I recently read an article that I thought did a pretty good job of hitting on some of the hard truths regarding your money as related to kitchen remodels. The main topic addresses whether it's a smart move to reuse parts & pieces of your, or someone else's old kitchen in your new kitchen. The good news is that it can be done - The bad news is that a few dollars saved on the front end can cost you hundreds or even thousands on the back end. Here's a link to the article: "How To Save Money On Your Remodel The Smart Way"
Not surprisingly, I have a few comments on this…
As a kitchen designer there are a few things I want you to achieve when we work together: 1. I want you to remodel your kitchen. 2. I want you to love it and tell your friends about it. 3. I want you to spend your money wisely. It's the last one that I think the article addressed well and the one I want to focus on here.
We KNOW that you want your kitchen renovated affordably and quickly. You, me and everyone else. Money and time are real things for us and our clients. I can't relate to people who have the "money is no object mentality" - I don't know what to do with that. So given that there are ways to save money intelligently, there are also ways to save money that are comparable to shooting yourself in the foot.
Reusing elements of your current kitchen can help with the budget but it can also become a real regret. Some appliances can and should make the transition to your new space. If they're newer and are standard sizes there's a good chance we can reuse them. Older appliances or odd sizes (24″ wide oven, for example) should be left in the past. If you are getting hand-me-down appliances from a family member or friend you should ensure that those units are in full working condition and have been removed correctly. No one wants to be responsible for an oven where the main power line has been cut during removal, for example.
Sometimes appliances and plumbing fixtures just don't like being moved from their current home. It may have been working perfectly for years but can present an issue once removed and reinstalled. Probably the most common with dishwashers.
I agree with the article regarding reuse of a tile back-splash - Don't do it, it's going to break, it's not worth it, NO. Next.
Reusing counter-tops. Ugh. Ya know, it can happen, it's just not something we want you to get your hopes set on. First of all, the kitchen layout must remain EXACTLY the same - If the tops require any alteration due to size differences or layout change it's not worth it. The removal is another critical aspect here - The tops will most likely break at the sink or cook-top cutout. Not advisable.
We don't want you to spend too much, we don't want you to spend too little. Stay conscious of your home value, your subdivision, etc., so you don't over build or invest. On the other hand, if a kitchen remodel is going to financially hurt you, DON'T DO IT - Wait until you're ready to do it right and spend your money wisely.