If going with wood like LFT I would splurge on a rectified tile and on a pro installation. I would also plan to splurge on quality professionals. A good GC is worth the extra cost!

@roarah yes definitely going with pro installation! I can't DIY to save my life.

I meant I would spend more than $4 per sq ft for installation.

"I'm thinking Kohler for all faucets. I've had cheap Chinese-made faucets in homes before, and in less than a year they show substantial wear and wear."

Most Kohler faucets are now made in China. There are a few that are still made in Kohler Wisconsin, such as the Artifacts line. You can call Kohler's customer service number to see what is the country of origin of a faucet you are interested in, but the biggest clue is the price. The Kohler faucets like the Artifacts kitchen faucet start at $430. The Kohler faucets made in China are half that. (BTW, same with Kohler SS sinks - the less expensive Kohler SS sinks are imported from China, though they are still more costly than Chinese-made sinks of very good value like the Kraus sinks. That doesn't make the Kohlers bad sinks; it only means you are paying a lot just for the Kohler name.)

This website linked below has a comprehensive list of faucet brands showing the quality, warranty strength and country of origin. It's a little hard to read on a phone, so I recommend you go through it on a computer.

Starcraft Builders List of Faucets

• "Toilets: I understand Toto toilets are the best quality?"

• There are many opinions on this. I can only tell you that I have Toto Drakes and a Toto Ultramax for 14 years, with no problems. I would definitely get them again. I recommend you get the non-"Eco" models unless you live in an area with water restrictions. The Toto Drake is one of Toto's least expensive toilets, and I think a very good value. Toto makes you buy the seat separately, so include the cost of the seat when looking at your budget.

• Your list in your OP omits the kitchen backsplash. That can be one of the biggest expenses of your kitchen, depending on your choice of tile. Or it can be reasonable, such as plain subway tile. It is crucial you get a tile installer for the backsplash - not just your GC's guy. Those guys who work on the GC's crew are never really skilled at backsplash tile installation. We've seen big problems with this many times on this forum. Make sure to exclude the backsplash installation from your GC's Scope of Work. Hire someone who specializes in tile installation. If you have to do the backsplash after the kitchen is finished, that is fine.

I Have an ikea kitchen with Ikea doors, and still think it’s doing great 12 years later. The bathroom vanities...look in person at those, and see if they work for your particular situation. Also my island is ikea butcher block top, very very cost effective.

Kitchen appliances, also recommend to see them in person, and I don’t feel it’s necessary to have all the same brand. We started out with a lot of same brand and then something inevitably had to be replaced, and at that point, changing brands was the way to go.

i also think that every brand may have some “clunkers” so investigate particular models when you decide.

Will second a great GC — and in my opinion, one of the features of a great GC is how they respond when stuff goes wrong (because it will). good luck!

Glass Shower Partitions would be a definite drawback for me. Beautiful, but really high maintenance for those of us who do not want to do the daily squeegeeing required to keep them looking nice.

As for appliances, I agree with you, with the caveat that there are poorly rated models from every manufacturer. Read reviews carefully. Also take into consideration standards for your neighborhood. A cheap Kenmore refrigerator will not be a selling point if the rest of the homes in your area have Sub-zeros.

@friedajune Thanks for the great link on faucet quality!

Also I have a question about your comment re: kitchen backsplash. Is this more difficult to install than other tile, e.g. floor tile or bathroom wall tile? How would I find a tile installer who specializes in kitchen backsplashes?

@HB I’ve had IKEA butcher block counters before and hated them. Even with regular wood oil applications they started growing mold within a year. I ended up ripping them out and putting in quartz.

"I’ve had IKEA butcher block counters before and hated them."

That's because they are not really butcherblock.

Lighting is another thing that need to be thought about and can end up pricy - obvs having proper work lighting in the kitchen is very valuable

Obviously it depends on what one is trying to achieve -- I tung oiled our "butcherblock"; didn't ever expect it to emulate a Boos, and am much calmer when the kids get fingernail polish and glue on it by accident. And plan to replace it with something nicer when the kids are a little older and/or we plan to sell. So it works, for us.

I personally would not splurge on a toilet. There are several very nice toilets out there that also have a nice price tag.

Your tile costs are very low (both product and install). The quality of the tile will have an impact on the installation costs (if you want a professional result). Many factors to consider regarding the time and materials to properly install, especially if you choose a larger plank porcelain. And if you have a general contractor, there is a mark up on the sub contractors labor. Most pros don't charge by the square foot, by the way. As for the comments on backsplash installation, it's generally the first thing a novice takes on. Bathrooms with wet areas to be tiled are among the most difficult in terms of skill. Floors can also require a higher level of skill depending on the tile selection and the flooring conditions.

-IKEA plus Semihandmade-cool but not that cheap already. Our kitchen is small, and after calculating this and that, we just decided to go fully custom. If we were big DYI-ers we might decide differently. But no, actually taking my words back, with our huge gut remodel-the GC wouldn't let us touch anything, even if we were big DYI-ers. It's CA here, codes and inspections are brutal.

But yes, it's good enough quality if you like the style.

-Vanities..we went with mixed approach...master bath one is custom (we had cost plus type of contract but master bath had several "part of the quote" elements because it was part of the addition. Since it was the same cabinet maker I'm much more pleased with it than with windows for example..

BTW. Do you install any windows?

so back to vanities. Another two, we craigslisted. One, I love dearly (it's handmade), but needed some creative tweaking (thank you our patient crew). One is nothing special but goes so to say. Both cost the same-around 200 bucks each.

-Flooring. Well so much depends on your needs, house, climate, etc. I'm very clumsy so I put a lot of thought in flooring. We're on the slab, and I remember very well that they had to level it blah blah..special glue for wood blablah..in short all the house where the wood went was 9 K for labor only. It's under 1900 sq f house, after the addition, and obviously we have tiles in the bathrooms. (What a headache to choose these. But then again, I'm kinda special needs lol)

-Appliances-I share your sentiment. We bargain hunted like crazy. So they all are nice but took a lot of leg work.

-You don't mention the lights. After studying myself and the market, I arrived to a conclusion vintage lights will save our situation. They did. I emerged half-wit after this experience, but they did:)

-Faucets. We have a mix, Kohler, Delta, Brizo, and some Chinese too I guess(the look I wanted that wasn't Chinese..well if it was smaller scale remodel then I'd bite the bullet. It wasn't though. Overall we puzzled this plumbing thing together..even in the shower-you wouldn't notice it, but I know the showerhead is this, and hand held is that..and someimes wasn't that much of a choice even-they didn't have that size, that finish, etc. As I love faucets approximately as I love appliances..wasn't fun. Lol.

-We did save on sinks. A lot. Bargain hunting..very proud and all. We also were extremely lucky with a marble remnant forr the master bath countertop. Being a remnant it was very cheap.

Kitchen, went with Quartz..I wanted real butcherblock btw. Well I wanted many things. Some I got, some I didn't. Usual story.

-Tub. Bought full price in a high end store, which was a blessing. Because they screwed up framing and the tub we bought had to be switched. Don't ask. Long friendly relationship between the GC and the store helped.

I'd say in terms of materials-not rough, systems, labor, etc-my biggest splurge was (except for cabinetry) tiles. That's because i love tiles. And most of it is "second choice" tiles, 'cause couldn't afford first choice ones))

-Toilets..I think we saved couple old ones from previous owners and bought one new. or saved one, bought two. I think couple are Toto? Other is either Kohler or? In short. Toilets need a) to work b) not remind me of a human(some do.)

-Glass shower partition..We do have glass shower doors (to make most of light situation)..we don't need anything for a tub since it sits in the niche and has a hand held shower..but in kids bath I just put a curtain. We did but some superficial stuff in there. I must say though I'm a crazy shower curtain lady. I discovered these too late in life maybe? And this one is by far most expensive shower curtain I ever got. So frankly I can't say it was just a cheap decison or something. I needed to somehow bring this bathroom together, it being the only spot we didn't gut..so I poured my thoughts into finding right accents, increasing storage, etc.

Also in bathtubs, I tend somehow to hit myself on these nice frames while getting in and out. Then again, I'm not the most graceful person ever.

Well..that was a long, not so helpful post..:)

Faucets... sure splurge on them. I had a guy spend $4,000 on his kitchen faucet so maybe that is too much. Also dont get a touch faucet. Its not worth all the problems.

Quartz counters... yes they may be "scratch resistant" and "stain resistant". but they cannot take the heat. i would splurge on a real stone with sealer and never have to worry.

You should splurge on the things that are important to you, and they may not be splurge items for others. I would not splurge on a toilet, unless you have particular needs that need to be addressed. When it comes to appliances, I would say splurge to get what you want -- but what you want may not cost a lot. In my case, I had specific wants for my range, so that took priority and I would splurge on that and save on others if I needed to. Some want big, some want separate stove top and wall ovens, some want more power than they'd ever use......I won't pay for those things because they're unimportant to me, but I will pay more for what is important to me (size, function, appearance). I'd splurge more on the floor (certainly more than your small amount) because it affects the total look, it will get a lot of wear, and I'll feel it under my feet every day.

"I'm thinking Kohler for all faucets. I've had cheap Chinese-made faucets in homes before, and in less than a year they show substantial wear and wear."

Don't be fooled by "made in China".......some good quality products come from China, and some lousy quality products come from the US. Look to the quality of the materials and the build, not by the location of production. I found the information on the Starcraft Builders site to be really useful when I was researching everything from flooring to faucets - they're fairly unbiased in that they don't sell them or advertise to them.

Thanks everyone. For those who say don’t get the high-end toilet, my last home had no-brand cheap toilets and the seats were coming detached after a couple of years of normal use. That’s why I think it’s worthwhile to spend more on toilets. Any recommendations for good quality toilet brands that are not so expensive?

Also, what would you suggest as a more reasonable price for high quality porcelain floor tile? Any particular brands to recommend? Finally, how can I tell the difference between a good tile installer and a bad one? I agree I don’t want to go cheap here if it means problems down the road as flooring is very expensive and difficult to change.

"my last home had no-brand cheap toilets and the seats were coming detached after a couple of years of normal use. "

Sure, but the price to replace a toilet seat is a fraction of the increased price of a higher priced toilet. The important parts of a toilet are the porcelain structure itself and the connections; things like seats hand flush handles are easy and inexpensive to replace.

"Also, what would you suggest as a more reasonable price for high quality porcelain floor tile?"

I would say in the $5-$7 per sq ft range for mid-quality tile.

We got a touchless Kohler toilet (the touchless systems suck IMHO) but the toilet seat lid itself detaches very easily for cleaning, first I've seen of that (our two other toilets are Toto). Toto's sanagloss feature is very nice. I don't think a toilet seat detaching is a sign of quality of the toilet or not; sometimes they just need tightening the screws.

As a rule, and this is not to say that it is absolute, but the specialized tile shops will carry better quality lines than a big box store or even a few of the national chains of "specialty tile shops" (I won't name names). You will generally get better service and better trained professionals advising you from these specialty shops as well. Do your research when selecting a tile contractor. A professional that is a DEDICATED tile installer with many years of experience, excellent referrals and a portfolio of quality installations is one way to start your vetting. Someone who does many things, tile being just one of them, will not have the depth of experience that a real trusted tile pro will naturally have.

Hi Sophie, when you're comparing Ikea to an already assembled line, which cabinet lines do you have in mind?

Great thread!

Try to bundle multiple purchases together, for cost savings. We have used AJ Madison and Build.com. Certain products can't be discounted (MAP Pricing), but when you buy in bulk, you may get certain products discounted or free.

Get in touch with local appliance stores regarding appliances out of your budget range. When appliances are installed and returned, there may be steep discounts (and lots of people waiting). Just saying - the splurge might end up a reality.

Good luck and I'll enjoy following this thread!

"so you aren’t advised to toss ‘em out after 8 years"

I keep reading about people who are replacing appliances after 5-8 years, and it makes me think I must be really lucky.......In 30 years of home owning, I've only ever had one appliance last less than 10 years, and several of them lasted 15. I know the new ones aren't built like the old ones, but my kitchen dishwasher and fridge were still working fine when I ditched them in my kitchen reno (the 10 year old fridge was working very well, the 14 year old dishwasher was getting to its last legs but still getting dishes clean). My range was only 2 years old, so it's no surprise it was working well. My washer and dryer are still working well after 10 years, and have never needed service.

Is my experience really that unusual? Will I find the appliances I bought last year will only last 6 or 8 years?

"re: kitchen backsplash. Is this more difficult to install than other tile, e.g. floor tile or bathroom wall tile? "

When I posted my advice earlier about the backsplash, I had forgotten you were also installing floor tile and bathroom tile. So no, a kitchen backsplash is not more difficult to install than those. What I meant by my earlier comments was that the guy on a GC's crew who might be assigned to install your backsplash when the GC is doing the rest of the kitchen, may not have that much skill besides basic. You will get a better installation if you hire a tile guy separately yourself. Someone whose entire job is installing tile day in and day out for years. As I mentioned, we have seen some lousy kitchen backsplash installations on this forum when the homeowner just had the GC do it. Best to remove it specifically from the Scope of Work and find someone yourself to do it. As mentioned earlier, tile shops (high quality ones) will often be able to refer you, and also look at Angie's List for your area.

you might. the quality goes down the drain. I see it allover. one of the reasons I really strongly prefer vintage furniture and lights whenever I can. Normal basic clothes-I so wish I just bought a pair of each when I bought them..I have clothes from 20 and more years ago..tees that I wear for 10 years..I can't find same quality even within same brand anymore. But prices go up of course. Sometimes I prefer to go on eBay and buy stuff from last seasons. It'll be cool, affordable, and well made. When somebody here mentioned their 20 or smth years toaster still works , in one of the threads , I didn't say anything but thought then "It's precisely the reason it still works":) We also have one like that..If I buy it now-nah..not so sure.

“Will I find the appliances I bought last year will only last 6 or 8 years“

Very possibly. The really old stuff was made WAY better, and it was designed to de disassembled and repaired as needed. I have a 16 year old oven, stovetop and fridge that are mostly still chugging along. The oven had to be repaired recently. I was pricing out new ones in case it couldn’t be fixed. $3000 for a similar one that cost half that 16 years ago. Anyway, happily my fabulous repair guy fixed it for under $150, and advised me to keep it going for as long as I can, since newer things are not made to last as long!

Quality isnt there anymore. I replaced a 25 yr old washer and dryer, because the washer finally wore out. Same brand. New set the dryer was still working, so I did sell it, but, the washer was completely worn out after 6 yrs. I wonder how long, the set I have now will last.