I'm looking for feedback on the average cost for fees related to kitchen re-design. Services will include taking the project from approved design through working drawings. The architects we're interviewing are all independent, one-person shops.

Our kitchen is small by any standard. The most complicated issue in the redesign is knocking down one wall to open the space between the existing kitchen and the breakfast nook.

I'm a novice when it comes to understanding costs of architectural services. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

I'm a kitchen designer (independent) and I charge $50/hour. I normally like to estimate the price for the entire project, however, so that everyone agrees up front about the scope of the project and how much detailed information they expect. I am probably on the low end of the hourly scale (I am in Michigan), but I'm not trying to support anybody on this income, either. For a very small kitchen, I could probably put together a basic floor plan for about $200-300 dollars. If I actually specify the selected cabinets (i.e. you could order from this), do detail drawings of tilework,e.g, obviously the price would go up from there. I'd say an average size kitchen, from start to finish would run about $1,000 in design fees. Hope this helps. (PS If you get the service from a cabinet shop, its usually then rolled into your purchase price IF you purchase from them).

Home Depot and L-O-W-E-S offer this service free. Of course, to get the finished drawings, you have to purchase the cabinets from them.

[This message has been edited by LDoyle (edited November 11, 2002).]

You can get something for free but the rule still applies that you get what you pay for.
In general, architechtural services will run 6-8% of project cost for drawings if not overly custom and another 6-8% for occasional supervision onsite to watch out for your intrests and to see that the design is being built to standards set.

I CAN do draawings for a basic house for 1200-1500 dollars and half of the time is spent on the kitchen, in most instances.

I have seen nice jobs where the kitchen drawings cost over five thousand.