Impact on cost:
Not changing your kitchen’s size or configuration (floor plan), keeping appliances, plumbing, lighting, and counters where they are now, requires the least amount of work and is the least costly.
In the industry, we refer to this as a “cost-saving”, changing the configuration, but not the size or structural elements, like the location of walls, windows, doors, and so on, still requires opening walls for adding new electrical, water, wastewater, and gas lines.
We then must repair the walls we opened by installing new drywall before placing appliances and fixtures. So, changing your kitchen’s configuration adds more cost.
Changing the configuration and structural elements, like walls, doors, windows, or size, adds the most cost to a kitchen remodel, short of building an addition for your kitchen.
IMPORTANT:
Configuration and structural changes may have a significant impact on your kitchen’s cost. Still, if your current kitchen is poorly defined or is not the right shape or size for your needs or the look you desire, these changes are well worth the investment both for your needs and when you sell your home.