Budgeting for a Basic Kitchen
The Basic Kitchen
There are places where creating a basic kitchen that is functional and attractive without spending a lot of money is the best approach. Even if you have a limited budget you can, through careful design choices, have a kitchen that works without breaking the bank. The challenge in designing a basic kitchen is to make the most cost effective use of your space, your money and the time involved in putting it together. This does not have to mean buying substandard cabinetry or cheap surfacing materials; it may mean working with less storage space, simple finishes and basic, functional appliances. Fortunately the range of kitchen cabinetry and materials available for basic kitchens has exploded in recent years. Computerized cabinet factories and engineered wood products combined with European design innovation have made it possible to get a quality, well designed kitchen on a basic budget.
So what is a basic kitchen? Before focusing on money issues we should look at where you might find these function-oriented spaces. Starter homes, apartments, condos designed for working singles or retirees and vacation homes are all places where it makes sense to limit your budget on a kitchen renovation. What these places have in common is use by fewer people at one time, less traffic and smaller spaces to work with.
If your space is large or you have heavy traffic in and around your kitchen and you’re working with a limited budget, you’ll take a different approach than a single professional installing a small kitchen in their apartment. You’ll be looking for more storage space, durable materials and a design that will lend itself to expansion and improvement later on. That single professional may go for a high level of design, saving money on smaller appliances and less square feet of storage and surfaces. Both can still fit within the limitations of a basic kitchen.
All kitchens have the same basic functions. More money means better quality, more of everything, more design work, highly crafted detailing and a general freedom of choice that is limited in a basic kitchen. However, they still share the basics. These include:
• Efficient use of storage areas
• Space for preparation of food
• A cooking surface and oven
• Cold storage
• Easy access to the rest of the house and an entryway
• A place to clean up and a source of water
• A traffic pattern that is functional
The Basic Kitchen Budget
Creating a budget for a basic kitchen is an exercise in efficient use of resources. You have to look at what you have and work within the confines of your budget and your existing space. You will be limited in the amount of structural or architectural change you can make, the price of appliances and the nature of the surfacing materials you use. Often you will forgo an expensive option but put the necessary connections in during the construction process so that you can upgrade in the future. For example, central air conditioning may too expensive at the start of a project, yet you should make sure any ductwork you install can handle a future upgrade. Adding a structurally integrated element like ductwork after a renovation is expensive and difficult.
Your basic budget must address the following areas. Those who are planning more expensive kitchens will also address these areas and more so don’t skip this section.
• Design and Planning- If you don’t have a lot of money to pay designers for your whole project, consider at least having the basic layout done by a trained kitchen planner. Good design is a money saver because the designer can anticipate problems before you’re paying for them.
• Current Kitchen Space- The space you have to work with will either limit or liberate you when budgeting for your kitchen. You save considerable money by sticking with the basic existing architecture and avoiding major demolition and movement of structural elements. However, if your space suffers from typical problems like too many doorways, physical obstructions like chimneys and stairways and outdated systems, a major tear-out may mean savings in the future. When you do plan significant structural changes you should plan on upgrading electrical, plumbing and HVAC services while the walls are open. No matter what, don’t make structural changes without building permits and qualified contractors who know how to make these changes safely. The structural integrity of your entire house can be compromised by poor construction practices.
• Existing Cabinetry and Appliances- Re-using some of what you have now can save money. Often, some existing cabinetry, pantries and other storage can be reused and restored with new doors and drawer fronts or carefully applied new finishes. We’ve seen many kitchens upgraded successfully with a combination of old and new work topped off by new counter surfacing and paint or refinished wood. Appliances, if in good working order, can be reused.
• Floors, Walls and Ceilings- The surfaces of your new kitchen can eat up a lot of money or very little, depending on the choices you make. Paint is cheaper than wall covering, vinyl is cheaper than wood flooring and a flat drywall ceiling costs less than a beamed or wood covered ceiling. These inexpensive surfacing decisions do not mean compromising on quality. There are high quality synthetic floor tiles made for restaurant use that are extremely durable and attractive while carrying a very low price tag. A good paint job costs no more than a poor one; it just means taking time and/or hiring a skilled pro to do it. Avoiding complex drywall and plasterwork also saves money.
• Systems- Systems are what we call everything designed to deliver functionality to your kitchen and remove waste. Because the major components of all systems are buried in the structure of the building, it is vital to plan for and install the finest quality you can afford. This is a place to go overboard even in a basic kitchen. More electrical outlets, circuits and lighting, efficient ductwork and ventilation systems, heat and cooling where you want it and waste removal systems that are over built will all contribute to the quality of your kitchen without straining your budget, provided you deal with them now rather than later.
• Cabinetry- Kitchen cabinets vary in price from inexpensive boxes and doors made of pressed wood to freestanding, ‘unfitted’ pieces built like fine furniture and carrying similar price tags. The really low budget cabinets will not hold up to wear and tear and their finishes will start looking bad very soon after installation. For a little more money you can get a quality box and door that are solid, well finished and functional. Add in stylish hardware and you’ll get a great look for a small price. Even more important, choose your cabinetry based on how you’ll use it rather than quantity and you’ll be able to buy better quality without sacrificing functionality.
• Appliances- Lower priced kitchen appliances are much higher quality than in the past because of breakthroughs in design, laws designed to improve safety, environmental concerns and bigger markets. Buy good quality replaceable appliances like stoves and refrigerators and better quality built-in appliances like sinks and dishwashers. Today high quality appliances are made to the same dimensions as their less expensive counterparts meaning you can always upgrade to that convection oven you want without remodeling your kitchen. Sinks get a lot of wear and tear and are not always as easy to replace so buying quality now will pay off later.
• Lighting- Good lighting is often the difference between a great basic kitchen and a poor one. The days of your entire kitchen being lit by one overhead fixture are past yet we still see new kitchens built with this poor lighting. When you remodel and tear out a kitchen you have a great opportunity to install a range of task, general and ambient lighting without incurring big fixture bills. Recessed, track, under cabinet and other lighting is not expensive and can make an incredible difference in the environmental ambiance of your new kitchen. Adding this lighting later is expensive because retro-wiring switches and fixtures is complex. Even if you can’t get that Italian designed lighting you want now, wire for it and use inexpensive fixtures in the meantime.
• Windows and Doors- The location of existing windows and doors can have a major impacts on the budget of your new kitchen. Moving these openings or adding new ones is expensive, yet the increases in usable space, improved traffic flow and enhanced natural light and air flow can make it worth it. Make these decisions before you begin construction. One of the more common cost increases we run into is the result of moving windows and doors after construction has progressed. When you change these architectural elements, everything else must be changed and that costs money. Don’t design by building and rebuilding, design by visualizing and working on paper before you build.
• Traffic Flow- The way you and your family move through, in and around your kitchen will affect the cost of that kitchen. Simple traffic patterns end up costing less than patterns that work around islands and peninsulas, numerous workspaces and/or various connected rooms and outdoor areas. A galley kitchen with one entrance may cost less to construct because you have less cabinetry, less surface area to be decorated and straight lines rather than complex angles requiring custom fitting and craftsmanship. Islands and peninsulas, while they often add interest and function, also add considerable expense, especially when they include sinks or other appliances requiring utility and waste lines. Numerous entrances also add to costs because everything must work around them. For instance, each time you end a run of cabinets next to a door you add additional exposed surface and finished counter edging to the price.
Keeping traffic patterns simple does not mean sacrificing function or comfort. If you have a logical spot for an island, use a work table or other moveable work surface until you can afford a permanent island. Many European kitchens have functioned well for hundreds of years with furniture work pieces rather than built-ins and you can always make changes without expensive remodeling.
Future Upgrades
Planning to add or upgrade various features is a great way to keep overall costs down without limiting your possibilities. While we all tend to want everything now, there is a definite planning benefit to holding off on certain items like expensive appliances, unusual cabinetry or complex wall surfacing. By planning these things for a future upgrade you can get a feel for how your basic design is working and make changes as use demands them rather than impulse. Plan your upgrade path enough to ensure that all hidden and built-in connections exist for future use. For instance, if you have your eye on a high power commercial gas cook top, make sure gas pressure and lines fit the requirements of your dream appliance and take care to plan adequate ventilation to handle the heat and smoke generated by big burners. Even if the stove is few years away in your budget, you must install these systems now to save.
