Before and After a $162,000 Kitchen Remodel

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
May 8th 2006 at 5:01PM

When a contractor or designer sets out to remodel his own kitchen, he can be up for quite a challenge. After all, he isn't likely to settle for anything less than perfection and probably has an exceptionally specific idea of what he - and also, in this case, his wife - wants. Howard Robbins took on his own home and, after 9 months and $162,000, walked away with a National Association of the Remodeling Industry Award in his region for the "best residential kitchen over $100,000." His kitchen was "outdated, inefficient and oppressive" (picture after the jump), but simple aesthetics aside, there were a few major changes that had to be made, something to take into consideration if you are looking to remodel. The ceiling was raised by 3 feet, eliminating dropped, panel lights, and one wall was pushed out, providing a roomier area to start with. Once the room was opened up, new appliances, flooring and, of course, accessories were added. The kitchen now has Decor ovens and cooktop, a Subzero refrigerator, a Miele dishwasher and, to meld with his wife's love and collection of Asian decor, bamboo accents and Japanese shoji screens, from Shigoto Ya Inc., were added, as well.

[Images Muffy Kibbey, SF Gate]

Tags: contractor, decor, design, designer, home, kitchen, remodel, remodeling, renovation

Filed under: Decor

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 24)

Mary May 13th 2006 7:13AM

Yikes, looks very sleek and very nice, but cold and univiting. I am wondering if that is the personality of the "lady of the house." I believe that a kitchen
needs to exude "affection." I see no affection in that
kitchen.

D. Bouffard May 13th 2006 7:14AM

Mr.Robbins was taken for a ride, or is taking us for a ride, if this kitchen cost $162,000 out of pocket to revamp as seen. And may I ask why bother?? The wife trashed the first one.I assume she had not been let loose in the redo prior to photo taking.

icki May 13th 2006 7:16AM

I think it is beautiful and updated, but honestly, unless the house is a million dollar house (and even then?), I can't see investing 162,000 in it... Probably the art work including the screens added 50,000+ to the price... I think the existing kitchen, cleaned, painted, new flooring, cabinets, appliances. and a sky light would have cost 50,000 and been equally as beautiful.

Carmen May 13th 2006 7:17AM

I should get an award. I had an addition and the kitchen totally replaced with new appiances for 50,000.

Gwen J May 13th 2006 7:17AM

I just had half my house remodeled about 2 years ago for about that much and part of the remodeling was enlargement and update of the kitchen. My is now hugh(looks about the size of that one) but much prettier then his. I sure wouldn't have paid that mucn for that kitchen.

Ang May 13th 2006 7:17AM

I love how they did structural changes to the height of the room. It is definetly high end! The finished product is more than a kitchen, it is a work of art. I appreciate it!I am curious though, where did the 100k go??? I see the 62k.

Ken May 13th 2006 7:18AM

$162K? Really? Maybe those two paintings over head are Dahli's, otherwise....the boy needs help. The way the kitchen looked to start with, I doubt the house resale would sustain a $162K kitchen.

Bill May 13th 2006 7:18AM

I don't feel so bad now. My wife and I are currently living in our motorhome while our kitchen is being remodeled. New floor, wall removed for more room, granite countertops, added an island, new stainless appliances, custom cabinets with custom paint, etc. and we are only spending about 30K! Whew!

Evelyn May 13th 2006 7:19AM

$162,000 to remodel a kitchen is more than ridiculous. I live in a very small mobile home, but if I had that kind of money, I could buy a beautiful home to live in and then some.

Lusha May 13th 2006 7:20AM

That is just insane! I could do that kitchen for less than $5,000. If you look closley, it is the same plank floor in both.... whitewash everything in sight and maybe a new fridgie and range countertops are about $10.99 per lin foot. hire a cleaning lady, It's cheaper! I just don't see what is so special about it. with that kind of money I could BUILD TWO Houses for me. geeze.

Martha Burt May 13th 2006 7:21AM

The new kitchen is absolutely beautiful. The old kithcen looks like mines, but without the clutter. I would love to remodel also but I think it could be done at a much cheaper price and still be beautiful. I think they overpaid but appeareantly they had the money to get it remodeled so good for you.

Shirl May 13th 2006 7:23AM

I agree with you all to clean the kitchen they had and 162K is an awful amount to pay just to redo a kitchen. One thing that nobody has mentioned is the appliances he put in. I have been out looking at appliances and all of the ones Howard used are very expensive which made up a lot of the cost. Could he have done it cheaper ......yes by not purchasing such expensive ones. Knowing from experience name isn't everything.

Beth May 13th 2006 7:25AM

Looking at the old kitchen, I can't imagine this new kitchen belongs with the rest of the house now. I agree, why not build a new house if you are going to spend that kind of money.

Ilona May 13th 2006 7:26AM

The new kitchen is lovely. The cost is astronomical. Yes, there were extensive structural changes, but I cannot see the expeditures in the one photo. The "before" kitchen was a dump. Perhaps some of the expense should have been set aside to hire a full time housekeeper. What does the rest of the house look like!?! Yikes....

Shelby May 13th 2006 7:33AM

Hope he and his wife plan on staying there for the rest of their lives because they will never recoup the money they spent when they sell it. In five years, the kitchen will probably be considered "outdated."

Gary Glover May 13th 2006 7:36AM

I just had a 6k makeover to my kitchen & dining room with a wall removal, all new counter tops, new light fixtures, new floor in both rooms& new window treatments . It's like a new house and now we use the dining room more in the last 4 months than we have in 20 years . I guess it's like buying a bottle of car wax for 5.95 and waxing your car or sending it to a detail shop and paying them 100 bucks to do the same thing ..

Marti May 13th 2006 7:37AM

Man...you people are HARSH!!! Previous kitchen did not look trashed to me...just out dated and cluttered from lack of space and an efficient set up. Which was the usual design of kitchens in the past. Kitchens designed up by someone who didn't use them,had no idea what was wanted or needed in a kitchen! Although too expensive for most peoples needs,have you priced "top of the line" equipment and renovations lately? That WAS the point in this EXTREME remodel anyway wasn't it?. It's beautiful.

Paula May 13th 2006 7:38AM

$162,000? for what? it looks cold and unfeeling, not an inviting kitchen in which to cook and entertain friends. ugh. i don't see any top of the line appliances. Sure, I love hardwood floors but the kitchen lacks personality. It's very stark. If you're going to spend that kind of money, bring some warmth into the kitchen. At least in the before picture, the kitchen showed personality i.e. the magnets on the fridge, the pretty window overlooking the backyard (where did that go by the way?). It looked lived in and comfortable. Now it looks simply cold. Definitely not worth the money at all. My 2 cents

Jeanette Holmes May 13th 2006 7:39AM

I agree with everyone else, that is way too much to pay for a 'cold' kitchen. The flooring was one of the things that changed? It looks the same in both the before and after pictures. What happened to the window? What does that side of the kitchen look like? Is the only work space on the island? If that is true, nobody will be able to prepare a meal in the new kitchen.