This is the money shot! New (reclaimed) cabinets, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops the classic ceramic farmhouse sink, oh ya, and the dishwasher. I didn't extend the cabinets to the ceiling but they are taller than the old ones and I added storage in other places so I didn't feel the need to spend the extra money. With that being said, let's talk about money for a minute. I did my research and got lucky, believe it or not, everything you see here and on the next 5 posts cost me around $8k and to top it off, this kitchen only had 6 days of downtime. Yes, $7,000, here is a quick explanation. I did it myself and I sent my wife and kids to their grandparent's house for 6 days. As for the material, I bought the backsplash on sale for $2.00/sq ft, the floor tile at a builder's warehouse, the sink at Ikea, the appliances at a scratch and dent store, and got lucky with the cabinets which most of them I got free from reclaiming them out of another kitchen. After pulling the cabinets out of another kitchen, which saved me about $6k, I needed a couple more for the pantry, under the sink, and to the right of the stove. These, plus a few more that I hung in my garage, I got off Craigslist for $500. I then went to a cabinet maker and had them match the style of the other doors and painted them all white. This project in all was a big commitment and took longer than 6 days to complete but it was well worth it and everything turned out better than expected.
The biggest question with remodels is your ROI and if you are going to stay in your home awhile, how much is it worth for your enjoyment?
Here is my breakdown:
- DIY remodel - $7,000
- plus cabinets - $6,000
- Total DIY estimate - $13,000
- Time invested - hard to say (a lot)
- Professional estimate - $50,000
- ROI DIY - $22,000
- ROI Professional - ($15,000)
