Over at Design Kula, fellow designer, Corey Klassen, AKBD, BFA, wrote a great article this morning about “Budgeting Basics: Confessions of a Bitchy Kitchen Designer.” It’s what I call the “fed-up” post -- he’s frustrated at the lack of preparedness, the misleading information of television design shows, and how many homeowners are coming to see him without any advanced preparation.
While designers on the web this morning were nodding and offering their own tales, what you might find especially helpful is that he gives a few examples of what a kitchen really costs.

A $ 22,000.00 kitchen (Designer: Corey Klassen via Design Kula)

A $ 60,000.00 kitchen (Designer: Corey Klassen via Design Kula)
While he labels himself as “uncaring” or “bitchy”, I’ve met Corey. I suspect he cares way more than he’s letting on – and even though he says, “y’all are wearing me out”, his post also attempts to educate while letting off some steam.
Designers are in the business of making people happy, and, believe me, there is no happiness in telling an excited homeowner that the kitchen they carefully and painstakingly saved $15,000.00 for will barely cover the appliances they chose. (Sure, you can get appliances for under that, easily, but not the higher-end, integrated appliances.) We hate wasting your time and ours.
“A kitchen renovation is the same price as a brand new car – just some of you have a Rolls Royce and others have a Kia.”
Like me, I also suspect Corey likes Kias just fine. It’s the misconception that what we’re seeing on television is normal. Repeat after me: Design shows have NO basis in reality.
They’re not only still failing to point out they’re almost all supplied with free materials and, in some cases, free labor, to get their shows done. And, from what I see, the big manufacturers have almost taken over with product placement for most of them. So what you’re seeing is the Rolls Royce (or in some cases, a cheap kit car) for the same price as a Kia in payment for advertising.
Can you do the same kitchen for less? Sure. Depends on the product, the house, and the amount of time, research, legwork, and bargain-hunting you’re willing to do. For every specialty feature – the ceiling treatments, the electronics for the television, the design elements for backsplashes – we're adding not only extra cost over and beyond “standard” products, but also the hours and hours of design time to create them in the first place.
If you want to get a sense of true cost when you’re doing it yourself, price all the materials and labor AND keep track of your hours as well. Put a value on them. That might help you see where your savings is. Sometimes, the budget is what it is. But knowing you spent 692 hours between researching products and design can be an eye-opener.
You’ll use your kitchen more than you’ll ever use your car (unless you're a car buff who doesn't cook, in which case, you're on the wrong website). I know my readers are pretty savvy on the pricing front, but for the new readers to this blog, research, research, research.
You can click on the photos to go to Corey’s site or you can click here: Budgeting Basics: Confessions of a Bitchy Kitchen Designer.