We are very handy and did the majority DIY. We cheated with my mom's cabinet guy who came in for a few days which was $250 a day (plus we paid him a little extra given he stayed later some days than planned). We spent about $18,000 or so on ours which is about 9x11.

I would not cheat on the countertops. Cheap countertops will make the project look bad. I'd reduce the dishwasher to $500 (they break quickly anyway). I also don't get the plaster/wall work - we're doing our entire house removing wall paper and refinishing and it is very easy. Cut that out and DIY when half will be under cabinets and tile anyway. Also, you can DIY a wood floor if you can redo a bathroom.

I'd also go with nicer cabinets - that and the countertops were our splurg items.

We did a gut-kitchen-reno for our 13'x20' kitchen/dining area for $32K, so it seems to be you could do yours for $2K less than that. Ours did NOT include a new fridge or DW, though - we decided to hold off on those and use the extra $ for granite countertops. (There's a whole thread about splurge on this, skimp on that, you should find it. It would be a big help.)

DonnaR/CA

I am with the previous poster. Get a nice countertop even if you have to cut costs on the diswasher or the sink. We only spent about $500 on a new LG DW, and around $400+ for our nice new Kohler sink. And you can probably cut a little on the refrigerator too. I don't know what kind of counters you want, but the pre-formed granite slabs, if they are available in your area, can definitely cut your costs.

Red

Thanks for the input; it gives me hope. Good point about the plastering/painting behind cabs.

I hear what you're saying about skimping on cabinets and counters; but there's a huge jump from Ikea/low-end HD/Lowe's to semi-custom or full custom. I need to do some investigating, but what I'd like to do with the countertops is go with inexpensive wood that can be oiled/sealed, then in a few years replace with something a little more stylish.

Unfortunately the focus has to be on getting the reno done as soon as we have the money to do it. I'd rather not take out a HELOC or home-equity loan. (If I did, I'd be tempted to spend WAY more.)

I can't do too much myself, since I don't have a workshop anymore, and all my power tools are in storage at my parents' house...sniff, sniff...ah, city life.

Ikea cabinets are great and no need to go with another brand. They are much better than the low end Lowes/HD ones. I can see both sides to saving money using a cheap counter vs a more expensive counter. really it comes down to the budget and what your appliance needs are. The drywall is DIY friendly, IMO. You don't need any real tools other than a drywall saw and drill for it. A nice sink such as MoenStone (which can be dropped in or undermounted) is around $350 and a nice faucet around $200, so you might be able to cut back that a bit. Of course its always good to overestimate a bit in case you find any surprises. Will you be able to do the electrical or do you need to hire? That is one thing that can eat up a budget quick. If you download the Ikea Kitchen planner you will be able to do a lot of the design yourself and perhaps save some fees there.

We are lucky to have a basement, but when we were in an apartment, we just created a workshop corner in the living room or extra bedroom. With two kids you may not have the luxary, but it's a lot cheaper to be without a living room for a workshop than pay a contractor. We did the compromise - DIY and nicer materials. We're with you - no loans. We waited and paid cash and lived with a horrible kitchen for a year and a half. You are going to pay twice as much in NYC - go out of town some when shopping. We used Just Cabinets for our Kraftmaid as they are cheaper than the big box stores. I'd get a cheap range and nicer countertops and don't tile if you are putting off for nicer countertops later. We might put Ikea in the basement as they have plastic legs to keep the cabinets raised in case of a flood, but that's the only place I'd use them althought others here love them. I just can't imagine Ikea with a $30,000 budget. DIY and cut out labor. Not that hard - we did it. And just finished up our windows today.

Pasigal, I think you could easily pull this off. We did a complete reno of our 15'x10' kitchen including a GC to do it all, new plumbing & electrical, doors moved, new ceiling, all new appliances, IKEA cabs, granite slab and tile backsplash, floor french doors and misc. trims/lights etc. for under $30k. It's all about shopping around for the best deals and spending wisely. We got knobs, lights and appliances off ebay for a steal. I took forever to design the best IKEA layout I could. You would be surprised at the deals to be had if you look.

I agree that you shouldn't scrimp on the counters. They will be the focal point of your kitchen and you won't be able to feel really good about the reno unless you at least like your counters.

If you want links to some of my good deals just let me know!

Here is a link that might be useful:

pasigal: the NY Times ran an article in 2006 about gutting a Manhattan kitchen on a budget. They highlighted 4 or 5 lovely kitchens that were renovated for a relatively low amount (certainly by Manhattan standards)...maybe 15K - 25K and how the owners accomplished it. I remember all had IKEA cabs but varied as far as countertops, floors, and appliances. The article may be worth googling.

An idea for inexpensive wood countertops - used recycled hardwood flooring and seal it up nicely.

I'm another vote for Ikea cabinets. I have them and love them. I live in the suburbs, but I know they are popular in the city. Basic Builders is a very reputable IKEA certified contractor and they are accustomed to working within all the limitations of NYC buildings. You can get their number from the Paramus Ikea.

I haven't seen a bad review here on IKEA cabinets. Everything I've seen, seems positive. You also get "Extras" as standard. What about IKEA butcher block?
I'd cut back on appliances, especially the DW. You can always replace it in a few years. I currently have a Kenmore that I paid @$225.00 for. Been using it for 5 years, no problems. Do you have any appliance outlets near you (and access to a truck)? I got my current fridge at an outlet for 1/2 price because the side had a small dent. I had a tough time even finding the dent. You can't see it because it is against a wall.
Good Luck,
Jenn

Thanks again for your help and inspiring words. There's so much "kitchen porn" out there in the magazines that it sometimes feels like people on a budget don't know where to turn...

I'll definitely look up the NY Times article.

I'd love to do the electrical myself, but since the building's from 1915, I don't trust my limited skills. And we have plaster, not drywall, so it's honestly worth the money to pay a skilled laborer to do the work.

we are indeed planning to use Ikea butcher block.

However, no skimping on the range, on orders from my wife...

I can't help much w/the budget side, but to save on KD fees, post your floorplan with or w/o a design and let the GW people help you design your kitchen. There are quite a few people here who do a pretty good job. Also, with several people working on it you get different points of view and ideas...you'd be surprised what GWers come up with!

As a previous poster mentioned, I have also heard all good about Ikea and on this forum if someone has problems they let you know! We went w/semi-custom, but we saved and waited for 12 years for our kitchen. No loans for us either! Actually, saving didn't start until our 2 children were out of daycare & in school full time...daycare is expensive...as you know!! BTW...generally, aftercare (after school) is much more reasonable than full-day daycare.

I did it - I have IKEA cabs. I didn't DIY the cab install. The only thing we did ourselves was paint. I bought very generic appliances, and splurged on granite. So you CAN make that budget.

Paisgal,

Honestly, I'm thinking your cost estimates for NYC-based trades are rather low. While I started out with numbers similar to yours, and found people to work at those prices, so much of my remodel (which is not even a total gut, btw) has become a violin story of rip-outs and do-overs -- too the point that I frequently wonder if I will ever have a finished kitchen! If there's anything I have learned from all this, it is to be prepared for the countless opportunities that will arise to revise my expectations on cost, time, design and my keeping my nerves intact. :)

That said, you may very well pull this off by getting the right combo of contractors and subs working on your project right off the bat. Towards that end, I can't emphasize enough to you the importance of diligence in checking out your tradespeople thoroughly and NOT going with the lowest bidder, no matter how tempting that might be. But maybe I'm giving you a bunch of advice that you really don't need. After all, the fact that you've already completed a bathroom project within your budget says that you may already have the right team in place. Plus, the fact of your competence to DIY in a number of areas also says that you're way ahead of the game anyway. Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted!

Justnotmartha, I think you are way much more a Martha than you claim. LOL! That is one gorgeous kitchen! I have Ikea kitchen cabs as well, but still stuck in dreamland on my remodel, I cannot imagine my kitchen looking as good at that. And at under 30K? I'd love to know who your contractor was. (Care to share?) Congrats!

I have a prewar NYC apartment, and spend about $36,000 in 2004.

$16,000 was labor, including electrical (3 new circuits), moving a door, installing soffits, only a LITTLE bit of plaster work. Ripping out the floor down to the beams and leveling. Installing cabients & flooring.

All the rest was pretty economical in choice: sheet vinyl floor, not-too-expensive appliances (the biggest splurge: a $650 OTR convection/micro). $7,500 for cabinets; splurged on a Corian counter for $1,500. I'd hoped to be $30k or under, and did not succeed, quite. Not when I counted the extras like faucet and knobs (there was a big splurge: $450)

I don't think you need to go all the way down to the studs (w/ prewar, you may not even be ABLE to go that far down; the solid plaster walls make it difficult)

I spent much less than you on appliances.
And if money is tight, I believe that is the place to save, because they are easily swapped out (except for fridges, but they die every 11 years anyway)

DW: I spent $450; if money is tight, I'd go even cheaper here. They'll all fit in a 24" space. I spent $600 on a gas range, and got power burner, simmer burner, huge oven. I can't imagine getting a range w/ more BTUs, esp. not in an apartment w/ weird venting. You may not be able to vent outside, depending on your co-op's views, so don't get all excited about a powerful range until you know how that will work.

I have a $600 fridge, and I *wish* I had a $400 one.

I think your electrical and plumbing are a little high--but as I said, mine were part of the mix, so maybe I'm not as up-to-speed as you are. You can't move much around in an prewar apartment bldg--the sink can move about 3 feet away from the spot where the drain enters the wall, that's all.

Custom: Check out Piros Custom Furniture in Astoria--they bid $5,700 for my 11x7 kitchen, which I thought was pretty good; it would have included installation.

Ikea's another great choice; the kitchen I took out was Ikea, and we nearly went w/ them again. Not sure exactly why we didn't.

You're going to need a licensed GC, w/ adequate insurance, because your co-op board will require it. You can't do the electrical yourself, probably for the same reason, I'm betting.

But you can get awfully close.

Since you are hiring out the electrical I am bit concerned with the budget. I am in the midwest and its easy to blow through 10k on electrical and you are in NYC. I would focus your efforts on finding a good electrician at reasonable rates and to keep electrical in mind when designing the kitchen. Also not sure about NYC, but where I am at when remodeling one room many times you are required to bring it up to code which would be more than 2k easily. Just something to check into.

If you don't mind used appliances you can look on ebay or craigslist. I got my slightly used dishdrawers (2) for $580, a slightly used Amana stainless steel cooktop for $150, brand new Frigidaire convection wall oven and microwave (with warranty) for $1600, a brand new Italian island hood for $600, brand new swanstone sink granite composite for $300 (including shipping). I purchased my cabinets on eBay for $4500. I'm currently searching for a new Fridge only because mine is white, I'm seriously considering just refacing it with a stainless material and replacing it when it dies.

My whole re-model should cost no more that $15k including the glass backsplash (my only indulgence). Our's is about 15 x 9 and was a complete demo. My DH is doign all the work. He's a GC, electrian and plumber by trade (lucky me) and we did our own design.

To save money on the design you can go to Lowes/HD and pay the designers to work it up for you. I think it's only $100 and that becomes store credit, even if you don't order the cabinets from them you can use the store credit towards your sink or hardware or tile or...whatever

Good luck, soundslike you have a fun space to work in.

Our kitchen is a little smaller than yours (9 x10). Our costs are coming in at around 20K, and we splurged a little more on appliances than you seem to be. Though we are doing all the work ourselves except for a helper for demolition and electrical work.

We also went Ikea cabs - don't let anyone tell you this is a low end choice. We got the Abstrakt White cabs and they are great. Good quality, lots of extras included.

Ditto the wood counters. Ikea or otherwise, lots of photos on this site shows how lovely wood counters can be. One of the new laminates would also be an option. There are so many great styles and patterns to choose from now and it can look really sharp. Also a counter is also something that can be changed or upgraded easily later if you desire.

Do you have wood floors elsewhere in your house? If so, going with reclaimed wood floors rather than new might look nice stylistically. We purchased enough reclaimed fir to do our kitchen for $200, plus costs to rent the sander and costs for sealer. Looks great!

I think you can easily do it for your budget, especially as you already know what you're getting in to, having done your bathroom.

Good luck and have fun!

Hmm... I hate to be negative, but I think you might be better off asking your neighbors than this forum. I'm a transplanted New Yorker, and labor costs there are not quite like anywhere else - partly due to all the freaky coop rules. FWIW, we now live in Boston. Our gut kitchen renovation cost $27g. We replaced everything except the floor, and redid our laundry room at the same time. New cabinets, appliances, lighting, ceiling, island. We got a good rebate deal from Bosch. We painted ourselves and half our cabinets were free - reclaimed from the home of a friend who was renovating. I don't think we were extravagant with anything, except the counter, which is soapstone. We had a plumber and electrician and carpenter we knew well and had worked with before. They were very decent with us in terms of the price. We got low end KM cabinets (we looked at a lot of Ikea and they struck us as horribly flimsy) and had a HD guy do the measurements. My spouse acted as GC. It still came to $27g - about a third more than we had estimated. We're very happy with the kitchen, but I would estimate it would cost at least 50 percent more in NYC. Of course, it sounds like you're handier than we are, which could very well help. At any rate - good luck!

Marthavilla, thanks . . . you made me blush! :-) I'd love to share my GC, but he's gone and retired on me just as I've bought another house and have another kitchen to do! Now I'm back in dreamland as well . . . it can be such a tough place to get out of. I do think I'll do Ikea again as I love my cabs, but after that there are just too many choices!

Good luck to you, from one *Martha* to another!