A kitchen remodel is a beautiful thing, especially if you’ve been cooking in a cramped, outdated, or just plain awful galley for longer than you care to recall. HDR Remodeling’s Design + Build team relishes the opportunity of taking an unlovable space and transforming it into the heartbeat of your East Bay home. 

It’s a lovely vision, to be sure, so now, let’s talk about kitchen renovation costs in the coastal East Bay. 

The average cost of a kitchen remodel in the Bay Area is between $120-185k+. At HDR Remodeling, the average kitchen remodel in 2020 cost $160k. If you’re going for an upscale and elaborate renovation that may include custom cabinets, built-in sliding shelves and other interior accessories, or commercial-grade appliances, prepare your budget accordingly. 

To soften the sticker shock, take the long view. This investment in your home adds significant value—especially if you’re adding square footage. As with any major home remodel, it’s important to understand how to allocate your budget. In this article, we used a recently completed Berkeley kitchen remodel as a template to help you understand how construction costs for high-end kitchen remodels are factored.

Slicing the Kitchen Remodel Construction Cost Pie

Over the past 30 years, we’ve developed a streamlined and cost-effective approach to home remodeling projects. The HDR Process begins with a complimentary, in-home consultation within our service area of Berkeley, Alameda, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Oakland, Piedmont and the surrounding East Bay Area. We evaluate the space, get a sense of your vision, and create a kitchen design to determine the scope of the renovation.

Next, we develop a detailed plan—including timelines, deliverables, and costs, based on kitchen size, materials, labor, and room finishes, to name a few. Finally, we assist you in developing a realistic kitchen remodeling budget for each construction phase.

Kitchen Demolition Budget

Demolishing a kitchen looks like fun when you see it on the home improvement shows, and you'll likely experience a bittersweet mix of nostalgia and schadenfreude watching that old kitchen go away, one sledgehammer swing at a time. 

But, never fear that made-for-TV-mayhem. HDR Remodeling always ensures your home is treated with care and respect throughout the entire process, with all debris and waste disposed of properly. 

Kitchen Mechanicals, Electrical, & Plumbing Budget

Many older East Bay homes have never undergone a kitchen remodel, while others are on their second and third iteration. We won’t know what to expect until the curtain is pulled back. But, for the region’s numerous aging homes. It’s sometimes necessary to replace and upgrade all the mechanical elements, including plumbing, electric, and gas systems. Changes to the kitchen layout including moving the existing layout of major appliances, sinks, and functional islands typically require rerouting plumbing and electrical and will add to your remodeling costs. 

HDR Remodeling suggests allocating up to 20% of your kitchen remodeling budget to plumbing and fixtures. Remodels that stick to the existing footprint can typically range on the lower end of 10% while remodels that involve expanding the kitchen or changing the layout should allocate a higher percentage of the overall budget. The mechanicals are completed before framing and exterior and interior wall construction can begin. 

Custom bathroom remodels will most likely involve changes to the room’s original footprint and. Bathroom layout changes usually require removal and replacement of existing plumbing and electrical systems, requiring more budget allocation towards this phase. HDR Remodeling suggests allocating 20–35% of your bathroom remodeling budget to plumbing and fixtures. Bathroom remodels sticking to the original footprint range on the lower end of the budget, however, for bathroom remodels involving relocation of bathtubs, showers, toilets, or sinks, expect to budget on the higher range. 

Framing Budget for Kitchen Remodels

If you can see past the forest of 2x4s and snaking conduit, framing is the construction phase that provides the “bones” of the room, and the first visual clues of what your new kitchen will look like. Framing includes building out interior and exterior walls. We’ll often allocate up to 20% of your budget towards framing, however for this project we were able to keep the framing budget close to the minimum, allowing us to shift funds to high-end finishes.

Custom Kitchen Cabinet and Carpentry Budget

From deceptively simple Shaker or classic raised panel, contemporary slab front, to traditional Mullion designs, your custom cabinetry sets the tone (and personality) of your kitchen remodel. Custom cabinetry makes up the biggest portion of kitchen remodeling budgets. Plan on reserving up to 35% of your construction budget for this fine finish work.

Finally, Kitchen Finishes Budget 

The cabinets are in, and your once ugly kitchen duckling is well into its metamorphosis. This is when the artisans and specialists come in to “ice the cake” as it were. Tile and flooring is completed, counters and backsplashes are installed, and the painters literally apply the final touches, all in a well-coordinated dance. We use these guidelines to determine how much of your budget goes towards these craftspeople and specialists.

Project Management

All this choreography doesn’t happen on its own. HDR Remodeling is renowned for our exceptional customer service, award-winning kitchen remodeling projects, and countless remodels delivered on-time and on-budget. 

When you work with us, you’ll be working with a dedicated Project Manager who acts as a liaison between you and the HDR Remodeling Build team, trade professionals, vendors, and suppliers, who’s responsible for your project for its duration. 

Many homeowners think this is where they can save money by doing it themselves, but a contractor will help you save time and money as we frequently work with vendors who offer special discounts on labor and materials for our clients. It might be the best money you’ve ever spent.

If you’re ready to to unleash your inner chef de cuisine in a cooking-show worthy kitchen, we’d be delighted to help you become the East Bay’s next big culinary sensation, at least among your friends and family. 

Call HDR Remodeling or send us a message to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation and let’s get cooking!

CONTACT US BELOW OR CALL US AT 510.845.6100 TO START YOUR KITCHEN REMODEL.