Reader Kitchen: An Open-Plan Space in St. Louis for $44,000
A couple tear down a wall and create an airy cooking, dining and living space filled with light
This series profiles kitchen remodels shared by homeowners on Houzz.
As part of our ongoing series on reader kitchen remodels, we travel to St. Louis, Missouri, where two homeowners bought a fixer-upper and totally changed their kitchen for $44,000. Read on for the next installment in our series on kitchen makeovers Houzz readers have shared.
As part of our ongoing series on reader kitchen remodels, we travel to St. Louis, Missouri, where two homeowners bought a fixer-upper and totally changed their kitchen for $44,000. Read on for the next installment in our series on kitchen makeovers Houzz readers have shared.
BEFORE: “We purchased a house that needed a whole house remodel which included the kitchen,” writes Jackie Gewinner, who owns the house with her boyfriend, Steve Wilde. One of their main goals was to open up the kitchen to create an open-concept living area.
AFTER: Gewinner’s general contractor, SRK Construction, removed the wall between the kitchen and the family room, dramatically opening up the space. Another major change: replacing a window with new French doors, allowing light to flood into the space. The doors open out to a new deck.
AFTER: Gewinner’s contractor added crown molding to the Ikea cabinets she selected to give them a higher-end finish. A marble backsplash, recessed lighting and hanging pendants above the new kitchen island further elevate the space. Gewinner and her boyfriend chose quartz countertops and selected new wood flooring to match the rest of the house. The appliances — refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave, wine cooler — are all new, as are the sink, faucet and garbage disposal.
Gewinner writes that she took on the purchasing of materials to try to reduce costs. She and her boyfriend incurred unexpected expenses for items including flooring that had to be replaced, an extra beam that was needed in the basement, hard-wired smoke detectors required by the city and sewer line repairs. She says she also underestimated architect fees and did not anticipate the need to hire an engineer.
Walls moved: Yes. A wall was removed between the kitchen and living area, and an opening to the breakfast room was pushed back.
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Professionals hired: Scott Knese, SRK General Construction
Special features added: Wine or beverage fridge in the kitchen island, soft-close cabinet doors and drawers, double pantry, extra-deep sink
Splurge: Counter-depth refrigerator, which cost over $1,000 more than a standard-depth model
Savings: Ikea cabinets dressed up with crown molding. Did their own demolition, shopped around for materials.
Cost breakdown
Appliances: $6,504
Cabinets, sinks and countertops: $9,112
Lighting: $330 (pendants over the island only)
Faucet: $300
Tile: $265 (backsplash)
Flooring: New wood flooring to match rest of the house $2,575
Labor: $25,000 (estimated)
Total: $44,086
Share your kitchen: Tell us about your kitchen remodel and post your pictures in the Comments!
Up next: An overhaul in Washington for $99,000
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Gewinner writes that she took on the purchasing of materials to try to reduce costs. She and her boyfriend incurred unexpected expenses for items including flooring that had to be replaced, an extra beam that was needed in the basement, hard-wired smoke detectors required by the city and sewer line repairs. She says she also underestimated architect fees and did not anticipate the need to hire an engineer.
Walls moved: Yes. A wall was removed between the kitchen and living area, and an opening to the breakfast room was pushed back.
Plumbing moved: No
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Professionals hired: Scott Knese, SRK General Construction
Special features added: Wine or beverage fridge in the kitchen island, soft-close cabinet doors and drawers, double pantry, extra-deep sink
Splurge: Counter-depth refrigerator, which cost over $1,000 more than a standard-depth model
Savings: Ikea cabinets dressed up with crown molding. Did their own demolition, shopped around for materials.
Cost breakdown
Appliances: $6,504
Cabinets, sinks and countertops: $9,112
Lighting: $330 (pendants over the island only)
Faucet: $300
Tile: $265 (backsplash)
Flooring: New wood flooring to match rest of the house $2,575
Labor: $25,000 (estimated)
Total: $44,086
Share your kitchen: Tell us about your kitchen remodel and post your pictures in the Comments!
Up next: An overhaul in Washington for $99,000
More
Reader Kitchen: An Ontario Update for $13,705
How Much Does A Renovation Cost?
From the Pros: 8 Reasons Kitchen Renovations Go Over Budget
Who lives here: Jackie Gewinner and her boyfriend, Steve Wilde
Size: 273 square feet (25.4 square meters); 21 by 13 feet
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Cost: About $44,000
Construction time: 13 weeks