When replacing one cabinet affects nearby appliances and finishes, plan the whole cabinet run before deciding how much to replace. In this North Seattle kitchen, we expanded the plan from one cabinet to a full kitchen remodel while keeping the wine refrigerator.
At Anyvision Home Remodeling, our Redmond-based design-build business offers residential kitchen remodeling. This project’s planned scope brought together new cabinets, a small dishwasher shift, a new sink and faucet, and a full-height backsplash.
What drives the cost and schedule of this small kitchen remodel?
The main cost driver is the expanded scope: replacing a whole cabinet run and associated fixtures and finishes involves more work than replacing one cabinet. Cabinet quantity and configuration, corner details, appliance positioning, sink and faucet replacement, and backsplash material and extent all affect pricing.
Schedule planning also depends on final selections, product availability and the order in which related work can proceed. Cabinet dimensions need to be settled before ordering; adjacent finishes need to follow the approved layout. A small room does not remove those dependencies.
Seattle routes additions and remodels through applicable construction permits, with qualifying smaller scopes eligible for subject-to-field-inspection review. Trade permits may be separate. Confirm the route for the actual scope before setting the construction sequence.
In Washington, electrical work requires applicable business and worker credentials, permits and inspections; general-contractor registration does not replace them. L&I explains these electrical contractor requirements. Plumbing contracting likewise requires an appropriately licensed business and certified individuals under the state’s plumbing contractor requirements.
How should the revised scope be documented before construction?
Put the expanded layout and selections into a written scope before construction starts. We document scope, materials, timeline and approved changes in writing, and use written change orders.
For a kitchen changing from one cabinet to a coordinated remodel, the scope should make the following decisions explicit.
- Identify the cabinet drawings and the upper, lower and corner cabinets included.
- Name appliances that stay, including the wine refrigerator, and show the proposed dishwasher position.
- Record the selected sink and faucet, along with any unresolved selections.
- Define the backsplash material and extent rather than relying on “full height” alone.
- List exclusions and assign responsibility for applicable permits and inspections.
- Record approved scope changes and their effects on price and schedule.
