That is a really tough question with no definitive answer. How much you spend depends so much on what part of the country you are in and what you are having done. There is a big difference between re-doing your counter tops and adding a backsplash vs. tearing down load-bearing walls and adding onto a home. In the first case, you can easily do a kitchen update for less than 10% but if you are doing anything major with structural changes, you are going to be over the 10% mark. I think for anything major, there is a baseline of what that costs, regardless of the value of the house so as a house's value increases, perhaps you are more likely to be able to do a renovation for 10-15%. For example if your house is worth $750k, sure, maybe you can do some major renovations for $75k and be at the 10% mark. Whereas, if your house is worth $150k, and you do something major, it is still going to cost a minimum of $30k, which would be 20% in the case of the less expensive house.

All that to say, we spent a lot on our kitchen remodel, probably 25-30% of its value. It was however a major renovation/addition - adding approximately 14 x 16 feet of space on two levels, and a screen porch too. That being said, we don't think we will ever "get our money out of it" and we knew this going into it. But we didn't do it for resale - we did it for ourselves and intend to enjoy it for many years to come.

you do have a big kitchen - still, do check some local cabinet makers for custom cabs. Many here have found the local maker to be cheaper than L or HD.

I do think someone here recently had some beautiful cabs made by a local maker in NJ. Maybe they'll post here (they did post recently about it).

are there any Amish woodworkers in your area? Many of them make beautiful cabinets - at a lot less than the stores charge. I think they are better made - and custom too.