The number people quote from mainland websites does not survive contact with an island. Almost every material arrives by sea, and what is behind your wall is usually older than the quote assumes.
Where the money goes
Cabinets and stone are the visible cost, but plumbing and electrical relocation, structural headers where a wall comes out, and shipping lead times are what actually shape a budget.
What moves the number
- Moving the sink or the range — new supply, waste and circuits
- Removing a wall that turns out to be load-bearing
- Bringing old wiring up to current code once it is exposed
- Stone selection, which can swing the total more than any other single choice
How to keep it predictable
Get the walkthrough before the design. Knowing what is behind the plaster is worth more than another cabinet catalogue.
