There are rare cases where money is no object, but most of the time clients are working within some sort of budget. Designing a Chicago kitchen remodel on a budget is sort of like a game - adding this and subtracting that - to keep within the boundaries.

If you are trying to design a kitchen on a budget, there are things you can do to make it more or less expensive, and not all of them have to do with the price of your selections.

Factors That Make a Chicago Kitchen Remodel More Expensive

Here are examples of things that quickly increase the cost of your remodel:

Choosing the wrong design/build team. One of the most important decisions you'll make is regarding Who will be doing the work for you. If you choose the wrong company, you can end up with shoddy craftsmanship or a disorganized construction schedule that results in costly change orders and delays. There is nothing worse than spending thousands of dollars on a remodel, only to tear out parts of it and hire someone else to fix the mess. Choose your design/build team wisely from the very beginning.

Changing the plan midstream. Speaking of change orders, if you start changing your mind midstream, or adding/subtracting features or materials in the middle of the project, it can tack on thousands of dollars that weren't in the original estimate. At best, changes require extra labor hours; at worst, you are also dealing with re-stocking fees and rush order prices from vendors and subcontractors. Make sure all your ducks are in a row when the project begins to keep the final project price in the same ballpark as the estimate.

Construction surprises. Have you ever watched any HGTV home improvement shows (of course you have...). You know those episodes where the clients planned to tear out a wall, only to find out there was an unexpected structural element that had to be dealt with? Or what about when we rip out cabinets or a portion of a wall, only to find there is major structural rot or mold damage? Construction surprises like these are not predictable, but they can increase the price of the remodel, especially if things need to be repaired or rebuilt before we can move on.

Custom cabinetry. If you have your heart set on custom cabinetry but your budget is limited, we may steer you towards semi-custom options. These are every bit as attractive and can be accessorized with plenty of desirable "bells and whistles." The pricing difference between custom and semi-custom cabinetry is significant, but in a well-designed kitchen, the visual difference will be negligible.

Countertop choices. Your countertops are going to be another big investment and prices can vary considerably. Granite used to be the "King of Countertops," but the emphasis on sustainability is making options like Quartz and recycled glass more popular, even those they can be more expensive.

Contact Kitchens & Baths Unlimited to complete a Chicago kitchen remodel that respects your budget.\