Luxury Kitchen Remodeling in Boston, MA
Kitchen remodeling in Boston and nearby towns
We design and build kitchens in Boston condos, brownstones and triple-deckers, and in houses from Brookline to Hingham. One team draws it, permits it and builds it.
- Licensed and insured in Massachusetts
- Design, permits and construction by one team
- Itemized written estimate
What a full remodel includes
A full remodel takes the room down to the studs. A refresh keeps the cabinet boxes and swaps doors, counters and paint.
- Layout. Where the sink, range and fridge sit sets the plumbing and electrical scope, so we settle this first. Moving a sink across the room costs more than sliding a range along its wall.
- Cabinetry. Semi-custom lines come in three-inch width steps. Custom boxes are built to the inch, which pays off in a narrow galley or a bay window. We will tell you where custom earns its price.
- Countertops. Quartz never needs sealing. Quartzite is natural stone, harder than marble, and needs sealing now and then. Marble etches from lemon juice and wine, and some people like that.
- Appliances and ventilation. A 36-inch gas range wants a hood that vents outside, not a recirculating one. In a condo, the route to that exterior wall can shape the whole design.
- Lighting. Recessed cans on one switch, under-cabinet strips on another, pendants on a dimmer. Many older kitchens have one ceiling fixture.
- Flooring. Tile, or hardwood woven into the existing floor with no threshold at the dining room. Hardwood runs under the cabinets, not up to them.
- Plumbing and electrical. Older kitchens usually need added circuits for the range, dishwasher, microwave and disposal. Galvanized supply lines are worth replacing while the walls are open.
How the design stage works
It starts with a site visit. We measure the room, check the panel, and trace the gas and waste lines. Then we build a 3D model, so you see the island from the living room before anything is ordered.
Judge finishes from physical samples, not a screen. Take door fronts, stone offcuts and tile home for a few days. Colors read differently under your own windows.
The design stage ends with an itemized written estimate. Swap quartz for quartzite and you see exactly which line moved.
What the price depends on
Full kitchen remodels start at $35,000. Most of the spread above that comes from six decisions.
| Decision | What pushes the price up | Where you can hold it |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | Custom boxes, inset doors, painted finishes, many drawers | Semi-custom boxes, custom pieces only where they show |
| Countertops | Marble or quartzite, extra slabs, waterfall ends | Quartz, seams placed where you will not look |
| Appliances | Panel-ready fridge, 48-inch range, built-in wine unit | A good freestanding range and a counter-depth fridge |
| Layout changes | Moving the sink or gas line, a new venting path | Keep the sink on its wall, move only the range |
| Structural work | Removing a bearing wall, a beam, an engineer’s stamp | A wider cased opening instead of a full removal |
| Finishes | Handmade tile, brass hardware, a custom hood | Plain tile and one strong element |
The longer version is in our cost guide.
How long a kitchen takes
Construction usually runs four to eight weeks once the cabinets are on site. The stages before that take longer than people expect.
- Design and selections: usually three to six weeks, set mostly by how fast you decide.
- Permits and cabinet lead time: often six to twelve weeks. We do not demolish until the cabinets have a delivery date.
- Demolition and rough-in: one to two weeks. Walls open, new pipe and wire, inspections.
- Drywall, floors, cabinets and counters: two to four weeks. Counters are templated after the cabinets go in, so plan on a week or two without a sink.
- Backsplash, lighting, trim and punch list: one to two weeks.
These are typical ranges, not promises. A busy stone shop or a snowstorm can add days.
Working in Boston homes
Kitchen permits in the city go through the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). If the gas line moves, a licensed gas fitter pulls that permit and does that work.
In a South End or Back Bay brownstone, the wall between kitchen and dining room may be bearing. In a Dorchester or Somerville triple-decker, the center wall usually is. Opening it means a beam, shoring and an engineer’s letter, so we price that first.
Condos add rules: association approval, set work hours, elevator time with pads up. A dumpster on a Boston street needs a street occupancy permit. We handle both and put the dates in the schedule.
After more than 20 years in Massachusetts construction, we expect old plaster. It does not come off cleanly, so demolition takes longer and makes more dust. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, which Massachusetts regulates, so we check for it before demolition.
How a project runs
Site visit and rough numbers
We measure, open the panel, look under the sink, and talk about budget. You get a realistic range, not a pitch.
Design in 3D
Layout options, a 3D model, and samples to take home. We revise until the plan is right.
Itemized estimate and contract
Every product, quantity and price on its own line. You sign when the numbers are right, not before.
Permits and construction
ISD permits, condo approvals, then demolition. One project manager, one phone number, a written update every week.
Walkthrough and warranty
We walk the kitchen with you, write the punch list, and finish it. Then you get the written workmanship warranty.
Questions homeowners ask
Can we live in the house during the work?
Most people do. Set up a temporary kitchen in another room with the fridge, a microwave and a hot plate. We seal the work area with zipper walls. Demolition and rough-in are the loud weeks.
Do new cabinets and counters need a permit?
Usually not, as long as nothing moves. Once plumbing, electrical or gas changes, Boston requires permits and inspections. We pull them.
Do you do refreshes, not just full remodels?
Yes. New doors, counters and paint on good boxes. We will tell you on the first visit if the boxes are worth keeping.
How do you handle a condo building’s rules?
We read the association’s rules before the estimate. Then we send the scope and insurance certificate to management and book elevator time. Work hours go on the schedule.
What if you find something behind the walls?
In older Boston kitchens we often find knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized pipe or rot under the sink. We stop, show you, and write a change order with a price before going on.
Do you remodel kitchens in winter?
Yes. Kitchens are inside work. Winter mostly affects deliveries in storms and any exterior venting, and we plan around both.
Where we work
Our office is in the South End. We work about 30 miles out from Boston.
Get a free estimate
Tell us about your kitchen and we will call to set up a site visit. Or call (857) 228-5854, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
