Recent Essays
The Budget
The counter where dreams meet real numbers. Honest kitchen remodel cost breakdowns — where to spend, where to save, and how to avoid the budget mistakes Audrey watched clients make across sixty Chicago projects. Countertop material comparisons, cabinet pricing, labor costs, and real project budgets explained in plain language. No vague estimates. No glossy-magazine fantasy numbers. Just what kitchens actually cost and where the money should go.
01
Countertop Material Cost Comparison: Quartz, Butcher Block, Laminate, and ConcreteKitchen countertops are one of the biggest budget decisions in a remodel — and the price r...
Audrey WellsThe Budget
Jul 29, 2026
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02
I Renovated Two Kitchens With the Same Budget — Here's Where the Money Went DifferentlySame budget. Two completely different kitchens. Audrey Wells compares two real Chicago rem...
Audrey WellsThe Budget
Jul 29, 2026
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03
Where to Spend and Where to Save in a Kitchen Remodel — Updated for 2026Kitchen remodels are expensive. But after managing sixty projects, Audrey Wells learned th...
Audrey WellsThe Budget
Jul 01, 2026
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