No budget or timeline conflict to flag — $18,000 over 3 months is a workable envelope for a cosmetic kitchen refresh that keeps the existing layout, which is the single biggest cost saver in any kitchen project. Because nothing is moving, no plumbing or electrical rough-in is required, and that keeps this firmly in "refresh" cost territory rather than "remodel." Realistic Cost Range: - Cabinet refacing or door replacement for a typical 10x12 kitchen: $4,000-8,000 professionally, or $1,500-3,000 in materials if you do the doors and hardware yourself. - Countertops (quartz, ~40 sq ft including a small overhang): $3,000-5,000 installed. Laminate would be $1,200-2,000; butcher block $1,500-2,500. - Backsplash tile: $600-1,200 professionally, or $200-400 in materials as DIY. - Paint (walls, ceiling, trim): $300-500 DIY in materials. - Sink and faucet replacement in the existing location: $400-900 for fixtures, plus $250-450 for a plumber if you don't do it yourself. - Permits: likely none for pure cosmetic work; a same-location fixture swap is usually exempt, but confirm with your local building department. - Expected total at your DIY split: roughly $9,000-14,000, comfortably inside $18,000. Phase Order: 1. Order countertops first. Quartz templating happens only after the cabinets are set, but the slab selection and fabrication queue is typically 2-4 weeks, so this is your long-lead item and it drives the whole schedule. 2. Empty the kitchen and paint the ceiling and walls before cabinets go up or get refaced — painting around finished cabinets is slower and produces a worse result. 3. Cabinet refacing/door replacement. 4. Countertop templating, then fabrication, then installation. Expect a 1-3 week gap here where you have cabinets but no counters; plan a temporary kitchen setup. 5. Sink and faucet install after counters are in — not before. 6. Backsplash tile last, so it can be scribed to the finished counter. 7. Hardware, trim, and touch-up paint. Permits and Licensed Trades: - Cosmetic work here does not typically require a permit, but permit rules vary by jurisdiction — your local building department is the authority, and a quick phone call costs nothing. - Reconnecting the sink drain and supply lines in the same location is within reach of a confident DIYer, but if you hit corroded shutoff valves or old galvanized pipe in a 1970s home, stop and call a plumber rather than forcing a fitting. DIY Split (given comfort with paint and tile): - Realistically DIY: all painting, backsplash tile, hardware, and cabinet door/hardware installation. - Hire out: countertop fabrication and installation — this is not a DIY item, since quartz templating and seaming require specialized tools and a mistake is a full slab. Likely Budget Surprises for a 1970s Home: - Cabinet boxes that aren't actually square, which shows up when new doors go on; budget shim/adjustment time. - Original sink base with water damage under it, discovered only when the old sink comes out. - Walls that aren't flat, which makes a large-format tile backsplash harder than expected. - Recommended contingency: 15%, or about $2,000-2,500 — moderate, because you aren't opening walls, which is where the truly expensive surprises live.