How to Estimate the Timeline of Your Kitchen Renovation

When you're ready to renovate your kitchen, there are a few things you will need to consider. First, you will have to decide whether you would like a full renovation or a partial renovation. 

Full renovations are when you remove the existing cabinets and flooring, remove the walls between rooms, open up new space for more cabinets and appliances, and change the layout. This extensive renovation will include more time-consuming work, but it's also going to give you a kitchen that looks brand new and functions perfectly for your lifestyle and daily routine.

Partial renovations are when you want to make cosmetic changes or update only certain aspects of your current kitchen. For example, you could replace some cabinet doors, refinish cabinets in a new color, or add an island or pantry unit. Due to their more limited scope, partial renovations don’t take as long as full renovations, but they still give you a kitchen that feels new and exciting. 

Once you know which type of renovation you will be pursuing, you can look at the following steps to judge the overall length of your project’s timeline.

Step 1: Design Consultation

Your first step is to contact your design-renovate firm, get to know us over a discovery call, and book your initial consultation if there’s a good fit. During our in-person design consultation, we’ll take a look at your property and dive into your scope, budget, style, and lifestyle. This meeting sets the foundation for your project, giving us the information we need to create a kitchen design that is perfect for you.

Design Consultation: 1-3 weeks (depending on our mutual availability)

Step 2: Create a Design Plan

Our next step is to go into our studio to create a design plan for you. This includes detailed measurements, photos and drawings, materials samples, and of course, a line-item budget. As a husband-wife, Interior Designer and General Contractor team, Steve and I work together to create a design that looks, feels, and functions exactly how you want it to. 

During this step, we will also check in with our subcontractors to confirm availability and we check lead times on materials. Although these timelines tend to vary widely (based on whatever the market is experiencing at the time), having an extensive network of partners allows us to find the best solution for you, in the shortest amount of time — while never sacrificing quality. 

We then present our Design Plan to you with estimates, product samples to see and feel, and drawings to show you the vision. We invite your feedback and are happy to make updates to the design until it meets your satisfaction.

Design Plan, Full Reno: 2-4 weeks
Design Plan, Partial Reno: 2-3 weeks

Step 3: Apply for and Obtain Permits 

This step is a case-by-case situation. But suffice to say that if a permit is needed, the review time by the municipality can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks, and work should not start until you’ve obtained approval. A good general contractor (like us) will know how to navigate this process and have the permit(s) in hand when the project is ready to start. Fortunately, we can start Step 4 while your permits are being processed, to save some time. 

Obtaining Permits: 1-4 weeks

Step 4: Order Materials & Appliances

Once you’ve approved the design in Step 2, we immediately start ordering materials and appliances. Why? Because we won’t start demolition or construction without everything on hand at the job site or our local warehouse. If we were to start without all materials present, we would risk having to pause mid-project when we realize we don’t have the item we need. This can be detrimental to your timeline, budget, and hired team. 

Waiting, though counterintuitive, is the best way to ensure your project stays efficient, on-time, and in-budget. We help streamline the process by ordering as early as possible and keeping you informed every step of the way.

Material & Appliance Lead Times: 4-16+ weeks

Step 5: Construction 

Once your materials are on site, now we are ready for construction. For a full renovation, our standard practice is to set the project start date around the arrival date of the cabinets. Then, we can plan demo, mechanical installations, and other vital events around the cabinetry. 

If it’s a partial renovation, our timeline might be planned around the painter's schedule or the flooring installation — whichever trade has the most significant role and will need the most time. 

Although we can’t control the wait time for professionals, we orchestrate the project so that materials delivery and the construction start date align as closely as possible. Our goal is to have a consistent workflow on the job site, so that the actual time we are in your home and disrupting everyday life is at a minimum.  

Cabinet Lead Times: 4-18+ weeks
Countertop Fabrication: 6+ weeks
Electrical, Plumbing, and Other Construction: 2-8+ weeks, depending on scope

Step 6: Cosmetic Details

Last but not least, we have the final touches that soften your kitchen and make it feel livable: furnishings and decor. This could include light fixtures, bar stools, custom window treatments, a dining table and chairs for a kitchen nook, etc.

Unfortunately, new furniture lead times are in a league all of their own. We can’t predict them and, honestly, I would not advise depending on the arrival dates the manufacturers give us, as they can be unpredictable. Fortunately, we can place these orders after Step 2, which increases the likelihood that they will have arrived by the time construction is complete.

However, if you absolutely need a specific item as quickly as possible, we strongly advise choosing quickly and from in-stock items. Just let us know if this is your preference, and we will be happy to do so for you.

Lighting & Furniture: Varies widely
Custom Window Treatments: 6-10 weeks
Installation Time: 1 week or less

There you have it — a step by step method of estimating your kitchen renovation timeline while staying in-the-know about what can be done ahead, what can be done simultaneously, and what to expect along the way. 

And don’t be surprised if a sense of overwhelm or impatience creeps in during this time. It’s normal. Any renovation can feel stressful (especially if you’re living in your home during the construction), but in the end, you'll have a beautiful kitchen where you love to spend time, host friends, and make memories.

Ready to get started? Reach out, and let’s see if we’re a good fit for each other. 

Warmly,
Sarah (& Steve)