Nobody likes talking about the money part of a kitchen project. You want to talk about the island layout, the cabinet color, and whether to splurge on the range hood. But the budget conversation is the one that actually determines whether your kitchen gets finished, stays finished, and doesn’t turn into a three-month nightmare that drags into six.
Sterling homeowners face a specific set of numbers that differ from national averages. Labor costs in Loudoun County are higher than in most of the country. Permit fees and inspections add real dollars to any project. Material costs shift with supply chains, and the wait time on custom cabinets can mean a project that starts in March doesn’t wrap up until July. That’s why budgeting for kitchen remodeling here needs a local lens, not a generic online calculator.
You need a remodeler who has experience and understands the trends like WellCraft Kitchen and Bath. From that experience, a clear pattern emerges in the budgets that work and those that fall apart. This guide pulls together what you actually need to plan for before you sign a contract with anyone.
What Kitchens Cost
Forget the $30,000 number you see in national articles. Real Sterling kitchen remodeling projects land in a few clear tiers.
A minor refresh with new countertops, backsplash, paint, and hardware usually runs $25,000 to $45,000. A mid-range renovation with new cabinets, counters, appliances, and flooring comes in around $60,000 to $110,000. A full gut renovation with layout changes, wall removal, and high-end materials starts at $120,000 and can easily reach $200,000 or more on larger homes in Countryside, Lowes Island, or CountryView.
These numbers reflect what Sterling contractors actually charge in the current market, not what a cousin in Ohio paid three years ago.
The Cost vs. Value Report tracks regional pricing and resale returns for kitchen and bath projects, and it’s the most reliable data source homeowners can reference before meeting with a contractor.
Break your Budget into Categories
Most homeowners underestimate what goes into a kitchen because they focus only on cabinets and counters. A complete budget needs to account for the full scope.
Cabinets usually take 30 to 35 percent of the total. Countertops run 10 to 15 percent. Appliances are 10-20% off, depending on brand. Installation and labor are 20 to 25 percent. Flooring, plumbing, electrical, lighting, permits, and finishes fill in the rest.
If your quote doesn’t clearly address these, that’s a red flag. A good kitchen remodeler gives you line-item pricing so you can see where every dollar is going and where you have room to trade off. Solid maple cabinets for mid-grade quartz. Upgraded range and hood for basic pendants.
The 15 to 20 Percent Contingency
Every experienced contractor will tell you this, and every inexperienced homeowner thinks they don’t need it.
Open a wall, and you might find outdated wiring that needs to be brought up to code. Pull up linoleum, and you might find subfloor rot from a slow dishwasher leak the last owners ignored. Older Sterling homes built in the 70s and 80s often have surprises behind the drywall. Newer homes in places like Stone Ridge and Broadlands usually come with fewer surprises, but still aren’t guaranteed.
Setting aside 15 to 20 percent of your total budget as a contingency is the difference between handling a problem calmly and blowing up the whole project. If you don’t use the contingency, great. Keep it. If you do use it, you’ll be glad it was there.
Permits, inspections, and HOA Approvals
Sterling, VA, requires permits for any plumbing or electrical work, wall removal, or structural changes. Permit fees are modest, but the inspection timeline can delay a project by a week or two if you’re not planning around them. A professional kitchen remodeler pulls permits for you and schedules inspections as part of the timeline.
If you’re in an HOA, add two to four weeks for approval of exterior changes, like window replacements or venting.
The U.S. Department of Energy publishes guidance on Energy Star appliances and LED lighting that can lower your utility bills long-term. Factor those savings into the value side of your budget conversation, especially if you’re replacing older appliances that are costing you every month.
Where to Spend and Where to Save
Spend on cabinets and layout changes. These are the hardest and most expensive to redo later. Solid cabinet construction outlasts everything else in your kitchen.
Save on hardware, light fixtures, and paint. These are easy to swap out if your taste changes in a few years. A $40 cabinet pull looks basically the same as a $4 one in most kitchens, and nobody will notice.
Splurge selectively on the one or two items that matter most to you. A statement range. A dramatic island countertop. Real wood flooring.
Financing and Payment Schedules
Most kitchen remodeling projects get paid in stages. A deposit at signing, progress payments at milestones like cabinet delivery and installation, and a final payment on completion. Reputable contractors never ask for the full amount up front.
