Eden was smart about doing what she could herself, and leaving trickier tasks to the professionals.

Eden tackled the installation of the inset sink, pullout faucet, liquid-soap dispenser, and filtered-water tap. But she left the installation of the hefty granite countertop and the tall backsplash, which wrap all the way around the cooking area, to the pros.

Staying in budget requires deciding what matters most to you. Eden chose to purchase a new stainless-steel refrigerator and install a new cooktop, but she kept some of the original black appliances to keep the remodeling costs at about $5,000.