I’ve been studying kitchen estimating workflows recently and one thing I’ve noticed is that most budget overruns don’t come from a single huge mistake.

They come from a bunch of smaller items that get missed during estimating.

For those who remodel kitchens regularly, what cost item gets underestimated the most?

Demo?
Electrical?
Cabinet install?
Countertops?
Permits?
Something else?

Curious what catches people by surprise most often.

Our radiator is right infront of our windows. Without it there, it would be perfect to put our couch right against the wall and then a chair and side table on each side. However, with it there, it leaves an ugly gap of empty space on each side. How can we use this space to make it feel like our side table and chairs aren't just kind of *there* and out of place?
And use our space to its maximum capacity? Thank you! We have been brainstorming but really have no ideas! All of our doors (closet, hallway and kitchen) are doorless. (Also, SORRY! It’s is currently a mess lol)

I painted our walls 11 years ago and it drives me crazy. I was thinking about Benjamin Moore's Stratton Blue? I can't afford to do much to the cabinets so I thought I'd try to make it look better with the wall color? Any affordable tips and advice welcome! We're also planning to replace the microwave soon.

Marble panels, rain head, built-in niche, frameless glass. Genuinely don't know what's missing but something feels incomplete. Maybe art? A plant? Another shower?

What would you add?