you goin with a dark counter top? stainless appliances I am assuming as well

 

[Bob Vila]

Countertop is going to be an earth tone granite. Definitely stainless appliances. We love the French door fridges, even tho they're massive lol

 

[neonmike]

nice lookin forward to the progress pics

 

[BigJ]

I'm at work so I can't see the renderings. Looking forward to it. I thoroughly enjoy kitchen remodels. By far my favorite. I've only done a few, but have been a part of well 40+ custom builds.

That's a pretty lean budget you have there. These are my big spender items that run up the kitchens often.


What are they charging you for the granite square foot?

What kind of flooring?

What level of appliances?

What kind of cabinets? Style/Finish/hardware? Auto close drawers?




Finally, something I really like, and seeing in a lot of very very high end home. Stainless or copper Back splash behind the stove if its against a wall. So awesome and useful.

 

[Bob Vila]

I used to be a cabinet maker, making and installing custom cabinetry and millwork, so trust me, I know how pricey these things get!

Square foot price of granite is $50 installed with an Ogee edge and D-shaped double bowl undermount sink.

Flooring is done by me, there's ceramic over existing red oak hardwood floors. I'm hoping there aren't two many screw holes with the backer board but that's the one area of my budget/plan that concerns me. If they can't be saved then we're looking at an increase of about $1600 for Cherry hardwood floors to be laid down. If they're in good condition I'll be sanding them down, staining and 5 coats of finish for a nice protective sheen.

Midlevel appliances, such as Profile or Cafe line from GE. We really haven't spent too much time on specific models yet, just the basics and ball-park estimates

Cabinets are all ply construction with painted/glazed Maple doors. All auto close drawers and doors. Includes pullout spice rack by the stove, pullout garbage cabinet, sliding cutlery divider, furniture ends, etc.

One thing I didn't mention is that we might only be in our house for a min of 2 years and a max of 5 or 6. We only have two REAL bedrooms, the third is my office on the main floor and I refuse to give it up in case we have another kid. Our house style is a cape so floorplans etc are tough to redo. We've got just about 1900 square feet of living space.

 

[BigJ]

Some serious instant equity right there. Especially if you are coming in around $16k.


$50 is a decent price. Cheaper than out here.

 

[Bob Vila]

Well the slab would normally be ~75-80 a foot but the place is having a current special on the edge. Plus a little negotiation gets me to $50/sq. ft

And yes, I really hope we'll get our money plus at the time of sale but we'll see. Regardless, we'll get to enjoy a pretty pimp kitchen when its all done.

 

[Briansol]

If I ever do a kitchen remodel, double ovens are a must. Once the turkey is in, there's not much room for anything else. Have you considered this? You do a ton of entertaining. It might be worth it.

 

[BigJ]

If I ever do a kitchen remodel, double ovens are a must. Once the turkey is in, there's not much room for anything else. Have you considered this? You do a ton of entertaining. It might be worth it.

I agree. They now make the double oven in standard range. Not the same, as it holds you to certain sizes, but its pretty awesome.

 

[corvetteguy78]

We are having granite installed by Lowes in a couple weeks... $36/sq foot installed with under mount sink installed for about $1650. That includes removing and hauling of our old countertop. They also have two colors for $29/sq ft but the kitchen has to be L shaped, ours is not. There is also a place called T N B Granite in Hartford that has a nice selection for under $50/sq installed

 

[Bob Vila]

If I ever do a kitchen remodel, double ovens are a must. Once the turkey is in, there's not much room for anything else. Have you considered this? You do a ton of entertaining. It might be worth it.

I tried configuring that but it just made the whole layout too convoluted. We may look into the double range but I prefer a slide in quite honestly.

P.S. Fried Turkey > all

 

[Bob Vila]

We are having granite installed by Lowes in a couple weeks... $36/sq foot installed with under mount sink installed for about $1650. That includes removing and hauling of our old countertop. They also have two colors for $29/sq ft but the kitchen has to be L shaped, ours is not. There is also a place called T N B Granite in Hartford that has a nice selection for under $50/sq installed

Congrats - what kinds of edge did you get? I take it you went with a Kraftmaid countertop? The price is right with those but what I didn't like is that you can't pick out your slab and you're left with a range of colors provided (e.g. you might want a tan stone but woiuild have to settle for the higher color range which is more pink hues).

 

[corvetteguy78]

Congrats - what kinds of edge did you get? I take it you went with a Kraftmaid countertop? The price is right with those but what I didn't like is that you can't pick out your slab and you're left with a range of colors provided (e.g. you might want a tan stone but woiuild have to settle for the higher color range which is more pink hues).

think we are doing 1/4 inch bevel....the granite it's not something i would have chose for my house but this is purely for resale purposes. Just wanted to do some good upgrades...just had the place painted with Sherwin Williams Duration, put in Dream Home Nirvana Plus Brazilion Cherry 10mm, doing the granite countertops with black splash and will sand and strip the bathroom vanity and repaint it with new hardware and put in marble floors.

there are about 15 units for sale in her unit and we need to have the nicest one. We got $3900 from a water dmg claim from the guy above us and we found a guy who did the work for $2500 which left us with $1400 to reinvest into upgrades so it's not costing much OOP to upgrade the condo.

Not to hi-jack your thread...and not that you knew what the condo looked liked before but here are a couple pictures

 

[BigJ]

Looks nice. Love the color.




Is the granite the true thick 1-1/8th stuff or the 5/8 or 3/4s? Because that is stupid cheap.

 

[Briansol]

Have you called the city about asbestos? built in the 40s, it may be everywhere. I don't want to get mesothelioma on demo day

 

[corvetteguy78]

Looks nice. Love the color.




Is the granite the true thick 1-1/8th stuff or the 5/8 or 3/4s? Because that is stupid cheap.

Nope it's regular thickness just like Sensa or any other brand granite....it's a brand new product so the price is low. It's called Kraftmaid and has a lifetime warranty. I doubt the price will stay like this.