If your kitchen layout works but the room looks tired, you don’t need a full remodel. A refresh keeps the cabinets where they are and changes the surfaces you see and touch every day. It takes a fraction of the time and cost, and the kitchen is usable for most of the job.
Refresh or remodel?
A refresh makes sense when the cabinet boxes are solid, the layout suits how you cook, and the plumbing and gas lines can stay where they are. A remodel makes sense when you want to move the sink or range, take out a wall, or add an island that needs power and plumbing. We’ll tell you which one fits.
Cabinets: paint, reface or replace
- Paint. Doors come off and are cleaned, sanded, primed and sprayed. The boxes get the same treatment in place. Done properly, it looks factory-finished.
- New doors and drawer fronts. A good option when the doors are dated or damaged but the boxes are fine. Shaker and slab styles are the most common.
- Replace. If the boxes are water-damaged or falling apart, new cabinets are the better investment, even with the same layout.
New hardware, soft-close hinges and a few pull-out organizers make a big difference for little cost.
Countertops and backsplash
Quartz is the most popular choice for its durability and low upkeep. Laminate has come a long way and still makes sense on a budget. Countertops are measured once the cabinets are ready, then cut and installed, usually within one to two weeks. The backsplash goes in after the countertop, and the old sink and faucet are usually replaced at the same time.
Lighting
Under-cabinet lighting is one of the most useful upgrades in any kitchen. It lights the counter where you actually work. Pot lights or a new fixture over the table finish the job. A licensed electrical contractor does the electrical work.
What to expect during the work
The order of work protects your new finishes. Cabinet work and painting come first. Countertops follow once the cabinets are ready to be measured. The backsplash goes in after the countertops, then the sink, faucet and lighting.
Plan for some dust and some noise, and for a kitchen that’s partly out of action. Set up a small coffee station and a place for dishes in another room. A microwave, a kettle and a slow cooker go a long way for a week or two. We’ll cover the floors and protect the doorways each day.
Getting ready
Empty the cabinets and the drawers before we begin. Move small appliances to another room. Pick your hardware, faucet and tile early, since lead times can stretch the schedule. If you aren’t sure about colours, bring home a few door samples and look at them in the kitchen at different times of day.
When the work is done, take photos of the finished kitchen. They help with questions later, and they help if you decide to plan a bigger remodel down the road.
What affects the price
- Painting versus new doors or new cabinets
- Countertop material and the number of cut-outs
- Backsplash tile and how much wall it covers
- Lighting, outlets and whether new circuits are needed
Get a quote
Send us photos of the whole kitchen and a close-up of a cabinet door, and tell us what you’d like to change. We’ll come back with options and a written price.