I bought my house in 2023. The kitchen looked like 1991 had eaten 1985. Builder-grade orange oak cabinets, beige laminate counters, vinyl floor that had given up around the dishwasher. Six weeks and $4,200 later, it's the room I most enjoy in the house. Here's the timeline, the receipts, and what I'd do differently if I could rewind.
Day 1 — The reality check
I'd budgeted $3,000. By the end of day one, after pulling everything out of the cabinets and seeing what was actually behind them, I knew that wasn't going to hold. Two cabinets had water damage I hadn't spotted. The vent over the stove was wired wrong. The "real wood" cabinets were real wood on the doors, particleboard everywhere else.
If I'd known then what I know now: budget at least 20% more than your worst-case estimate. The hidden problems are the rule, not the exception.
Days 2-7 — The cabinet decision
I came close to replacing the cabinets entirely. Quotes ranged from $8,000 to $14,000 just for the boxes. I couldn't do it. So I went with a refinish: clean, sand, paint, new hardware. Total cost: $340 in supplies plus four weekends of my own labour.
The cabinets I refinished are still in place two years later. They look better than I expected. I'd make this same call again — it was the highest-leverage decision of the whole project.
Days 8-21 — Counters and the long middle
I picked butcher block from IKEA for the counters. $640 for enough material to do the whole kitchen. Cutting them was harder than YouTube made it look. The seam I made next to the sink is still slightly off; I look at it every morning.
The middle two weeks were the hardest part of the whole project. The kitchen was unusable. The dust got everywhere. I ate cereal standing up too many nights. If you're considering a DIY kitchen remodel: build a survival kitchen somewhere else in the house first. Microwave, kettle, paper plates, a folding table. You'll need it longer than you think.
Days 22-35 — Floor
I went with luxury vinyl plank — the wide-board kind that actually looks reasonable. $480 for materials. Installing went faster than I thought; the YouTube tutorials really do work for this. Where I underestimated was the prep — the existing subfloor wasn't flat. Three days I hadn't budgeted for.
Days 36-42 — Backsplash and the small stuff
White subway tile, $180 in materials, slow but methodical work. The grout colour was the decision I obsessed over too much; in the end, off-white is fine. Nobody has ever commented on the grout colour.
The smallest changes had the largest impact: switching out the light fixture ($85), replacing the cabinet hardware ($95), repainting the trim. These three things, together, made the biggest visible difference in the whole project.
The final budget
- Cabinet refinish: $340
- Butcher block counters: $640
- LVP flooring: $480 + $90 underlayment
- Backsplash tile: $180
- New sink + faucet: $360
- Light fixture: $85
- Hardware: $95
- Paint (cabinets + walls): $230
- Misc tools, fasteners, caulk, brushes: $410
- The hidden electrical work: $1,200 (I hired this out — would not DIY)
- Buffer that I burned through: $90
Total: $4,200.
What I'd do differently
- Budget 30% more from the start. The hidden costs are not optional.
- Hire out the electrical. I tried to DIY this. After two evenings I called someone. Best $1,200 I've spent.
- Build the survival kitchen first. Day one, before you take anything apart.
- Pick the cabinet decision early and don't look back. I waffled for two weeks. Time wasted.
- Keep the original layout. I considered moving the dishwasher. The plumber's quote ($2,400) ended that conversation. The kitchen layout from 1985 is fine.
Two years in
The cabinets are holding up. The butcher block needs re-oiling once a quarter, which I either remember or don't. The grout has darkened slightly in the high-traffic areas. The vinyl floor I'd give a B+. I cook in this kitchen daily and I like being in it. For $4,200, that's a result I'd sign up for again.
