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From Dated to Modern: A Complete Kitchen Renovation Case Study
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From Dated to Modern: A Complete Kitchen Renovation Case Study

A
Alex Rivera

General Contractor & Renovation Specialist

2 min readNov 10, 2024
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From Dated to Modern: A Complete Kitchen Renovation

The Challenge

The homeowners had a typical 1990s Toronto kitchen: closed off from the living area, oak cabinets, laminate countertops, and fluorescent lighting. They wanted an open-concept, modern kitchen suitable for entertaining.

The Plan

  • Remove wall between kitchen and living room (after confirming it wasn't load-bearing)
  • New custom cabinetry (shaker style, white)
  • Quartz countertops
  • New plumbing for island sink
  • Updated electrical for island outlets and under-cabinet lighting
  • Hardwood flooring to match living area
  • Timeline

    WeekWork Completed
    1Demolition, wall removal, structural header
    2Rough plumbing and electrical
    3Drywall, mudding, sanding
    4Flooring installation
    5Cabinet installation
    6Countertops, backsplash, fixtures
    7Final touches, painting, punch list

    Budget Breakdown

    CategoryBudgetActual
    Cabinets$12,000$13,200
    Countertops$5,000$4,800
    Appliances$6,000$6,500
    Plumbing$3,000$3,400
    Electrical$2,500$2,800
    Flooring$3,000$2,900
    Labour$15,000$16,500
    **Total****$46,500****$50,100**

    Lessons Learned

  • **Always add 10-15% contingency** — we went 8% over budget
  • **Order materials early** — the countertop had a 4-week lead time
  • **Expect the unexpected** — we found knob-and-tube wiring behind the wall that needed replacing
  • **Communication is key** — weekly check-ins with homeowners prevented misunderstandings
  • The homeowners were thrilled with the result and the open layout completely changed how they use their home.

    Thinking about a kitchen reno? I'm happy to answer questions in the comments!

    #renovation
    #kitchen
    #before-after
    #budgeting
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