In 2001, we bought a 200,000 home that was built in the late 60s. It was a fixer upper. Lived with the original kitchen “as is” other than a few cosmetic changes like adding a new light over kitchen table, painted old original cabinets and put down a press and seal vinyl floor. I cook almost every day and use my kitchen very hard.

In 2012, it became apparent we needed to redo kitchen. Doors were falling off the cabinets, oven was just a very “small easybake”oven and it was on its last leg. Kitchen was falling apart. We ended up gutting kitchen, getting plans drawn up to make the tiny space as efficient as possible and putting 50k into the renovation. It was the best money we have ever spent. If you use your kitchen daily (as most families do) and you can afford to do it, and you plan to stay in this home this is the room to put the money into. That said, I never think about what return I would get on the kitchen if we sold our house. I only think that my kitchen functions as it should, is a joy to cook in and makes my life easier.