Kitchen Remodel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your kitchen is the heart of your home — and when it stops working for you, everything feels off. Whether your cabinets are falling apart, your layout makes no sense, or you just want a fresh start, a kitchen remodel is one of the best investments you can make in your property.

But where do you begin? At Artisan & Co., we've guided hundreds of Los Angeles homeowners through the process. Here's exactly how a kitchen remodel works, phase by phase.

Before a single wall comes down, you need clarity on two things: what you want and what you can spend.

Ask yourself:

• Is this a cosmetic refresh (new counters, paint, hardware) or a full gut renovation?
• Do you want to change the layout, or keep the footprint the same?
• What's your non-negotiable — appliances, storage, countertops?

Budget reality check: A mid-range kitchen remodel in Los Angeles typically runs between $40,000–$80,000. High-end custom kitchens can exceed $150,000. Knowing your number upfront prevents scope creep and keeps your contractor honest.

Pro tip: Always hold 10–15% in reserve for surprises. Behind walls, we often find outdated plumbing, knob-and-tube wiring, or water damage that wasn't visible during the initial walkthrough.

Once your budget is set, it's time to design. This is where most homeowners underestimate the time required.

Key decisions to make:

• Cabinet style, finish, and layout (stock, semi-custom, or fully custom)
• Countertop material (quartz, granite, marble, butcher block)
• Backsplash tile
• Flooring (hardwood, tile, LVP)
• Appliance package
• Lighting plan (recessed, under-cabinet, pendants)
• Plumbing fixtures (sink, faucet, pot filler)

Work with your contractor to finalize a full material list before breaking ground. Changes made mid-project are the #1 cause of budget overruns and delays.

In Los Angeles, most kitchen remodels require permits — especially if you're moving plumbing, adding electrical circuits, or altering the layout. Your contractor should pull all required permits before work begins.

Permits typically needed:

• Building permit (structural changes)
• Electrical permit (new circuits, panel upgrades)
• Plumbing permit (moving sink, adding dishwasher line)
• Mechanical permit (range hood venting)

Skipping permits might save a few hundred dollars upfront, but it can cost you tens of thousands when you go to sell — or worse, require you to tear out finished work.

Demo day is exciting — and messy. Your crew will remove existing cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, and any walls that are coming down.

What happens during demo:

• Utilities are shut off to the kitchen (gas, water, electric)
• Cabinets and counters are removed
• Flooring is pulled up
• Walls are opened to expose plumbing and electrical
• Debris is hauled away

A good contractor protects the rest of your home during this phase — plastic sheeting on doorways, floor protection in hallways, and daily cleanup.

With walls open, your plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs do their rough work. This is the most critical phase because it's the infrastructure everything else depends on.

What gets done:

• New plumbing lines run to the sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator (if adding ice maker)
• Electrical circuits added for appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and outlets
• Range hood duct run through the wall or ceiling
• Any structural work (beams, headers for removed walls)

Inspections happen here. Your contractor schedules the city inspector to sign off on rough plumbing and electrical before walls close.

Once inspections pass, walls get closed up. New drywall is hung, taped, mudded, and sanded. Cement board goes up in wet areas where tile will be installed.

This phase also includes:

• Priming and painting walls
• Installing recessed lighting cans
• Prepping the floor for tile or hardwood

Cabinet installation is the most visible transformation of the project. Your installer will set the base cabinets first, then upper cabinets, ensuring everything is level and plumb.

Flooring typically goes in before or after cabinets depending on the material:

• Hardwood and LVP: usually installed before cabinets
• Tile: usually installed after cabinets

This phase takes 2–5 days depending on the size of your kitchen.

Countertops are templated (measured precisely) after cabinets are set, then fabricated and installed. Stone counters (quartz, granite, marble) take 1–2 weeks from template to install.

Your sink cutout is made during fabrication. Once counters are in, the plumber returns to set the sink and connect supply lines and drain.

With counters in, the tile setter installs your backsplash. This is a detail-heavy phase — grout lines, patterns, and cuts around outlets all matter.

Other finish work happening simultaneously:

• Cabinet hardware installed
• Under-cabinet lighting wired and connected
• Appliances delivered and set in place

Your plumber and electrician return for their finish work:

• Faucet, garbage disposal, and dishwasher connected
• Range hood wired and tested
• Appliances plugged in and tested
• Final electrical inspection scheduled

Before we call a project complete, we do a thorough walkthrough with you. We look for:

• Cabinet doors that need adjustment
• Grout that needs touch-up
• Paint touch-ups
• Any items that didn't meet your expectations

Nothing gets signed off until you're satisfied.

A full kitchen remodel in Los Angeles typically takes 8–14 weeks from demo to final walkthrough. The biggest variables are permit timelines (LA can be slow) and material lead times.

Planning ahead and ordering materials before demo begins is the single best way to keep your project on schedule.

At Artisan & Co., we handle every phase in-house — from design and permits to the final punch list. We serve homeowners across Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and surrounding communities.

Get a free quote today and let's talk about your kitchen.