Ask an Interior Designer: How much will a kitchen design cost in Chicago?
The cost of kitchen design in Chicago according to Home Advisor is $4,331 to $22,610 dollars. That’s a pretty wide range, but since it comes from Home Advisor’s data, I suspect it’s true for kitchen designers hired through Home Advisor.
It’s a commonly held idea that design should cost 10 to 12% of your project. If your project costs $40K, which would be the cost of a small condo kitchen entirely redone, design work according to this formula should run $4,000 to $5200. Many interior designers supplement their earnings by providing elements of the construction such cabinets, countertop, lighting or in some cases, the construction itself. Prices aren’t necessarily marked up, the designers may be receiving an industry discount. Buy products through the designer may more than double their income on your project without additional cost to the client.
Our pricing at Habitar Design runs a little differently at about 6 to 8% of the total cost of construction. Kitchen design costs in Chicago for us mostly run between $1000 for something very basic to $12K for something very involved. By basic I mean picking a paint color for your cabinets, a countertop, sink, faucet, backsplash, and cabinetry hardware and by involved I mean reinventing a 15 by 20 foot kitchen space entirely. Expanding into neighboring rooms can take prices up from there.
Some exclusive design firms can charge much more. Their rates can run 30% for the first $300,000 of construction. In a high-end home, a kitchen might cost $300K making the design bill $90K.
Basic Kitchen
Includes: Painting cabinets, changing door hardware, selecting backsplash, countertop, sink, and faucet.
Cost for basic changes to a kitchen like this costs approximately $13,000 to $18,000
Design Costs $1,000 to $1,250
Basic Kitchen Plus
Includes: Painting cabinets, changing door hardware, selecting backsplash, countertop, sink, faucet, selection of new lighting, adding cabinets, modifying island, modifying soffits, adding cabinet features, appliance selection.
This kitchen had a new pantry on the end with modification of 2 other cabinets and new lighting in addition to typical features of a basic kitchen like painting, new backsplash, and countertops.
Construction Cost $23,000
Typical Design cost $1,250-$1,750
This Chicago high-rise condo kitchen renovation was achieved with new countertops, backsplash, lights, sink, faucet and a two-tone coat of paint. The design made all the difference.
Kitchen cost $33,000 to $36,000
Design cost $1,500 to $2,000
This Chicago Townhome Kitchen included additional cabinetry to add a seating area and allow for a change in appliances. With new countertops and lighting it came in at $38,000 plus $15,000 in appliances.
Interior Design work $2,500 – $2,800
New Condo Kitchen
Designing a condo kitchen can include new cabinets, cabinet features and storage solutions. You can add and update door hardware, backsplash, countertop, sink, faucet, new lighting plan, appliances and flooring.
The condo kitchen renovation featured all new cabinets, waterfall countertops, double row of upper cabinets and shelves.
Kitchen Remodel cost $45,000
Kitchen Design cost $2,500 – $3,200
This Gut Renovated Chicago kitchen featuring numerous unique features came in at $35,000.
Interior Design work: $3,000
New Condo Kitchen plus / Midsize Home Kitchen
Designing new cabinets with extensive new cabinetry in and adjacent to the kitchen for additional storage, wet bar, office use, breakfast nooks, cabinet features such as shelves, wine racks, seating areas, and storage solutions. Selecting door hardware, backsplash, countertop with waterfall features or breakfast bars, sink, faucet, extensive new lighting plan, appliances, flooring, taking down or putting up walls, helps with reorienting kitchen.
This kitchen involved closing walls and moving plumbing to reposition the peninsula in order to create kitchen more space.
The floors were also entirely redone from the subfloor. The cabinets were commercially available resulting in significant savings.
Kitchen renovation: $50,000
Interior Design work: $3,000
This gut renovation of a Chicago High Rise condo kitchen cost $76,000 plus $15,000 of appliances.
Design cost: $3,500 – $4,500
Large Home Kitchen
A large home kitchen can involve extensive cabinetry and repositioning of all kitchen mechanicals. Large Kitchens can run $80K to $200K.
This Chicago Kitchen Renovation moved the kitchen out of a corner and included numerous architectural features. Cost of this renovation, which included a pantry not seen here, was $110,000.
Design work: $8,000 to $10,000
But keep in mind, the most important thing in hiring a Chicago kitchen designer is not the price. Price is important but much more important is trusting your designer’s design sense and your rapport. A new kitchen is large investment and it’s disruptive. Working with someone who gets you will go a long way to keep you comfortable when things happen.
One more thing, you should also have a meeting of the minds on this question: do you want the interior designer to give you their vision or do you want them to help you develop your own. If you want to develop a kitchen design to fit your own needs and aesthetics, you have to make sure the designer you choose is on board. (Or if you’re Chicago just call us.)
I hope this kitchen interior design cost guide helps. For more information or for any questions about your kitchen design, reach out to us at Habitardesign.com.
Mitch Newman is principal of Habitar Design, which was recently named best interior designer in Chicago. He was a doctor, an theater artistic director, a real estate developer, and now principal at Habitar Design for 13 years.
