How to Build a Kitchen (and Why)
Home
Media
- RSS
Start Here
About
Random
MMM Recommends
Forum
MMM Classics
Mr. Money Mustache
View:
- Fancy Magazine
- Classic Blog
Feb 26, 2023
139 comments
Why am I so obsessed with building kitchens? And why should you care?
The concept of home is deeply ingrained in my life—a place to nurture families, welcome friends, and build lives. The kitchen, for me, is the heart of that home, a space where meals are prepared, homework gets done, and memories are made.
There’s also a financial side: housing is often the biggest expense. Supply and demand have caused prices to skyrocket in recent years, leaving many of us with few options but to fix up existing spaces or compromise on less desirable properties. This creates a shortage of skilled tradespeople, as many homes feature flimsy fixtures and outdated designs.
Quoting for kitchen renovations can range from $25,000 to over $75,000—and that’s just for the "prestigious" but not overly challenging work! This translates to labor rates of $100 to $300 per hour. However, upgrading a kitchen in a high-value market can create even more than $25-$75k in additional property value, benefiting you when reselling or increasing rental income.
The good news? A kitchen is essentially a fancy version of a bathroom, so the skills transfer easily. Imagine the power of creating kitchens and bathrooms where once there were none!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the main steps of rebuilding a kitchen, focusing on what matters most: functionality, cost, and difficulty. We won’t cover every detail, but understanding the big picture will empower you to make informed decisions, whether hiring professionals or taking on the project yourself.
Your options are:
- Hire someone: Learn what to look for (and how to spot red flags) when employing a kitchen builder.
- DIY parts: Strategically break off tasks to save time and money while still hiring out the rest.
- Go full DIY: Seek guidance from friends or YouTube videos to tackle the entire project yourself.