Emily & Aaron’s Condo Renovation: What It Really Cost – A Budget Breakdown

Name: Aaron and Emily Choi
Type of Project: Full remodel, including the kitchen and two bathrooms
Location: La Jolla, California
Type of building: Condo; 1300 square feet

Yesterday we got a look at the beautiful results of Emily and Aaron’s condo renovation. Today we’re taking a closer look at one of the more practical aspects of the project: the budget. How did the actual price tag compare with Emily and Aaron’s estimate from before the project began? Read on to find out.

From Emily:

The two major things that put us over the budget were the kitchen and the flooring. The kitchen had a lot of little things here and there that needed customizing and unfortunately our initial contract wasn’t specific enough, which allowed room for interpretations. This is where I wish I had demanded more face time with my general contractor BEFORE the work was done.

The other thing was the flooring installation. We had originally thought to go with laminate, but after much consideration we just liked the feel of real wood better. We were lucky enough to find the wood floor on sale, but the labor to nail wood floors down is more than double the labor of installing laminate flooring. In addition, wood flooring meant a different kind of stair nosing, which also added to the cost. It was more than we had anticipated but still a good deal for real wood flooring. We also ended up having a few more pieces of furniture made, so that also increased the Decor budget. It didn’t surprise us that we went over our initial budget — we knew things would come up, but it still hurts.

Budget Specifics:

LABOR:

Projected:
Kitchen cabinet labor: $2500 Kitchen Tile labor: $280 Countertop labor (2 bathrooms and kitchen): $3471 Electric/Plumbing: $900 Re-finish Vanities in bathroom: $900 Fireplace: $600 Tile Labor (bathroom and fireplace): $3030 Reinstall new folding closet doors labor/materials (two rooms): $850 Custom master shower labor: $3900 Hand rail labor: $2500 Misc woodwork for floor and doorway: $500 Drywall and painting: $4380 Baseboard labor/material: $2100 Total: $25,991

Actual:
Kitchen cabinet labor: $4600 Kitchen Tile labor: $280 Countertop labor (2 bathroom and kitchen): $3471 Electric/Plumbing *remaining: $2250 Re-finish Vanities in bathroom: $900 Fireplace: $600 Tile Labor (bathroom and fireplace): $3030 Reinstall new folding closet doors labor/material(two rooms): $850 Custom master shower labor: $3900 Hand rail labor: $2500 Misc wood work for floor and door way: $500 Drywall and painting: $4380 Baseboard labor/material: $2100 Floor installation: $2200 Demo/Stairway: $780 Glass insert on cupboard: $300 Trash/Haul away: $950 Total:$33,591

Difference: +$7600

APPLIANCES:

Projected:
Samsung refrigerator from Home Depot: $1,600 GE electric cook top from Pacific Sales: $900 Frigidair electric single wall oven from Amazon: $1,279.99 Z line stainless steel wall mount range hood from Amazon: $319.95 Amana dishwasher from Pacific Sales: $300 Samsung washer & dryer from Home Depot: $1,000 Total: $5,399.94

Actual:
Samsung refrigerator from Home Depot: $1,600 GE electric cook top from Pacific Sales: $900 Frigidair electric single wall oven from Amazon: $1,279.99 Z line stainless steel wall mount range hood from Amazon: $319.95 Amana dishwasher from Pacific Sales: $300 Samsung washer & dryer from Home Depot: $1,000 Total: $5,399.94

Difference: $0

FIXTURES:

Projected:
Franke farm house sink from Home Perfect: $700 Danze Pull Down Kitchen Faucet from Home Perfect: $248.99 DECOLAV undermount bathroom sink (2) from Home Depot: $59.99 x 2 = $119.98 Ikea ODENSVIK bathroom sink: $120 Glacier Bay Toilet (3) from Home Depot: $98 x 3 = $294 Peerless apex two handle bathroom faucets from Amazon: $117.10 x 2 = $234.2 Delta shower faucet from Home Depot: $187.65 Total: $1,904.82
Actual:
Franke farm house sink from Home Perfect: $700 Danze Pull Down Kitchen Faucet from Home Perfect: $248.99 DECOLAV undermount bathroom sink (2) from Home Depot: $59.99 x 2 = $119.98 Ikea ODENSVIK bathroom sink: $120 Glacier Bay Toilet (3) from Home Depot: $98 x 3 = $294 Peerless apex two handle bathroom faucets from Amazon: $117.10 x 2 = $234.2 Delta shower faucet from Home Depot: $187.65 Total: $1,904.82

Difference: $0

CABINETS AND COUNTERTOPS:

Projected:
Rainbow Stone white shaker kitchen cabinet: $4,000 Restoration Hardware gilmore drawer pulls: $300 Caesar Stone quartz countertop (3 slabs of frosty carrina): $3,579 Ikea HEMNES vanity: $140 Total: $8,019

Actual:
Rainbow Stone white shaker kitchen cabinet: $4,000 Restoration Hardware gilmore drawer pulls: $300 Caesar Stone quartz countertop (3 slabs of frosty carrina): $3,579 Ikea HEMNES vanity: $140 Total:$8,019

Difference: $0

FLOORING:

Projected:
African walnut solid wood flooring (floor and stair nosing) : $5800

Actual:
African walnut solid wood flooring (floor and stair nosing) : $5800

Difference: $0

FINISHES:

Projected:
Arto Conch tile: $1,093.27 White subway tile (shower and backsplash)from Lowes: $300
Marble tile (fireplace) from Lowes: $100
Total: $1,493.27

Actual: Arto and Brick Conch tile: $1,093.27 White subway tile (shower and backsplash)from Lowes: $300 Marble tile (fireplace) from Lowes: $100 Total:$1,493.27

Difference: $0

OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS:

Projected:
none

Actual:
Stairway Material: $340
Misc Building Material: $200
Total: $540

Difference: +$540

Projected:
Customized desk, deck furniture/planter, dresser, cat litter bench, mirror frame: $2,650 Power room vanity light from WestElm: $70 Master bath vanity light: $130 Recessed LED lights: $1,000 Pendant lights: $338 Stairwell light: $120
Desk light: $120
Total: $4,428

Actual: Customized desk, deck furniture/planter, dresser, cat litter bench, mirror frame: $3200 Power room vanity light from WestElm: $70 Master bath vanity light: $130 Recessed LED lights: $1,000 Pendant lights: $338 Stairwell light: $90 Desk light: $120 Dining Room light: $300 Total:$5,248

Difference: +$820

$ 53,036.03

$61,996.03

$8,960

Readers, Check out the full series to see the whole renovation process, step-by-step. And tune in tomorrow for Emily and Aaron’s final thoughts on what they learned during the renovation.

The Renovation Diaries are a new collaboration with our community in which we feature your step by step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.

(Images and diary text: Emily and Aaron Choi)