Budget Breakdown: A New Zealand Architect Builds a Passive House for His Family for $490K

The kitchen cabinets are birch plywood with medium-pressure laminate. The home’s cabinetry package totaled about $56,768. The counters and backsplash are stainless steel. The kitchen is one of the architect’s favorite spots. "We do a lot of cooking. We really enjoy our food. So, the practicalities of how the kitchen works are really key, with the nooks and crannies where we can put all our stuff," says Rafe. Open cubbies keep tools and cookbooks close at hand.