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, Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:42:51
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Did our kitchen about 5 yrs ago, and did quite a bit of the work myself. Completely professionally done, it would have been over 100K, but we got in at about 55K. Sweat equity was probably the biggest savings. The electrical work was substantial - several circuits were run in the old soffits, so they had to be re-routed. I designed all new electrical circuits and installed everything myself that uses electricity, and I did my own plumbing, including in-line water filter. Appliances were purchased on-line (except for 'fridge) and installed myself.
Cabinets were a huge issue. We went to a high-end kitchen design store, and it was difficult from the outset. They wouldn't let us take the plans home, even though we had paid them up $400 already, and when the quote came, it didn't contain several of the things we said we wanted from the outset, and they were spec'd for ash, not cherry. It was a large kitchen, and the final cost of cabinets would have been $40K. We walked out of there, and that was the right decision, definitely. We then designed all our own cabinets, with drawings, a new plan, and went to an Amish cabinetmaker. Outstanding quality, beautiful finish, better than what the kitchen store offered, and the Amish are a joy to work with. All for less than half of what the kitchen store would have cost. If you go to an Amish cabinet maker, post back here again and I'll tell you more details that I found were essential. If there are Amish cabinetmakers in your area, that is.
So there is money to be saved, but at great personal effort. My wife and I had big arguments over the plans, but mostly because she'd let me finish all of the drawings, then say she wanted changes. A contractor would have charged her extra.
Alas, we sold that house, but the nice kitchen is what sold it, and we more than got our money back out of it. If you have it all done for you, you won't recoup your entire investment, however.
posted by 75.100.95...
, Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:42:51
, Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:57:47, Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:59:51, Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:19:36, Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:03:17, Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:12:03
, Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:36:15, Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:57:13, Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:19:11
, Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:33:48, Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:06:00
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