Our Kitchen Renovation Costs, Material Codes, and Tips on What to Avoid

When we renovated our kitchen four years ago, we wanted it to be practical, stylish, and durable enough to handle daily cooking. Looking back, there are some decisions we’re glad we made and others we’d approach differently in the future.

To help you plan your own renovation, we’re sharing the costs of our kitchen renovation, the specific materials we used, and tips on what to avoid if you want a kitchen that’s easy to clean and maintain.

Whether you’re designing your dream kitchen or updating an old one, these insights will help you make choices you won’t regret!

Total Kitchen Renovation Costs

Renovating a kitchen can vary widely in cost depending on the materials, design, and size. For context, our kitchen renovation costs were in the range of $17 - 20k, which covered the following:

• Hacking: $3,000

• Cabinetry & countertop: $8,000

• Backsplash & Flooring: $3,000 (excluding cost of tiles)

• Electrical & Plumbing installation: $3,000

Some more details about our kitchen/home:

• 5i resale, built 2014

• We hacked the entire kitchen from the previous homeowner

*Do note that our memory is murky by now and these are prices from 2020, when we confirmed renovation works with our contractor. Prices today are going to be different.

Tile and Laminate Material Codes

Choosing the right materials is one of the most important aspects of a kitchen renovation. I know that the decision fatigue is real, but if you truly prioritise a kitchen that is easy to maintain, stick to smooth & matte surfaces. For flooring, it can be slightly textured - get the experts at the tiles showroom to help with this!

Here are the specific materials we used:

• Backsplash Tiles: [3DB Charisma Grey Mt Rect / Hafary]
  Why we chose it: A large slab design to reduce grout lines and make cleaning easier, while offering a seamless look that mimicked natural stone.

• Flooring Tiles: [Co.Tune Ivory Soft / Hafary]
  Why we chose it: We showed the staff at Hafary some of our inspo photos for the kitchen and she graciously brought us similar samples with different textures/slip ratings for us to choose. I’d highly recommend not to get super smooth tiles for the floor because it might feel greasy all the time. Ours is not super smooth and I feel it helps with reducing the feeling of grease.

• Top Cabinet Laminate: [ESP 6270T / EDL]
  Why we chose it: Smooth and matte finishes that hide fingerprints and is effortless to wipe down.

• Bottom Cabinet Laminate: [DWK 3163AT / EDL]
  Why we chose it: Same as the above and we’re glad we found one that is wood-like to fit the aesthetic we were going for.

*Do note that we are not 100% certain that we got the codes from Hafary right! We did not save the tile samples but they are highly similar:)

Tips on What to Avoid

When choosing tiles and laminates, it’s just as important to know what to avoid. Here are our top tips:

• Avoid Textured Surfaces in High-Traffic Areas: While textured finishes can add character, they tend to trap grease and food bits, making cleaning much harder. Your cleaning cloth will not be able to glide smoothly and cleaning will be frustrating! Smooth surfaces are a safer bet for areas like cabinetry and backsplashes.

• Beware of Overly Light-Coloured Grout: White or light grout may look clean and fresh initially but can easily stain or darken over time, especially in a busy kitchen. Opt for larger tile slabs or darker, stain-resistant grout for less maintenance.

• Don’t Overlook Functionality for Aesthetics: While certain materials may look beautiful, they may not hold up to daily use. Always consider how durable and easy the material is to clean and maintain before making a final decision.

• High Gloss Finishes: These can show smudges, fingerprints, and grease marks more visibly, even after careful cleaning. Matte finishes are more forgiving and easier to maintain.

Conclusion

Your kitchen should be a space that works for you, and should be as easy to maintain as possible! It’s super enjoyable once you make the right reno choices and you get to enjoy your home & food with friends & family without worrying about cleaning up after.

With the right materials and thoughtful planning, you can create a kitchen that’s both functional and stylish. We hope this breakdown of our renovation costs, material choices, and tips helps you make smarter decisions for your own space.

If you have any questions or need recommendations, feel free to drop us a DM on Instagram or TikTok🥰