Published January 14, 2026
Kitchen budgets fail for a predictable reason: homeowners price the cabinets and forget the room. Here is how a custom kitchen budget actually breaks down in central Connecticut, and where the money genuinely buys something.
The short answer
Most full custom kitchens we build in the Litchfield Hills and Greater Hartford land between $90,000 and $250,000, all in. A straightforward 200-square-foot galley may come closer to $75,000; a large room with inset cabinetry, a hand-hammered hood, integrated refrigeration and stone slabs can pass $300,000.
Those numbers include cabinetry, counters, appliances, lighting, tile, plumbing trim and installation. They do not include structural work, additions or a new floor.
Where the money goes
- Custom cabinetry: 35–50% of the budget. Inset doors, dovetailed drawers and a shop-built finish are labor, not materials.
- Counters and slabs: 8–15%. Natural stone is priced by the slab, and a large island may need two.
- Appliances: 8–18%. Panel-ready refrigeration and professional ranges push this up quickly.
- Tile, plumbing and lighting: 8–12%.
- Construction, plaster, electrical and installation labor: 15–25%.
Why custom costs more than stock — and when it does not
Stock cabinets are cheaper per box. But an old house with out-of-square walls pays that difference back in filler panels, soffits and compromises. Custom work is built to the opening, so a 98-inch wall gets a 98-inch run.
Custom is also repairable. A damaged door can be re-made years later in the same profile and finish. With a discontinued stock line, one broken door can mean a whole new elevation.
The line items homeowners forget
- Temporary kitchen setup if you are living in the house.
- Dumpster, permits and inspection fees.
- Electrical upgrades: a modern kitchen rarely runs on the old panel.
- Plaster repair and paint after cabinet removal.
- Hardware upgrades — quality pulls are $20–$80 each.
- Lighting design, and the electrician's time to install it.
How to keep a budget honest
Ask for a proposal with allowances stated as numbers, not adjectives. Lock the design before demolition. And keep a 10% contingency that you do not spend on a nicer range the week before install.
We price from drawings, not from a photograph, and we say plainly when a requested detail will not fit the budget you have. That conversation is much cheaper in the design phase than in the shop.
The short version
- Plan on $90k–$250k all-in for most custom kitchens in central Connecticut.
- Cabinetry is the largest line and the one that lasts longest.
- Budget 10% for what you cannot see until walls are open.
How much does a custom kitchen cost in Connecticut?
Most custom kitchens in central Connecticut run $90,000 to $250,000 all-in, including cabinetry, counters, appliances and installation. Complex rooms with inset cabinetry, integrated refrigeration and large stone islands can exceed $300,000.