How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?

A realistic timeline for a major kitchen remodel

You are ready to make your dream kitchen a reality. But before you start thinking about custom cabinets and sexy appliances, I recommend you do a little research on what is involved in the process, and how long it takes. Home renovation TV shows make it seem like any project can be done in a week, but we all know “reality” TV isn’t real. Let’s take a look at unedited versions of real-life renovation schedules from basic to high end kitchen remodels.

Types of Kitchen Remodels

The length of a kitchen remodel depends on the scope of work. Clearly, a custom overhaul will take much more time than a cosmetic upgrade, but how much more time?

Cosmetic updates can include new countertops, appliances, paint, and other finishing touches. In many cases, these upgrades can be completed in a matter of weeks, including design and implementation.

Full kitchen remodels, on the other hand, are measured in months. How many months depends mostly on whether or not you change the floor plan, how much you change it, or if you relocate the kitchen in the home. The more areas of the home you touch, the longer it will take, and the level of customization also significantly impacts the timeline.

Replacement Kitchen After: This kitchen was essentially left intact. The sink, cooktop and fridge are in the same locations. We did quite a bit more work on the project, and the timeline was longer than a typical replacement kitchen . . . but you ge… — **Replacement Kitchen After:** This kitchen was essentially left intact. The sink, cooktop and fridge are in the same locations. We did quite a bit more work on the project, and the timeline was longer than a typical replacement kitchen . . . but you get the idea.

Replacement Kitchen vs. New Floor Plan

A replacement kitchen is a complete remodel that uses the existing footprint and layout of the kitchen. Since you do not move walls or plumbing, it shaves weeks off of the construction stage. It also takes less planning since you have a head start with the design layout. A replacement kitchen can be completed in as little as two months, depending on the level of customization and delivery of materials.

Now, things get a little more complicated when you begin with a clean slate and re-think the floor plan of your kitchen. Sure, we take into consideration where things are located now, but we are more concerned about where you want things to be. We take down walls, add windows, and move electrical and plumbing. These types of remodels usually take a minimum of four months for construction, but that’s just a starting point. High end kitchen designs require even more planning with longer product deliveries, easily adding six weeks to the process.

In summary, the different types of kitchen remodels take about this much time:

Cosmetic updates: 4-6 weeks
Replacement kitchen: 9-10 weeks
Full custom kitchen: 5 months minimum
High end kitchen: 6 months minimum*

* Since Jenni Leasia Design specializes in high end custom kitchen, let’s take a closer look at that 6+ month timeline.

Before Custom Kitchen: This was such a complete transformation that it’s hard to see that this is the same space as the image below and the photos are taken from the exact same angle. The closet/towers were removed. The half bath was relocated, (see… — **Before Custom Kitchen:** This was such a complete transformation that it’s hard to see that this is the same space as the image below and the photos are taken from the exact same angle. The closet/towers were removed. The half bath was relocated, (see the toilet paper holder?) and that space was added to the kitchen. We also remodeled the master bath and made some other improvements.

After Custom Kitchen: This client had a vision of entertaining and holding court at an expansive island where everyone could gather around . . . and they do! — **After Custom Kitchen:** This client had a vision of entertaining and holding court at an expansive island where everyone could gather around . . . and they do!

High End Kitchen Remodel Schedule

First, let’s quickly define what I mean by ‘high end.’ High end is about more than the price tag. It’s about attention to detail, quality and not taking shortcuts. It’s taking the time to carefully merge function with style according to a client’s specific needs and tastes. It’s all about customizing a kitchen to perfectly suit the client.

Everything takes longer whenever the word “custom” is involved. Custom products are made to order or only come from special manufacturers, which means expected deliveries are often doubled, if not tripled, which extends the timeline. But it’s always worth the wait!

Design: 2-3 months

Home renovation TV shows skim over the design process more than anything. High end kitchen designs take months of planning, starting with the floor plan. We select appliances early because the size of a stove, fridge, ovens, and more have a domino effect on the rest of the kitchen design.

Once the floor plan is finalized we begin cabinet elevations. This is where you begin to see how the kitchen will look and how it will function for you. From spices to electrical outlets to small appliances, we locate everything according to your needs. We even go as far as inventorying our client’s current kitchens to optimize the design and workflow.

Then, of course, comes the fun part: selecting finishes! To be accurate, we begin considering finishes very early on, but it’s only after the floor plan is complete that we can make final selections on flooring, lighting, countertops, backsplash, paint, and other kitchen materials.

Pre-Construction: 1-2 months

Preconstruction often overlaps the design process. So, it is not an additional 1 to 2 months. During preconstruction, the builder will order products and materials, finalize the construction bid and submit for permits.

Construction: 4 months

As you can see, we are already four months into the remodel process before construction begins. But those initial four months lay the foundation of your dream kitchen. Home renovation TV shows love to focus on the construction phase, but the final product is only as good as the design.

In our experience, the construction stage for custom kitchen remodels averages 4 months, including unforeseeable obstacles. And there are always unforeseeable obstacles. No matter how well you plan, a kitchen renovation will always throw at least one curveball at you. But as experienced designers, we have learned to prevent, predict, and avoid them as much as possible.

Total Time: 6 months

Of course, there are always exceptions. Some high end kitchen remodels can take less than 6 months, but it serves as a reasonable basis.

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High End Kitchen Designs | Portland, Oregon

Jenni Leasia Design specializes in kitchen designs and renovations in the Pacific Northwest and Los Angeles. Whenever our clients ask, “How long does a kitchen remodel take?”, we respond with detailed schedules for their specific renovation. Tell us about your dream kitchen, and we’ll tell you how (and when) we can make it a reality.