This is the full story of our kitchen remodel: why we did it, what we chose, what we kept, and our real kitchen remodel cost in Wilmington NC, down to the dollar (real numbers, straight from the invoice!). Plus the honest REALTOR® answer to the question everyone asks: does a kitchen remodel actually pay you back when you sell? 🍳
The short answer: a kitchen remodel rarely returns every dollar at resale. National data shows smaller, midrange kitchen updates recover the biggest share of their cost, while big upscale remodels recover much less. So remodel your kitchen because you’ll love living in it, and be smart about which choices are “you” and which ones the next buyer will care about.
A chef without her dream kitchen? Not for long
Confession: I went to culinary school. (Le Cordon Bleu. I even graduated valedictorian, which I still have the hardest time saying out loud. 🙈👩🍳) So the kitchen isn’t just a room in my house. It’s my happy place, my baking headquarters, and the spot everyone somehow ends up standing in at every party, no matter how nice the living room is.
Our old kitchen worked, but it wasn’t ours. The cabinets, countertops, and backsplash all came out, and so did the last of the wainscoting on the walls. We weren’t tearing it down to the studs or moving walls. We kept the footprint and our appliances, and put the money into the parts we touch every single day.
We remodeled to live in it, not to sell it
Here’s my honest take, and it might surprise you coming from a REALTOR®: we did not remodel our kitchen to sell our house. We remodeled it so we could enjoy our house.
I see it all the time. Someone lives with a kitchen they can’t stand for ten years, then finally renovates it right before they list, and the next owner gets to enjoy it. They paid for the dream and handed it to someone else. 😩
If you’re planning to stay a while, the math shifts. You’re not only buying resale value. You’re buying years of better mornings, easier dinners, and a room you actually want to be in. The National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Remodeling Impact Report backs this up: a kitchen upgrade earned a perfect 10 “Joy Score” from homeowners who did one, and 64% of homeowners who remodeled said they had a greater desire to be in their homes afterward.
A perfect 10. That’s the part the invoices don’t show.
What we chose (and why we went neutral on purpose)
We hired Complete Renovation Solutions, a design-build remodeling company here in Wilmington, and they handled everything from demo to the final countertop. Here’s what went in:
- Cabinets: Homecrest cabinetry in the Darwyn door style, color Iceberg Opaque, with 5-piece drawer fronts and black Sullivan pulls. At our very last showroom visit, we added bun feet for a little furniture-style charm.
- Countertops: Calacatta Oro quartz, including a 12-foot island (144 inches wide and 42 inches deep) with a waterfall edge on one side and shiplap on the back.
- Backsplash: marble herringbone. Swoon. 😍
- Sink: a white fireclay single-bowl farmhouse sink.
- Lighting: the old can lights became LED downlights. We added under-cabinet lighting, puck lights in the stacked glass cabinets, and three pendants over the island.
- Range hood: the blower was upgraded to 1,000 CFM. Hello, chef life. That meant adding a make-up air system too (more on that below).
See a theme? Light, soft cabinets, a classic white-and-gold quartz, marble, and black hardware. We stayed very neutral on purpose, then added detail in the places that make it feel like us.
The biggest one is my hutch. It’s a built-in section designed to look like a freestanding piece of furniture, and it’s where I do all my baking. That’s where the house stops being “a nice neutral kitchen” and becomes my kitchen. 🧁
We also kept the antique chippy columns on either side of the fridge. They have so much character, and they look even better next to the new, lighter pantry cabinets.
The little things I’m so glad we thought of
- Plug molds: these are outlet strips tucked under the upper cabinets. They keep outlets from breaking up the backsplash. We started with two and added two more by change order, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
- Outlets inside the pantry cabinets: small appliances can live plugged in, behind closed doors.
- An outlet just for our Alexa. Timers, music, grocery lists. Priorities. 😂
The best decision we made started with an awkward silence
That waterfall edge? It almost didn’t happen. To save a little money, we’d planned to skip ordering finished cabinet panels for the side and back of the island. Instead, the plan was to fake the look with trim wood.
The second I saw it, I hated it. I just stood there in silence. He knew, and I knew. Finally I said, “What are some other options? Because I don’t think I’m going to like this.”
We talked it through and landed on shiplap for the back of the island and a quartz waterfall edge on the side. Boom. It was absolutely the right call, and it’s one of my favorite things in the whole kitchen. It came to be because I was super honest with my contractor, and he was super open to making me happy. That’s the whole secret to a good remodel.
My advice: if something looks wrong to you mid-project, say so right then. A small change order now is so much better than a daily “ugh” for the next ten years.
Our old cabinets got a second life
Here’s a fun bonus: our old kitchen cabinets didn’t go to the landfill. They got a brand-new job along our garage wall, under-cabinet lights and all, and now they’re working hard as garage storage. If your old cabinets are still solid, ask your contractor about pulling them out carefully so you can reuse or donate them. ♻️
Your taste vs. the market: where to splurge and where to play it safe
This is where a lot of people get stuck. Do you pick the emerald-green cabinets you’ve been saving on Pinterest for three years, or the white shaker cabinets “everyone” says will sell? Here’s how I think about it, both as a homeowner and as a REALTOR®.
Go ahead and make these “you”: paint colors, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, barstools, and open-shelf styling. They’re the easiest and least expensive things to change later. If a future buyer doesn’t love your pendants, that’s a quick swap, not a deal-breaker.
Think twice before personalizing these: the layout, cabinet boxes, countertops, and flooring. They’re expensive and messy to replace, so every buyer will “price in” redoing them. A classic choice here keeps your options open.
Get your personality from details, not colors: this is what we did. Our big-ticket pieces are neutral, and the personality comes from the hutch, the herringbone, the bun feet, and the waterfall edge. Those feel special to us, and a future buyer can still picture their own style in the room.
Match the kitchen to the house: the best kitchen for resale fits the rest of the home and its neighborhood price range. A $150,000 kitchen in a house where every other room is dated can be hard to get back. Meanwhile, a tired kitchen in an otherwise updated home can stick out to buyers. Comps tell the real story.
What I’d do differently (because no kitchen is perfect)
I’d keep the layout exactly the way it is. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. But since I promised you the honest version, here’s what I’d tweak if I did it all over again:
- A slightly warmer cabinet color. Maybe. I still love it, but a touch more warmth wouldn’t hurt.
- Softer hardware, and a little variety. I think the black hardware could have been a bit softer, and I’d mix it up between the doors, the drawers, and the very top upper cabinets.
- More full-height lower cabinets. We went heavy on big drawers and full pull-outs. That means I only have ONE full-height lower cabinet for tall things. It’s not the worst mistake, but it’s definitely a note for next time. Think about where your tallest stuff will live before you finalize the plan.
One thing I’ll never skip: the skinny sheet-tray and cutting-board cabinets on either side of the stove. They’re mission critical in every kitchen I’ve ever done, and this one is no exception. If you cook even a little, put them on your list. 👏
Not my first kitchen rodeo 🤠
This isn’t my first kitchen project, not even close. Before this one, there was our Frederick house, the 1970s rancher we completely renovated, and Lake Linganore, a home we built from scratch with the same builder who did the Frederick renovation. Every kitchen taught me something new (and every single one got those sheet-tray cabinets by the stove). I’m putting together a full post on the kitchen layout must-haves I’ve learned from all of them, so stay tuned!
Our real kitchen remodel cost in Wilmington NC (for the numbers nerds)
Hi, it’s me again, your resident numbers nerd. 🤓 Here’s what our 2022 kitchen remodel actually cost, pulled straight from our final invoice.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Original contract (Complete Renovation Solutions): demo, cabinets and install, quartz countertops, backsplash, electrical, plumbing, make-up air, permits | $59,000 |
| Change orders: 2 more plug molds, waterfall edge and shiplap on the island, removing the rest of the wainscoting and skim-coating the walls | $2,900 |
| Total | $61,900 |
What was included
- Demo: old countertops, backsplash, and cabinets.
- Cabinetry and install: Homecrest cabinets, the bun feet, black Sullivan pulls, and the 1,000 CFM range hood blower upgrade.
- Countertops: Calacatta Oro quartz, including the white fireclay farmhouse sink.
- Backsplash: marble herringbone, installed.
- Electrical: LED downlights, under-cabinet lighting, glass-cabinet puck lights, plug molds, pantry outlets, the Alexa outlet, and hanging our pendants.
- Plumbing: hooking up the sink, faucet, dishwasher, and garbage disposal.
- HVAC: a make-up air system for the bigger range hood.
- Permits.
What wasn’t included
This is the part nobody puts in the “after” post, and it’s where budgets quietly grow (or, in our case, stayed sane).
- Appliances. We kept all of ours! The only appliance-ish upgrade was the range hood blower. Skipping new appliances is one of the biggest ways a kitchen remodel stays out of the six figures.
- Pendant lights. I bought the three island pendants myself; the crew installed them.
- Kitchen faucet. We supplied it; they installed it.
- Garbage disposal. We reused our existing one.
- Flooring. We kept our existing hardwood floors.
Same lesson as our backyard pool build: the contract is only part of the story. Budget for the things you’ll buy yourself, too.
Wait, what’s make-up air?
Here’s a fun fact nobody tells you until you’re in it: a big range hood pulls a LOT of air out of your house, and that air has to be replaced. In North Carolina, the mechanical code generally requires a make-up air system when a kitchen hood can exhaust more than 400 CFM (the threshold is higher for some all-electric homes). Our 1,000 CFM upgrade meant make-up air was part of the job. If you’re dreaming of a powerful hood, ask your contractor about this before you get a quote, because it’s its own line item.
And now? We actually cook in it
That hutch is my happy place. Flour everywhere, mixer running, cookies cooling on every inch of that quartz. The island is where everyone ends up, and the Alexa outlet may be the most-used little decision we made. We did this for us, and we get to enjoy it every single day.
Okay, the REALTOR® in me has to say it: does a kitchen remodel add value?
I get asked this all the time, so here’s the honest, not-a-financial-advisor answer: it depends on how big you go.
Zonda’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report estimates what a remodel costs and how much of that cost comes back at resale. Here are its kitchen numbers for the South Atlantic region, which includes North Carolina:
| Project | Avg. job cost | Value at resale | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel (midrange) | $28,359 | $31,712 | 111.8% |
| Major kitchen remodel (midrange) | $79,591 | $41,805 | 52.5% |
| Major kitchen remodel (upscale) | $157,713 | $56,965 | 36.1% |
See the pattern? The smaller refresh recovered more than its cost on paper. The bigger and fancier the project, the smaller the share that came back at sale. Our $61,900 remodel (in 2022 dollars, with no new appliances) lands between the “minor” and “major midrange” averages. That’s exactly why I never tell anyone to do a top-to-bottom luxury kitchen just to sell.
A few things I’d tell any homeowner thinking about it:
- Staying 5+ years? Remodel for you. You’ll get the joy every single day, and resale is a bonus.
- Selling in the next year or two? Think refresh, not remodel. Paint, hardware, lighting, and a deep clean often go a long way. Talk to your agent before you tear anything out.
- Keep the big-ticket choices classic, and let your personality shine in the details.
- Keep your paperwork. Permits, contracts, warranties, and invoices (like the one I just shared with you!) help show buyers the work was done right.
If you’re weighing a kitchen remodel (or any big reno) and wondering how it would play out when you eventually sell, that’s exactly the kind of thing I love to talk through. My guide to selling a house in Wilmington covers what to do before you list. Or give me a call at 910-983-8963. No pressure, no jargon, just real numbers for your specific street.
The real takeaway
Don’t wait until you’re leaving to love your home. If a remodel will make your everyday life better and you plan to stay, that joy counts as part of the return. Go neutral where it’s expensive to change, go you in the details, and enjoy every cookie that comes out of that oven.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Wilmington NC?
Our 2022 kitchen remodel in Wilmington came to $61,900, pulled straight from our final invoice: a $59,000 contract plus $2,900 in change orders. It covered new cabinets, quartz countertops, a marble backsplash, electrical, plumbing, make-up air and permits. We kept our appliances. For comparison, Zonda’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts the average South Atlantic minor midrange kitchen remodel at $28,359 and a major midrange remodel at $79,591. It’s our project’s real total, not an estimate for yours.
Does a kitchen remodel add value to a home?
Usually some, but rarely all of it. In Zonda’s 2025 Cost vs. Value Report for the South Atlantic region, a minor midrange kitchen remodel recouped about 112% of its cost, a major midrange remodel about 53%, and a major upscale remodel about 36%. Your home’s price range and neighborhood comps matter most.
Should I remodel my kitchen before selling?
If you’re selling within a year or two, a full remodel usually isn’t the best use of money, because bigger projects recoup a smaller share of their cost. A refresh like paint, hardware, lighting and a deep clean is often a better move. Talk with your agent about what buyers in your price range expect before you start.
Should I remodel my kitchen for my taste or for resale?
Both, in different places. Keep expensive, hard-to-change pieces like layout, cabinets, countertops and flooring fairly classic. Then show your personality in details like hardware, lighting, a backsplash pattern or a special built-in. We chose neutral cabinets and quartz, then added a baking hutch and a herringbone backsplash.
Do I need make-up air for a range hood in North Carolina?
Generally, yes, if the hood can exhaust more than 400 CFM, under the North Carolina mechanical code. The threshold is higher for some all-electric homes. Our range hood blower was upgraded to 1,000 CFM, so a make-up air system was part of our remodel. Check with your contractor and local code official before you choose a hood.
Keep exploring
Love a good before-and-after? See our backyard pool build (with every dollar) and our 1970s rancher glow-up, where we renovated a kitchen ourselves. Living in a community with an HOA? Check what your HOA covers and requires before you start any big project.
Dreaming about your own slice of the coast? Let’s find your home between the river and the sea.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
A remodel is a big line in any budget. If you’re weighing it against everything else it takes to live here, here’s my breakdown of the cost of living in Wilmington.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
