This detailed cost breakdown covers a real mid-range kitchen renovation completed in a 2001-built Kanata home. The existing kitchen was a builder-grade galley layout with oak cabinets, laminate countertops, linoleum flooring, and fluorescent lighting. The homeowners wanted a modern open-concept kitchen with quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and contemporary finishes.
This detailed cost breakdown covers a real mid-range kitchen renovation completed in a 2001-built Kanata home. The existing kitchen was a builder-grade galley layout with oak cabinets, laminate countertops, linoleum flooring, and fluorescent lighting. The homeowners wanted a modern open-concept kitchen with quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and contemporary finishes. Project scope: Remove wall between kitchen and family room, install new custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, hardwood flooring, pot lights, under-cabinet lighting, new appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Total project cost: $52,340. Timeline: 9 weeks from demolition to final cleanup. The homeowners lived in the home during renovation, using a temporary kitchen setup in the basement with a microwave, toaster oven, and portable cooktop.
Demolition and disposal: $2,800 — Removal of existing cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall on removed wall, and hauling to landfill. Structural work: $6,200 — Removal of load-bearing wall ($2,400), engineered LVL beam installation ($2,800), and drywall/finishing on beam and ceiling ($1,000). A structural engineer ($800) designed the beam specification. Custom cabinetry: $14,500 — 22 linear feet of shaker-style maple cabinets in white, including soft-close hinges and drawers, pull-out shelves in lower cabinets, and a dedicated pantry cabinet. Sourced from a local Ottawa cabinet maker. Quartz countertops: $5,800 — 45 square feet of Caesarstone in Calacatta Nuvo pattern, including island with waterfall edge. Fabrication and installation included. Backsplash tile: $1,900 — White subway tile in herringbone pattern, including material ($650), labour ($950), and grout/supplies ($300). Flooring: $4,200 — Engineered hardwood (oak, natural finish) throughout the new open kitchen-family room area, approximately 350 square feet including materials and installation. Electrical: $3,400 — 8 pot lights ($1,600), under-cabinet LED lighting ($600), 3 pendant lights over island ($800 for installation, fixtures purchased separately at $400 total). Plumbing: $2,100 — New kitchen sink (undermount stainless) and faucet installation, dishwasher connection, and relocation of one supply line for the new layout. Appliances: $7,200 — 36-inch gas range ($2,400), French door refrigerator ($2,200), dishwasher ($800), range hood ($900), microwave ($500), and delivery/installation ($400). Painting: $1,800 — Walls and ceiling in new open area, including primer and two coats of premium paint. Trim and finishing: $1,240 — New baseboards, crown molding, and window casing to match throughout the open area. Permits and inspections: $1,200 — Building permit for wall removal ($600), electrical permit ($300), and plumbing permit ($300).
The homeowners made several strategic decisions that saved approximately $12,000 without compromising quality: Chose a local Ottawa cabinet maker over a national brand, saving $3,000–$5,000 while getting higher quality construction and custom sizing. Lead time was 8 weeks — similar to national brands. Selected Caesarstone quartz over natural marble, saving $2,000–$4,000 while getting a more durable, maintenance-free surface that looks virtually identical. Kept the existing kitchen footprint for plumbing (sink and dishwasher stayed in the same general area), saving $2,000–$3,000 in plumbing relocation costs. Purchased appliances during a Black Friday sale in November, saving approximately $1,500 across all appliances compared to regular pricing. Handled demolition day themselves (with contractor supervision), saving approximately $800 in labour costs. Chose pendant light fixtures from an online retailer rather than a lighting showroom, saving $600–$800.
In hindsight, the homeowners identified two areas where additional investment would have been worthwhile: Hardwood flooring throughout the entire main floor rather than just the kitchen-family room area. Matching flooring later is difficult, and extending into the front hall and living room would have added $2,500–$3,500 but created a seamless flow through the entire main floor. A dedicated prep sink in the island. The plumbing rough-in would have added $800–$1,200 during construction, and a small bar sink ($200–$400) would have been much more convenient than adding it later (which would cost $2,000–$3,000 after the fact). Electrical outlet in the island for charging devices and small appliances. Adding it during construction would have been $200–$400 vs $800–$1,200 after the countertop is installed.
Order cabinets and countertops early. The 8-week cabinet lead time and 3-week countertop fabrication time meant ordering 11 weeks before construction started. Any delays in ordering push the entire project timeline. Budget 15% contingency. The homeowners budgeted $48,000 and spent $52,340 — a 9% overrun. The structural beam cost more than initially estimated, and the electrical work was more complex than quoted due to existing wiring configurations. A 15% contingency would have covered all surprises. Make all selections before construction starts. Tile, fixtures, appliances, paint colours, and hardware should all be chosen and ordered before demolition day. Waiting on selections is the #1 cause of construction delays. Live without a kitchen for 9 weeks is manageable but challenging. The basement setup worked, but the novelty wears off quickly. Budget $500–$1,000 for dining out during the weeks when cooking is genuinely impossible (demolition and rough-in phases). The open concept conversion was worth every penny. Removing the wall between the kitchen and family room completely transformed how the family uses the main floor. It was the single most impactful change in the entire project.
Yes, $52,000 is solidly mid-range for a Kanata kitchen renovation that includes wall removal, custom cabinets, quartz countertops, and new appliances. Budget kitchens start around $25,000, and high-end projects can reach $80,000–$100,000.
The structural beam for the wall removal cost $6,200 vs the estimated $4,500. The existing wiring configuration required additional electrical work. Together, these surprises added about $2,500 to the budget.
9 weeks from demolition to final cleanup. The critical path was cabinet delivery (8 weeks from order) followed by countertop fabrication (3 weeks after cabinets were installed for templating).
Absolutely. The $6,200 wall removal was the most impactful investment in the entire project, completely changing how the main floor functions and feels. It also added the most resale value.
Extend hardwood throughout the entire main floor, add a prep sink and electrical outlet in the island, and budget 15% contingency instead of 10%. These changes would have added $4,000–$6,000 but prevented future regrets.