Kitchen Renovation Template
Plan a major home renovation with budget and timeline
Starting idea
This template starts your interview with the idea below, so you can skip the blank page
Planning a kitchen renovation in our 1970s home. Budget is around $40k. We want to open up the wall to the dining room, add an island, and update appliances. Not sure whether to DIY parts of it or hire a general contractor for everything.
Questions the interview asks
A sample of what the AI covers for this topic — the full interview adapts to your answers
- Structure
Do you know whether the wall to the dining room is load-bearing? In a 1970s home that single fact swings the cost of opening it by $2k-15k and determines if you need an engineer.
- Budget
Is $40k the target or the ceiling? Kitchen renovations overrun 15-25% on average — should the plan assume $34k of scope with contingency, or $40k and risk it?
- DIY split
Which trades are you honestly comfortable doing — demo, painting, tile? Electrical, plumbing, and structural work usually need permits and licensed pros.
- Living logistics
Can you live without a kitchen for 6-10 weeks? Where does the temporary cooking setup go, and does the timeline avoid any events you're hosting?
- Layout
For the island: what clearance will remain on each side? Less than 42 inches of walkway makes an island a daily annoyance rather than an upgrade.
- Era surprises
Has anything from the 1970s been updated already — wiring, plumbing, insulation? Opening walls in homes this age often uncovers aluminum wiring or galvanized pipe that must be dealt with once exposed.
What your plan covers
The finished plan is organized into sections like these
- Scope and priorities
The wall opening, island, and appliances ranked by value, with the cut list if bids come in high — decided now, not mid-project.
- Budget with contingency
Line items for structural work, cabinets, counters, appliances, labor, and permits — plus the 15-20% contingency a 1970s home demands.
- DIY vs. contractor split
Which tasks you take (demo, paint, hardware), which need licensed trades, and whether a GC or self-managed subs fits your risk tolerance.
- Permits and inspections
What your city requires for structural, electrical, and plumbing changes, typical approval timelines, and the inspection sequence.
- Timeline and living plan
Week-by-week schedule from demo to punch list, the long-lead orders (cabinets: 6-12 weeks), and the temporary kitchen arrangement.
- Contractor vetting
The questions that reveal a good GC, what a real bid includes, payment schedule red flags, and how to compare three quotes properly.
How it works
Three steps from template to complete plan
- 1 Start with the template
Click the button below to load this template into your session with the idea pre-filled.
- 2 Answer AI questions
Our AI interviewer asks targeted follow-up questions to understand your specific situation and needs.
- 3 Get your plan
Receive a clear, detailed, and actionable plan tailored to exactly what you described.
Frequently asked questions
Is $40,000 enough for a kitchen renovation?
It's a solid mid-range budget — enough for new cabinets, counters, appliances, and opening a non-load-bearing wall in most markets. The risks are the wall (if it's load-bearing, add $5-15k for a beam and engineering) and 1970s-era surprises behind the drywall. Plan $32-34k of scope and hold the rest as contingency.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Six to ten weeks of construction for a full kitchen, but 3-5 months door-to-door once you include design, permits, and cabinet lead times — cabinets alone often take 6-12 weeks to arrive. The classic mistake is starting demo before every material is on site; that's how six weeks becomes four months.
Should I hire a general contractor or manage subcontractors myself?
With structural work involved, most people should hire a GC. Self-managing subs saves the 10-20% GC markup but makes you responsible for sequencing, permits, and every gap between trades — realistically 5-10 hours a week of coordination. Self-manage only if your project is cosmetic or you've run a renovation before.
Ready to plan your kitchen renovation?
Start with this template. AI handles the questions from here.
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