Budgeting & Planning for Your Dream Kitchen

Nora Duran: Welcome to our exclusive series with Jordan McCants, the mastermind behind Adonis Kitchen and Bath, where we delve into the art and science of transforming your home. Today, we are thrilled to have Jordan with us as we embark on a journey to enlighten homeowners about achieving their ultimate dream spaces.

Our goal is clear — to equip you with the insights and strategies for a seamless and successful home renovation. Whether it’s that bespoke kitchen you’ve been dreaming about or that comprehensive remodel, we are here to ensure your visions come to life with authority and style. So I have Jordan here. Hi Jordan, could you please introduce yourself?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Yeah. Hello, Nora. So my name is Jordan McCants. I am one of the owners and founding members of Adonis Kitchen and Bath. I actually started the company with my brother, Josh. It was his brainchild. He’s been doing this a lot longer than me. But, since he’s not here, I think I’ll suffice.

Nora Duran: Perfect. Thank you very much. Our first question is a big one, but it’s something everyone wonders about. What is the best way to design a kitchen?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: So the best way to design a kitchen. So here’s going to be the most important thing when designing a kitchen. Everything needs to work together, right? So if you were to give me the most beautiful tile on the entire planet, let’s say it’s 250 per square foot, whatever it may be, I could find a space where that tile doesn’t work.

And if you were to give me a budget of 3 per square foot for a tile to make a beautiful masterpiece of a bathroom, then I could find a way to make that work and blend with the remaining aesthetics. The most important key component is that everything is working together as a system and that everything is interconnected.

So I typically recommend first, you need to dissect what you’re looking for and what type of aesthetic you like. And then only from there can you actually start the journey of selecting different countertops and having options and colors and all those. So the most important thing is to start with the big picture or work backwards from there.

Nora Duran: That’s fascinating. Now I want to dig a little deeper when it comes to designing a kitchen. What are the five key factors people should consider? I’m sure there are so many details to keep in mind, but I want to know what’s your top five.

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Sure. So I know I have a top four, right? See if I can think of a fifth one.

So budget is the first thing people need to start with because that’s going to let you know whether or not you have to keep the same or do something different or do something perfect, right? If you don’t have the budget for a remodel, you’re going to limit yourself and a lot of times it could just be better to wait as opposed to attempt to get something done for half of what it really should be.

Another one of the things you’ll need to look at is the space. Right? So the space that you have available, you need to see what potential you have within those existing four walls. Now, of course, kind of ties back to budget. You could always change that space. I mean, you can take down walls, you can pull things out, build on additions, you can do all sorts of stuff like that.

But the space is going to be the next most important. And then once you get past your limitations of budget and space, then you’re looking at aesthetics, right? So when you walk in there, what do you see and how do you feel? That’s always the one that everyone thinks of.

Most people know what type of style they like. They know what colors they like. And then another important thing to consider is going to be what functions or features you’ll need out of that space. So if you cook a lot, it can be useful to have an additional bar sink in the island or maybe a pot filler by the range.

Those types of things really come in handy depending on what you do in the space. Same thing with bathrooms — there’s a lot of opportunities with different types of showers, steam showers, and ways to illuminate spaces and bring them to life. So those are my top four: budget, space, aesthetics, and features.

Nora Duran: Great points. And moving on to something a bit more specific. What do you think is the most ideal kitchen layout? I feel like this one can really vary based on personal preference and space, right? But I want to know what’s your ideal kitchen layout.

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: So this can go a lot of ways. To me, the ideal kitchen layout — I want to see something spacious. I want to see something fun and calm. But a lot of that is in the eye of the beholder. That’s why custom remodeling can be important. We have had clients in the past whose ideal layout differed from mine.

So as much as I want to say, “Hey, I’m the expert, I know everything, I know what everyone’s going to want” — I don’t. The ideal layout is really what’s going to work best for you. The only thing I will say is you have to consider space. You have to be able to move around. But other than that, some people use things very differently than others. So the process always needs to identify how the space will be used if you want to get to the root of what’s going to be their ideal layout.

Nora Duran: Absolutely. Now, for those planning a remodel, having a checklist can be super helpful. What do you think should be on a kitchen remodeling checklist?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: A kitchen remodeling checklist — that’s a good one.

I’m going to go back to the key considerations. Of course, you want to keep in mind budget, space, aesthetics, features — all of those things. You really want to be thinking about how that space is going to be used. Beyond that, there’s all sorts of things that people can use.

Now we have Pinterest, which is awesome. What I see very commonly is we will go to a house and people will show us what they found, what they like, things that they’ve used, things that are speaking to them. So I would say, get some inspiration together — things that you’ve seen and liked — and be open to discovering new things instead of just limiting yourself to what’s already in your head. I don’t know that there’s a perfect checklist.

Nora Duran: Thank you for your information and for your opinion. So with so many factors to consider, what would you say is the most important factor when designing a kitchen, if you have to pick one?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Budget. I hate to say it, but yeah — if you don’t have budget, you don’t have anything. You’ve got to be able to do it right. Having a low budget just leads to regrets.

Nora Duran: I see, and I totally agree. Let’s move on with budgets. What do you think is a realistic investment for a kitchen remodel? This is the trickiest part for homeowners, but what’s realistic?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Sure. So the average for the past year has been between 60 and 70 thousand.

It is possible to do them for less, but there are also many situations where it turns into much more. We’ve had projects where a kitchen remodel turned into a first-floor remodel. Without even thinking about it, you’ll start in the kitchen, then next thing you know, you want to carry the flooring through the rest of the floor, add new baseboards, paint, accent walls — and it’s very easy to turn a $70,000 project into a $100,000+ project.

On the reverse end, if you have a small footprint, here are the four factors for what things will cost: the size of the space, the finishes and options (entry-level vs. high-end), whether you’re relocating things, and whether the house fights back. Older homes can be trickier and costlier.

If everything is working with you — small space, basic finishes, no relocations, and cooperative structure — you could find yourself in the $30K range. But I wouldn’t recommend going below that unless you have a high risk tolerance. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. The more you’ve got, the safer you are.

Nora Duran: Good advice. Budgeting is always a tough one. Organization is key in any kitchen. What type of organization do you recommend in kitchen projects?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Organization depends on what we’re talking about — planning and design process, or project execution.

We have a three-step process for remodels. First is the initial walkthrough. Second is a meeting with Josh, the project manager, to go over details and expectations. Then comes the design phase. We start with a preliminary estimate so clients can adjust their expectations early.

During execution, we use zip walls, cover vents to prevent dust, protect surfaces, and — very important — have all materials on-site before starting. Inspect everything first. Having all materials ready saves time, avoids delays, and ensures a smoother experience. That kind of organization keeps clients happy and projects on track.

Nora Duran: That’s really insightful. Thank you. Now I want to talk about trends, as they’re always changing. What is the current trend in kitchen cabinets?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: That’s an easy way to start an argument. We went to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show earlier this year and talked to some designers. There are a lot of trends — and no single right answer. Many designers can’t even agree.

Earth tones are definitely trending again — greens, browns, natural hues. People are drawn to earthy, organic feels. Another trend is bold monochromatics — bright ultramarines, pinks, yellows, oranges — reminiscent of the 70s. And then there’s the “new neutrals”: pale pinks, muted yellows, soft tones breaking away from gray and white dominance.

White shaker kitchens are timeless, but it looks like we’re moving toward more warmth and color. Of course, we’re in Ohio — not exactly a trend hub — so we often see trends a little later than the coasts.

Nora Duran: Interesting to hear about the new trends. Let’s move on to countertops. What would you say is the best countertop for a high-end kitchen?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: If you’re looking for resale, go with something recognizable — quartz, quartzite, granite, or Cambria. These materials hold value and are well-known.

There’s also Dekton — by Cosentino — which is extremely durable. It has 800-degree heat resistance, doesn’t need sealing, and has a strong hardness profile. It’s used even on building facades. So, if you don’t care about name recognition, Dekton is an amazing choice.

Nora Duran: That’s a great recommendation. On the topic of luxury, what do you think is the most luxurious type of kitchen countertop? Is it the same one?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: The problem with Dekton is that most people don’t know it. Luxury often means brand recognition. People want others to know what they’ve spent. So for that reason, quartzite, quartz, or granite are the most luxurious in people’s eyes. I’m not a fan of marble — stay away from it. That’s my advice.

Nora Duran: Great. Now let’s talk about something often overlooked but so important — lighting. How does lighting affect kitchen design and functionality?

Jordan-Adonis Kitchen and Bath: Lighting changes everything. We did a project featured on our website in Akron that had an earthy, warm tone. Instead of using all recessed lights and pendants, we used warm, ambient lighting to set the mood. It completely transformed the feel.

Bright white lights can make a cozy kitchen feel industrial, while warmer tones make it more intimate. Functional lighting — under-cabinet, in-cabinet, above-cabinet — also matters. Lighting layout requires foresight and coordination with the overall design. If you don’t believe lighting changes everything, just turn it off.

Nora Duran: Lighting really does make such a big difference. Finally, for our listeners looking to upgrade their kitchen appliances — what are the key considerations they should keep in mind? How does it affect the overal