I’ve never been too shy about talking about how much I spent for things, so as promised, I figured I’d do a breakdown post of the kitchen costs. Would you like to hear that? I know most people love hearing how much things cost (I do!). I want to see if things are affordable or how much something costs in other parts of the country. I’ve heard so many stories about people spending $30 to $50K on a kitchen renovation and I know a high-end house would be so much more than my humble fixer-upper, but my kitchen came in really well-priced, so I’m sharing the details. I’ll list them all at the end. Ya’ll like details, right?! Me too! So, let’s take another look at the kitchen BEFORE and you can really appreciate the breakdown of costs on the new one. I should have taken more of those, but only took a few at the beginning before we tore it all out.
Take note of the door we took out that went to the living room. NO regrets on taking that out either. This is where my big bank of base cabinets sit now and my pretty rustic shelves.
This one definitely needed plenty of work and I’m happy that we replaced everything. No regrets about that!
Now, again for the AFTERS!! We’ve had some really dreary weather lately, but I opened up the blinds and took some more shots with no lights so you can see even more detail. This is not a huge kitchen at 7’ wide by 13 1/2’ long, but it’s very functional and the layout has proven to be super efficient. In other words, I love my kitchen! Paint color is Fennel by Pratt & Lambert, but I had it mixed at Sherwin Williams, they have the formula too. Kitchen bamboo blinds are from Payless Decor (I’m an ambassador for them) and are Java Vintage, lined with privacy shades. I love them!
The island fits nicely in front of the windows and is handy for taking things in and out of the fridge. Chevron runner is from Ballard Designs and it’s an indoor outdoor, perfect for a kitchen.
Fridge side with built in cabinet around the refrigerator. So glad I opted to pay a little more and get that done too.
The over the fridge cabinet has plenty of room for storing things I don’t use all that often, but are still easy to get to.
Sink base and dishwasher side. I’ve got plenty of room in the glassfront cabinets for my glasses on the right and my every day dishes on the left. I’ve had questions as to why I didn’t take the cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Simple answer is that Ikea cabinets are not made to go all the way to the ceiling. They recommend placing them at least 4 to 5 inches below the ceiling line. Now, it can be done and regular crown molding can be added to make them all built in, but that adds more cost to the project. When I hired my installer I didn’t ask him to do that or figure in the cost, but he said it would add more cost and time to the job. I just decided to do it with the small crown running around the top and for this kitchen, I’m totally fine with it. Cutting crown molding right can be a tedious job, with walls and ceilings that are not level (as I’m sure is the case in this older house). If I wanted, I could probably go back and add that later, but really I’m very happy with the way it looks.
It really is a nice kitchen to cook in. I bought a pull-out caddy garbage can at Lowes and love that. I’ve had these for years and can’t live without one now.
Sink and window. Love my Ballard Designs green glass pendant over the sink.
Almost forgot the little spice cabinet. It was ordered online and my installer fit a small door front onto it and I added a knob. It was the perfect 6″ filler for this space and I’m really glad I got it.
Sink is a Blanco Silgranit Super Single in Metallic Gray. I ordered it from Blanco to Go.
I love this deep single bowl sink. It can handle the biggest platter, pan or pot. My faucet is Moen Annabelle in oil rubbed bronze and it was given to me by Moen.
The right side with the bank of lower cabinets. One of the things I had my installer do was build in this little 12” open cabinet at the end of my base cabinets. Otherwise, that would have just been wasted space. I opted to take the cabinet all the way to the window sill edge and I think it looks fine. It certainly doesn’t block light from coming in these 2 huge windows and my blind tucks in behind it just fine. Having a dedicated space just for platters and cutting boards is great! These big pieces take up so much space otherwise. I think I’m going to take a cue from others I’ve seen who have Ikea pieces and fill in those little holes with caulk. That would make them disappear even more.
This side of the kitchen has plenty of countertop space for prepping and cooking.
Those rustic shelves from Southern Accents (Cullman, AL) are another fave of mine. So glad I saved them for this project and they just make my kitchen. Those lower cabinet drawers are something else. That feature is definitely one of my favorite things about an Ikea kitchen. The drawers glide like buttah! And the soft close? Get out. Love that feature too.
OK, here’s a good look at those big drawers. There are two in each cabinet and they pull all the way out. I have all my pots and pans in this one.
And the one above holds all my glass bakeware and measuring cups.
To the left, more plastic storage pieces, colanders, baking pieces.
And my plastic and glass storage piece drawer. I have room for it all.
My shelves are fun to change up, but for now I like them simple with a few pretty pieces on top. These shelves are 4′ wide and 12″ deep. Since I got the question about the spacing on the shelves, I’ll answer this: My ceilings are 8′ tall. The top shelf is 17″ from the ceiling and the bottom shelf is 17″ below that. The bottom shelf is 23″ from the countertop and the brackets are spaced 3′ apart (shelves on top are 4′). This was all done by eyeballing the shelves as they were put up by my BIL, Bruce and I’m very happy with how they are placed on the wall. Here’s the post showing him putting them up. The iron brackets are also from Southern Accents and they were screwed in with long screws into studs, so they are very secure.
I added one of my vintage paintings to the back of this shelf and love the extra texture and color.
The big pantry sits right inside the door and I’m so glad I had room for it too.
These 5 pull out shelves hold so many things.
I haven’t even filled up all my cabinets yet. The lazy Susan on the bottom corner cabinet hardly has anything in there. Nice to have room to spare!
The top has a few bottles of oil and vinegar handy but it’s nowhere near full either.
The over the microwave cabinet is extra deep and can hold some out of the way pieces that I don’t need all the time.
And, the cabinet to the left of the microwave holds all my pretty green bunny dishes for now. To go cups up top. That’s a complete tour of this Ikea kitchen and I really couldn’t be happier with it. I would recommend an Ikea kitchen to anyone looking to have a pretty kitchen on a budget. It has all the bells and whistles I need.
Ikea Kitchen Breakdown:
Ikea Adel cabinets cost, including hardware (with their 20% sale price) 14 upper and lower cabinets, plus pantry: $4,133
Spice Cabinet pullout from here: $75
Labor to Install cabinets: $1,075 (included installing microwave, extra open cabinet for platters/cookie sheets, bridge over sink, building out the cabinet over the fridge). My installer was Victor Marti, at 678-983-5550, here in Atlanta area. I would highly recommend him.
Ikea Microwave: $200
Maytag Range: $657
Refrigerator: $810 (bought with a $750 giftcard from Lowes) Big blessing!
Dishwasher: Installed by the bank when I bought the house.
Sink: Blanco Silgranit Super Single in Metallic Gray. I ordered it from Blanco to Go, but they seem to be out of business now. But, if you’re looking at Blanco sinks, check the internet for pricing as it changes all the time. Here’s a link to Amazon with pricing. I paid $359.
Pendant Light: $56 (from Ballard Designs outlet)
Kashmir White Granite: $1,300 (Purchased from Legacy Granite in Alpharetta, GA: when I bought it was $32/s.f.) Faucet: Moen Annabelle oil rubbed bronze (given to me by Moen) Another big blessing!
Subway Tile: $125 including tile and grout (Bondera tilemat was sent to me for free). Tile is from Floor and Decor, Interceramic, in Bone. You can see all the tile and grout info on this post, Subway Tile and Backsplash.
Total Cost of Kitchen: $8,790
Not including flooring in this price, since the whole house was done with the same flooring. This is just kitchen cabinets, fixtures and appliances. The cost of the rustic shelves was $125 from Southern Accents, but I had already bought those 2 years ago, so I’m not going to add them to the kitchen cost, even though I used them in there.
That’s really not bad at all for a full kitchen of this size, don’t you think? I know most average small kitchens can’t be done for less than $10K, so I feel really good about what I spent on this one and very thankful for the help I got from sponsors too. I’m so grateful that I had the cash to pay for it as we went along, what a blessing that was. Just thought you’d like to know how much a kitchen like this costs. It’s more than I thought I’d pay originally, but overall very decent for a pretty kitchen that I’m totally happy with. Hiring the installation added some cost to the kitchen, but I’m SO happy I did that too. I can’t imagine how tedious and hard it would have been for me and my dad to try to tackle that alone. Sometimes you just have to know when to hire the professionals! I’d love to hear your experience with kitchen remodels. Have you remodeled a kitchen? How did costs compare with mine?
Beth says
rhoda, thanks for sharing the breakdown. You did such a great job of balancing exactly what you wanted with the cost of the cabinets, appliances and details ! I just love your kitchen. I do have a few questions about your open shelving. I’m looking to add two open shelves to my kitchen too. They will also be 4′ long and 12″ wide. How far apart are your shelves? And how far from the countertop is your bottom shelf? I am not sure at what height they should be placed between the countertop and ceiling. I have 8 foot ceilings. Lastly, where did you find the black iron brackets? Do you have them anchored in some way we can’t see – OR – do the iron brackets safely take care of the load? Thanks a million. 🙂
Rhoda says
Hey, Beth, I just updated the post to tell more about the shelves and brackets, with spacing dimensions and the post where they were installed. Yes, they are anchored in studs! Shelves and brackets came from Southern Accents in Cullman, AL also linked in the post. HOpe that helps!
Beth says
Thanks so much! That’s exactly what I needed to know. 🙂
MJ says
That little table with drawers, did you put that together and paint it?Thanks for the tour! MJ
Rhoda says
Not sure if you are talking about the island? It doesn’t have drawers.
Dawn says
Hi Rhoda,
What type of material are IKEA cabinets made of? We are in the works of redoing our kitchen and I am collecting information to make the best decision I can on our limited budget. BTW- You did a wonderful job on your kitchen. You gotta a good eye for working within your budget. I hope our kitchen turns out as well as yours.
Rhoda says
Hi Dawn, I think Ikea cabinets are considered MDF, but definitely check out their website for more specifics, it will tell you all of that.
Diane says
Rhoda, The things you can do on a budget always amaze me but this one absolutely takes the cake! I have had estimates to have my kitchen redone and the quotes are triple this amount not including appliances! I think your labor cost is astounding! And the result is absolutely gorgeous! I would much rather have a beautiful kitchen on a budget than have a huge kitchen with all the bells and whistles that does not have the style and class yours does. Congratulations Rhoda on a job well done!
Rhoda says
Thank you, Diane! That really makes me feel good, I am really happy with how my kitchen came out all the way around.
Craig says
Love it, great job! Been pondering the Ikea kitchens because I do find that Ikea tends to be very functional in their plans.
The labor was a no-brainer at a $1000. In SoCal whenever we look at something it seems like whatever the cost is that I come up with for “the stuff” the labor will be just as much.
Jeanie says
I would love to have your kitchen. The price sounds reasonable to me. When I had new countertops installed in my kitchen a few years ago, I made the mistake of not specifying a one-piece sink instead of two-sided. I don’t like that at all. I can’t soak large cookware or a large pan.
Terry says
Really pretty outcome. I just used Bondera and tiled our back splash…love that stuff. I posting our new look in our dining room from red to gray today and will be posting our kitchen changes later in the week.
Suzie says
Thanks for being so open & sharing with us! GREAT JOB on the complete remodel!
Joanne B. says
Just goes to show you anyone can have a beautiful kitchen if you spend the big bucks, but it takes talent and determination to do it on a budget and have it look just as nice! The knowing you LOVE it and did it on a budget is priceless! Many blessings to you in your new home! Please share the paint color – the green in your kitchen! So fresh! Love it!
Rhoda says
HI, Joanne, just added the paint color in the post, Pratt and Lambert Fennel.
Liz @ Quirky Vistas says
Stunning and fresh! What fun to have a new kitchen! Congratulations on a beautiful design.
Liz
Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse says
Beautiful job girlfriend! Looks like you spent way more on it too. I watch those shows on HGTV too where people spend 20,000 on a kitchen, knowing full well I will never be able to do that – thanks for giving us an example of a beautiful and very functional kitchen for less 😉
Rhoda says
Thanks, Sharyl for coming by!!
Anita says
What a fantastic job you did on your kitchen! I really love it all. My son and his wife just bought an older home in Marietta and I will pass this along to them for inspiration. We’re going next week for a visit to see their new home. I know they’d love to redo their kitchen as well. Oh, one question. What is the skinny cabinet to the left of the refrigerator? Does it open?
Rhoda says
Oops, I forgot to include that one, it’s a spice rack. It was about $75 and I’ll go back and add the link.
Anita says
That is so cool! What a great idea to fill in that space 🙂
Lisa @ Before Meets AFter says
Thanks for sharing Rhoda! I will definitely keep passing along the info to my mom and her kitchen renovation! It was great to see you Saturday!
kristin says
The kitchen is just gorgeous!!! Love the Ikea cabinets expecialy those drawers that pull out. You did such an amazing job on a budget, got to love that!
Linda Coleman says
Thnks for sharing this info. Gives me hope for our kitchen. Yours turned out beautifully!
Hannah says
Rhoda, you have every right to be proud of your kitchen! It’s lovely, but most importantly, it represents ‘home’ to you. There is just something primal about have a place that you can feel secure and safe in. Your pride and gratitude is evident in your blog and we rejoice with you!
Lindy says
Don’t forget the dishwasher… or did not own it already?
Rhoda says
Lindy, the dishwasher was installed by the bank when I bought it, so I didn’t have to buy that.
shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Rhoda…your kitchen looks amazing!!…Your hard work and research certainly paid off…You are an inspiration to those who want to remodel their kitchens to look like a million bucks for less than $10,000…Can’t wait to see it Rhoda!!
Jennifer Longenecker says
Wow, it all looks so lovely!
Kathy says
Amazing before and afters..love it all!! Great job!
lucy says
Rhoda! Thanks for sharing the breakdown! This is such a gorgeous kitchen. You know I love those shelves. I feel like that’s our friendship’s beginning! So glad you finally got to use them. I never doubted how gorgeous they would be when you finished! Have a great week!
Sandy says
Rhoda, We just finished a full kitchen remodel too and your blog was my inspiration every step of the way. We purchased used cabinets from a new house that had to be demolished and accomplished a full remodel on a fixed income. The total kitchen gut and redo ran about $4,000. Now I have white cabinets with black hardware, subway tile back splashes and laminate flooring and I can’t be happier! Hubby says this is the last remodeling ever! Can I borrow your sweet dad? I have a few more ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!
Rhoda says
Sandy, that is SO incredible, what a price! That’s great that you were able to find salvaged cabinets, that could really save a ton.
Jackie says
Would you mind posting the installers name and number? Thank you!
Rhoda says
Hi, Jackie, here’s the post about installation with the installer’s name and number listed towards the bottom of the post. Thanks!
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/weeks-16-17-why-i-chose-ikea-kitchen-cabinets/