Courtney and Andy's Cottage Galley

Do you dream of renovating — someday? Remodeling a kitchen is one of the more expensive things you can do in your home, and so it is a far-off dream for many of us. Most commercial kitchen renovations, depending on where you live and what you need, start at $10,000 and go way up from there. And yet there is a lot you can do for much less than that amount, as our readers have shown.

Here is a look back at 10 kitchen renovations and makeovers that do a lot with a little — there are beautiful kitchens here that cost $7500, $1400, even just $500 and less! Take a peek!

Ashley Ann's $500 Light and Lovely Remodel

TOP ROW
• 1 Courtney and Andy's Cottage Galley - A major kitchen upgrade in Richmond, Virginia, done on a budget of $7500. The owners spent most of this on much more energy-efficient appliances, as well as some defining touches like the farmhouse sink. Make sure to read the comments on this tour: The owner adds a lot of extra helpful info (including their budget).

• 2 Sudie's Pocket-Sized Renovation - Sudie's kitchen is the smallest featured here, and also probably the most expensive, since she lives in Manhattan, and the small appliances she needed come, ironically, with a premium. But she still was able to create a tiny yet beautiful and functional space under her budget of $10,000.

• 3 Alex's Under $8000 Remodeled Kitchen - A handsome little kitchen from our recent Small Cool Kitchens contest. Alex saved a lot of money by doing most of the work himself, except for the granite countertop installation. He also lives in a high-cost urban area (D.C.) so this is a doubly impressive price tag for this sleek kitchen, remodeled for under $8000.

• 4 Tanja's Smart, Under $7000 Kitchen Renovation - This Los Angeles kitchen renovation is full of smart, cost-saving ideas, like the extra stretch of countertop with integrated wine storage. They also worked to make environmentally-friendly choices — all for under $7000.

• 5 Tamar's Labor of Love Renovation - Tamar took a year to renovate her New York City kitchen, mostly with her own two hands. Her process demonstrates the sacrifice involved when renovating yourself, but it also shows the reward. Her lovely, vintage-inspired galley kitchen remodel cost less than $6000.

BOTTOM ROW
• 6 Jerilynn's Under-$5000 Totally Renovated Kitchen - Here's another entry from the Small Cool Kitchens contest. Jerilynn remodeled her Indianapolis kitchen, transforming it from a rather hideously outdated space into something much more posh and modern, with a more practical flow for real cooking. She and her husband did much of the installation themselves, and shopped for scratch-and-dent appliances, which kept their budget under $5000.

• 7 Ali's Kitschy Yet Organized $1400 Kitchen Remodel - One more Small Cool Kitchens contest entry: Ali and her husband put in some major work on their kitchen, stripping wallpaper and tearing out linoleum, refinishing hardwood floors. It paid off, though! They had a tiny budget of $1400 and that went a seriously long way.

• 8 Ashley Ann's $500 Light and Lovely Remodel - Ashley Ann took a dark kitchen and transformed it completely, using very little except paint and some elbow grease. New self-installed butcher block countertops (thank you again, IKEA!) and some clever redecorating helped change this kitchen into an open, brighter space — all for under $500.

• 9 Elizabeth's $500 Transformation - This kitchen is simply stunning in its smart, resourceful makeover techniques. Paint and fabric go a long way here. Elizabeth was a finalist in Small Cool Kitchens this year, so you can also view her entry for even more details on her $500 remodel.

• 10 Leea's Lovely Little Budget - This last makeover is unique because it is actually a rental kitchen. Leea took a bare, dramatically ugly kitchen in central Mexico, and brightened it up. She added shelves and new fixtures, too, making it much more functional, all for under $150.

Got a great kitchen renovation or before and after to share with us? Email us! We'd love to share it as inspiration.

Related: Renovate for Under $1000: The $967 Kitchen Remodel

(Images: All images courtesy of homeowners)