Kitchen Remodeling Philadelphia, PA

Quick Answer

Expect $15,000–$30,000 for a minor kitchen remodel, $30,000–$75,000 for mid-range, and $80,000+ for an upscale project with custom cabinetry and stone countertops.

Add a 10–20% contingency for an old house. You get a written, itemized estimate from us before anything is ordered.

These ranges are consistent with national cost data from HomeAdvisor and Angi, adjusted for what we see on projects across the Philadelphia area.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Value Report, a minor kitchen remodel recoups roughly 96% of its cost at resale, one of the strongest returns of any home project.

Countertops and cabinetry are the two largest line items; read our breakdown of countertop replacement cost and our guide to 9 kitchen countertop replacement ideas for every budget to see what drives the numbers.

Want a number for your kitchen instead of a range? Call – 610-436-5436

Homeowners comparing several design-build firms in the Philadelphia area should ask each one to explain its process. Here is ours, in five steps:

1. Consultation and site measurement. We meet at our showroom or your house to define the scope, budget, and schedule of the project.

2. Design. Designing a kitchen requires understanding lifestyle and preferences. A family that cooks daily needs a different layout than one that entertains. Our skilled team builds the design around how you use your current space, then documents every detail.

3. Material selection. You select cabinetry, countertops, and finishes in our showroom. Quality materials are essential for durable kitchen renovations. Our guide on how to identify quality cabinets and countertops explains what to look for, including 3cm stone and all-plywood construction.

4. Permits and scheduling. We handle L&I permits and build the construction timeline around required city inspections.

5. Construction and installation. Demolition, rough-in work, inspections, then cabinetry, countertop, and finish installation. Our installation services are performed by our own team, working closely with you until the final walkthrough meets your expectations.

Homeowners comparing kitchen remodeling companies in the Philadelphia area should judge them on the same five things: who does the work, where the materials come from, how pricing is handled, what happens when problems appear, and what past clients say. Here is how we answer each one.

One Team, One Contract

We are a design build firm. Design, cabinetry, countertop fabrication, and installation happen under one roof, so there is no gap between what a designer draws and what a contractor builds — and one point of accountability if anything needs fixing.

In-House Fabrication

We cut and finish stone in our own 10,000 sq ft West Chester facility instead of subcontracting it. That means shorter lead times, tighter quality control, and a countertop measured against your actual cabinets, not a spec sheet.

20+ Years in the Region

We have served Philadelphia, the Main Line, and Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties for over two decades. Our showroom is 45 minutes from Center City, and you can see every material in person before you buy.

Old-House Experience

Plaster walls, knob-and-tube wiring, out-of-square rooms, L&I permits, pre-1978 lead-safe work — we have handled all of it on Philadelphia-area projects. We budget a 10–20% contingency up front so surprises change the plan, not the outcome.

Written, Itemized Estimates

You get a detailed scope and price before anything is ordered. No allowances that balloon mid-project, and no verbal quotes. If the scope changes, you document and approve the change first.

Quality Materials, Named Brands

Cabinetry from Mouser, Waypoint, NorthPoint, and Craft-Maid. Countertops in 3cm stone from Cambria, Corian, and Caesarstone. All-plywood cabinet boxes, not particleboard. Materials built to last 20–30 years, backed by manufacturer warranties.

Quick Answer

Permits are required for significant plumbing and electrical changes, and Philadelphia has strict city regulations for kitchen remodeling projects, enforced by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). We file the permits and schedule the inspections as part of every project.

• No permit needed: painting, replacing cabinet doors, swapping appliances in place, installing new countertops on existing cabinets.

• Permit required: moving a sink or gas line, adding electrical circuits, removing or altering a wall, changing ductwork or ventilation.

Developing a clear construction timeline is critical for city inspections. Rough-in plumbing and electrical must pass inspection before walls close, so a contractor who schedules inspections poorly stalls the whole job.

If your house predates 1978, most of Philadelphia’s rowhome stock, work that disturbs paint also falls under the EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, and your contractor must be EPA-certified for it.

Philadelphia’s housing stock is old. Rowhomes in the city and stone houses on the Main Line often date from the early 1900s or before, and a kitchen remodel may uncover outdated wiring, plumbing, and structural issues once demolition starts.

Common findings include knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines, undersized joists, and framing altered in past renovations. Our team has decided how to handle plaster walls, uneven floors, and out-of-square rooms on hundreds of projects.

Proper ventilation is essential for older homes with limited airflow. Many old Philadelphia kitchens have no exterior exhaust at all, which traps moisture and cooking byproducts. We plan ducted range ventilation into the design phase, not as an afterthought during construction.

None of this should stop a renovation. It should shape the budget. This is exactly what the 10–20% contingency fund is for, and it is why the contractors you interview should be able to describe old-house problems from their own jobs, not in general terms.

Custom cabinetry is a key feature of kitchen remodeling services because it solves the two problems most Philadelphia kitchens share: irregular dimensions and limited storage.

Old rowhome kitchens have out-of-square walls, chimney bumps, and low windows that stock cabinets cannot work around. Custom cabinetry is built to the actual wall, which lets you maximize storage in a small footprint.

Custom cabinetry also integrates solutions like appliance garages and organizers: pull-out spice racks, tray dividers, deep drawer systems, and paneled appliances that keep a functional space uncluttered.

For homeowners weighing options, these guides cover the decisions in depth:

• What are the best quality cabinets? Brands, materials, and expert tips

• Why quality custom cabinetry is a lifetime home investment

• Custom cabinetry kitchens: how the process works

• What color cabinets work with black granite countertops

Quality materials ensure durability and aesthetic appeal in kitchens. A remodel built with high-quality materials lasts 20–30 years; one built with the cheapest options starts failing within 10. The countertop decision matters most because it takes the most daily abuse.

We fabricate countertops in-house at our West Chester facility, which shortens lead times and keeps quality control on one site.

For deeper comparisons, read about the best stone for kitchen countertops, our 10 countertop replacement options you may not know, and 6 black quartz countertop design ideas.

On a tight budget, see 10 affordable countertop replacement options and costs, or our DIY guide on how to redo countertops on a budget.

Homeowners who want to understand what professional installation involves can read how to install countertops and 11 steps to install granite countertops.

Most choose professional installation after seeing the steps; stone is heavy, and a broken slab is not refundable.

Style should match the house. Transitional design, which mixes traditional cabinet profiles with clean modern lines, fits the region’s older housing better than strict modern design and holds resale value well. See our guide to transitional kitchen designs for examples.

In rowhomes and other narrow houses, homeowners often remove a non-structural wall to create open, airy kitchens connected to the dining area.

This is where thoughtful design pays off: a redesign that improves workflow and light does more for daily use than any single upgrade. In larger suburban houses, an island with seating and a walk-in pantry are the most requested changes.

We serve Philadelphia and the surrounding region from our showroom and fabrication facility at 1135 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA, about 45 minutes from Center City. If your location is not listed, contact us; we cover most of southeastern Pennsylvania.

• Philadelphia

• The Main Line

• Chestnut Hill

• Wayne

• Bryn Mawr

• Ardmore

• Media

• Chester County

• Delaware County

• Montgomery County

• West Chester

Kitchen remodeling is an expensive project, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways to save money on a kitchen remodel, and here are some of them:

Bring your measurements, photos, and budget range, and a designer will walk you through layouts, materials, and a realistic schedule for your project.

Whether you own a Center City rowhome or a Main Line colonial, MacLaren Kitchen & Bath is ready to transform your space, and our team delivers kitchen remodeling Philadelphia PA homeowners can rely on for decades.