Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Cambridge, MA
Kitchens and bathrooms for Cambridge houses and condos
We design, permit and build kitchens and bathrooms in Cambridge triple-deckers, Victorians and condos.
- Licensed and insured in Massachusetts
- Design, permits and construction by one team
- Itemized written estimate
The houses we see in Cambridge
Cambridge housing is mostly triple-deckers, Victorians and condos carved out of both.
A triple-decker kitchen sits at the back, with a pantry, a back hall and a porch door. The floors slope, the walls are plaster, and the wiring may still be knob-and-tube.
Victorian bathrooms were often added decades after the house was built. They are narrow, framed over odd joists and fed by galvanized pipe near the end of its life.
Houses built before 1978 usually have lead paint somewhere. Massachusetts regulates how it is handled, and we price that in.
Older houses have one more step. Exterior changes, even a new kitchen window, may need Cambridge Historical Commission review. We prepare that filing.
Tight lots, parking and condo rules
Many Cambridge houses have no driveway and little curb space. A street dumpster needs a city permit. On some blocks there is no room, so debris goes out by truck. We plan where the crew parks and how cabinets get up a narrow stair.
In a condo, the association usually has to approve the plans first, and many buildings limit work to weekday hours.
What Cambridge homeowners ask us for
A bigger kitchen without an addition
In a triple-decker the kitchen, pantry and back hall are three small rooms in a row. Removing one or two walls makes one room with space for an island.
A second bathroom upstairs
Many Victorians have one full bath for four bedrooms. We find room in a deep closet or a hall end and run new drain, vent and supply lines there.
A condo kitchen inside the rules
Plans go to the association first. On site we pad the elevator, protect the halls and keep noisy work to the hours the building allows.
New wiring and pipes while walls are open
If we find knob-and-tube or galvanized pipe, this is the cheapest time to replace it. It goes in the estimate as a separate line, so you decide.
How a project runs
We visit and measure
We look at the room, the electrical panel, the pipes and the subfloor. You tell us what works and what does not.
You see the design in 3D
You get a 3D model of the new room before anything is ordered. We move things until the island fits and the doors clear each other.
We price it line by line
The estimate lists cabinets, counters, tile, plumbing, electrical, permits and labor separately. Once you sign, we file for the building permit and any condo or Historical Commission approvals.
One manager runs the job
Your project manager is the person you call, and you get an update every week. We finish with a walkthrough and fix anything on your list.
Questions we hear in Cambridge
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Cambridge?
Yes, if you move walls, plumbing or wiring, which most remodels do. The city issues the building permit, and the electrician and plumber pull their own. We file everything and schedule the inspections.
Will the Historical Commission review my kitchen or bathroom?
Only if the work changes the outside, such as a new window or a bump-out. Interior work is not reviewed. We check your address before we draw.
What does a kitchen or bathroom cost here?
A full kitchen remodel with us starts at $35,000. The biggest drivers are moving plumbing, custom versus stock cabinets, stone counters and the state of the wiring. Bathrooms we price after a site visit, because what is behind the old tile decides much of the number. More in our cost guide.
How long will I be without the room?
A bathroom usually takes four to eight weeks of construction. A kitchen often takes longer because of cabinet and counter lead times. You get the dates before demolition starts.
Is the work covered by a warranty?
Yes. You get a written workmanship warranty. If something we built gives you trouble, we come back and fix it.
Where we work
We also work in Somerville, Belmont, Arlington and other towns within about 30 miles of Boston. Our office is in the South End, across the river.
Get a free estimate
Tell us the address and what you want to change, and we will call to set up a site visit. A call works too: (857) 228-5854, between 7 AM and 10 PM.
