Refresh - Renovate - Remodel?

Refreshing a kitchen or bathroom is akin to giving it a quick and simple facelift. This type of project is ideal for homeowners on a tight budget or those who want to make subtle changes without undergoing a major overhaul. You may also have quality components in the space such as cabinetry and tile that you are happy with and you like the overall layout of the space. Examples of a kitchen or bathroom refresh include:

Painting: A fresh coat of paint can instantly transform the look of a space. A color scheme change can breathe new life into your kitchen or bathroom quickly. For an even more dramatic look consider choosing a stylish wallpaper with a bold color or pattern.

Upgrading Fixtures: Swapping out old faucets, cabinet handles, and light fixtures for more modern options can significantly enhance the overall aesthetic and function. Changing from dated finishes like chrome or brass to a more modern black or champagne bronze can do a lot to improve the look of your space even without replacing your cabinets or countertops.

Replacing Accessories: New towels, rugs, window coverings, and other accessories such as towel bars, mirrors and art can bring a renewed sense of style to bathrooms and kitchens.

You should expect to spend around $6,000-$20,000 refreshing a typical 10×12 foot kitchen.

In addition to the items included in a refresh, a renovating also involves more extensive changes in comparison, and falls into the more moderate budget level. It focuses on improving the basic functionality and aesthetics of a space, often involving replacing surfaces including countertops and flooring. Examples of kitchen and bathroom renovations include:

Cabinet Refacing: Instead of replacing the entire cabinet box, you can opt for refacing. The cabinet doors and hardware are replaced and updated, giving a fresh look without the cost of entirely new cabinetry. This can also involve painting the rest of the cabinet housing to match or counterbalance the new door and drawer faces. Installing new cabinetry can be very costly with packages for a typical kitchen running $20,000 to $30,000. If your cabinet boxes are in good condition replacing the door and drawer faces can save you thousands of dollars.

Cabinet upgrades: If your space has basic cabinetry you can improve organization and functionality by adding pull out cabinet organizers and inserts. These products improve organization, making it easier to store and retrieve your daily-used items as well as store the lesser used appliances and kitchenware. Some options include slide out pantry shelving, cutlery blocks, flatware dividers, spice racks, and small appliance and cookware storage systems. You can also upgrade the door hinges and drawer slides to soft close.

Installing New Countertops: Upgrading countertops with materials like granite or quartz can enhance both the visual appeal and durability of kitchens and bathrooms. This can make a huge impact especially if your countertops are laminate or tile and are showing their age with stains or chips. Although new countertops can be pricey, there are also many options for quality manufactured composite and natural stone materials that will help you stay in-budget while providing a stylish look and feel while improving durability.

Updating Flooring: Renovating a kitchen or bathroom can also involve replacing old, worn-out flooring with newer materials. There are literally hundreds of quality options for kitchen and bath flooring such as LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) or LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank), engineered wood, and tile. Although flooring can be a costly upgrade, you will be able to appreciate its durability and ease of cleaning for many years. New flooring is an excellent way to significantly enhance the look, feel and function of your kitchen or bathroom space.

You should expect to spend around $20,000 to $40,000 renovating a typical 10×12 foot kitchen.

Remodeling is the most extensive type of project, involving a complete overhaul of the space to meet specific design preferences or functional needs. Examples of kitchen and bathroom remodeling include:

Layout Changes: Remodeling projects often include reconfiguring the layout to optimize space, improve flow, and enhance functionality. This could involve moving plumbing and electrical, removing walls and adding windows or doors to an outside deck or patio. Layout changes are the most involved types of projects and require a lot of planning with a certified builder. You may want to work with a designer or architect to really elevate and maximize the design and your project may require structural engineering if walls need to be moved or ceiling structures need to change due to the addition of doorways and windows.

Cabinetry, flooring and space Upgrades: Complete replacement of cabinetry, such as installing a state-of-the-art kitchen island or adding a luxurious spa-style walk-in shower. These types of upgrades may not require an engineer, but they definitely require knowledge of current building codes and an understanding of spatial integration and flow.

Expanding Space with an Addition: Some homeowners choose to remodel by expanding the size of the kitchen or bathroom to create a more spacious and comfortable environment. This will involve engineering, building & energy code knowledge, permitting, and design.

You should expect to spend $60,000 to $200,000 to remodel a typical 10×12 Kitchen. If your remodel involves moving the location of the kitchen or building an addition with the new kitchen, you costs may be considerably higher.