Kitchen remodeling
A kitchen remodel is a chain of decisions that depend on each other. Appliances set the cabinet plan, cabinets set the countertop template, and your building sets the rules. We plan the order before anything is ordered.
What’s included
- Full kitchen remodels and layout changes
- Cabinet installation and replacement
- Countertops, coordinated with the fabricator’s template
- Backsplash tile
- Flooring, paint and trim
- Lighting, with licensed electricians
- Sinks and fixtures, with licensed plumbers
- Appliances planned into the layout; gas connections by a licensed plumber
Three kinds of kitchen project
Where your project falls decides the budget, the schedule and the approvals.
Refresh
- What changes
- Surfaces, in the same layout.
- Typical work
- New counters, backsplash, lighting and hardware; cabinets painted or given new doors.
- Keep in mind
- Existing cabinets must be level and sound enough to carry new counters.
Remodel in place
- What changes
- Everything, in the same layout.
- Typical work
- New cabinets, counters, backsplash, floor and lighting, with the sink and range where they are.
- Keep in mind
- Electrical upgrades are often part of it.
Layout change
- What changes
- Where things go.
- Typical work
- Moving the sink or range, removing or adding walls, opening to another room.
- Keep in mind
- Usually needs permits and, in apartments, board approval. Gas and venting are the hardest to move.
Why the order matters
Appliances first
Their sizes and clearances set the cabinet plan.
Cabinets from final measurements
Ordered once the layout is settled and the room is measured.
Counters templated after cabinets
The fabricator measures what was actually installed, so the stone fits.
Backsplash last
Tile goes up after the counters are set.
Range hoods: many apartment buildings don’t allow new ducts through exterior walls, so recirculating hoods are common. Your building’s rules decide.
Who it’s for
- Parlor-floor kitchens in brownstones and rowhouses
- Galley kitchens in prewar apartments
- Families who need more storage and counter space
- Owners updating a kitchen before a sale or a rental
Countertops at a glance
Every material is a trade-off. Here’s how the common ones compare.
Quartz
Works wellBusy kitchens. Consistent color, resists staining.
Watch forCan be damaged by high heat, so use trivets.
Granite
Works wellHard-wearing surfaces with natural variation.
Watch forNeeds periodic sealing; heavy; seams show in some stones.
Marble
Works wellBakers, and anyone who loves the look.
Watch forEtches with lemon, vinegar and wine, and scratches over time. Some people welcome the patina; some don’t.
Butcher block
Works wellWarmth, and a surface that can be refinished.
Watch forNeeds oiling, and isn’t ideal right around the sink.
Our approach
Measure and document
Existing plumbing, gas, electrical and ventilation, and your building’s rules.
Settle layout and appliances
The decisions that fix the rest of the plan.
Written proposal and permit notice
Scope, materials with model numbers, price, schedule and any permits.
Approvals and orders
Building approvals, then long-lead items ordered.
Demolition and rough-in
Licensed plumbers and electricians for the work that requires them.
Cabinets, counters, backsplash
Installed in that order, with the counter template taken from the installed cabinets.
Finish and walk through
Hardware, trim and touch-ups, then a walkthrough with you.
Good to know
- Plan to live without a kitchen for a while.
- A temporary setup with a microwave, a kettle and the fridge makes it easier.
- Counters can’t be ordered early.
- They’re templated after the cabinets go in, so they follow the cabinet installation on the schedule.
- Gas work is regulated.
- In New York City it must be done by a licensed plumber, often needs a permit and inspection, and gas may stay off until it passes.
- Decide early.
- Changes after cabinets are ordered are the most expensive changes in a kitchen.
Questions
Can I keep my cabinets and replace the counters?
Often. The cabinets need to be level, sound and strong enough for the counter’s weight. Stone is heavy.
Can my sink or range move?
Sometimes. It depends on where drains, vents and gas lines run, and on your building’s rules. We check before proposing it.
What about ventilation in an apartment?
Ducting a hood outside isn’t always allowed or possible, and many apartment kitchens use recirculating hoods. Your alteration agreement will say what’s permitted.
How long does a kitchen take?
Your proposal includes start and completion dates and the contingencies that could change them, such as permits, approvals and lead times.
Kitchens in New York homes
Small footprints, shared risers, gas rules and building approvals shape kitchens here. Good planning turns those limits into a layout that works.
Planning a kitchen?
Request a consultation and we’ll talk through layout, appliances, materials and what your building allows. Or call (718) 866-3350