How Much Does It Actually Cost to Renovate a Kitchen? (Spoiler: It’s a Lot)

We believe the key to a successful renovation is thoughtful planning, investing in quality materials, and sticking to your budget. While our products guarantee the best use of your space and life-lasting durability in the heart of your home and beyond, custom cabinetry can be one of the more significant cost drivers of a renovation. The following will guide you to make the most cost-effective design choices without sacrificing quality, style, or your budget.

Construction Counts: Inset vs. Overlay

Isla Porter offers cabinetry in both inset and overlay constructions. Inset cabinetry requires a historical level of craftsmanship to construct and therefore higher cost. Our overlay cabinetry is simpler in construction and while it is crafted with the same quality materials and expertise, it is 15% less than our inset construction and our most cost-effective option.

Matriarchy Build’s Best Practices for Finding and Hiring a Great Contractor for Your Kitchen Renovation

Vet Your Potential Contractor

“Candidly,” Lacey tells us, “the reason we launched Matriarchy Build’s general contractor matchmaking is because it's so hard and time-consuming to find someone.” Yes, you can call a bunch of contractors, have them inspect your site, get the quote, and then go through a vetting process — but that takes a lot of time and money. When you work with Matriarchy Build to find a professional, their team has already checked the individual’s licensing credentials and liability insurance. In addition, they’ve researched the contractor’s portfolio and their online reputation. But, the most important part, says Lacey, is that Matriarchy Build does an interview with every contractor they bring into the fold to make sure they have the right qualifications and communication skills. And on that note…

Do a Vibe Check

Lacey says the “vibe check” with a potential contractor is paramount. You want to get a feel for the contractor’s communication style (and that it meets your expectations) and you want to evaluate their bedside manner and energy. On the flipside, homeowners and designers should understand that a potential contractor is also vetting you — they want to see that you have realistic ideas and that you treat tradespeople with respect.

Align on Budget

“Having a budget alignment from the get-go really sets a project up for success,” explains Lacey. That said, there can be unpleasant surprises in construction. Ask your potential contractor what problems might typically occur and how that may affect your budget.

Ask About Mistakes

When you’re interviewing a general contractor, it can be useful to ask how they deal with errors, says Lacey: “Almost all projects have something go wrong, and no contractor tells you, ‘Oh, we never have problems.’ But when a contractor says to me, ‘We messed that up, but we already fixed it,’ and we honestly communicated about it there was transparency — that’s a really good sign that you’re dealing with a person who is realistic and honest.”

Don’t Go With the First Bid


“Best practice, you’re getting a couple of quotes and meeting with at least two different contractors. The good thing about Matriarchy Build is if we're pre-vetting people and then introducing you to one or two general contractors, we've done some of that legwork.”

Gut-Check Your Pricing

If you’ve already had plenty of experience with kitchen design and find that a contractor’s project fee fits your expectations, that’s great. But if you’re new to this and want a second opinion on cost, Matriarchy Build offers 1:1 consultations, independent of any contractor, to offer feedback on project details.