Built for Central Ohio homes
Most full kitchen remodels here run $35,000 to $75,000. Tell us what is not working in your kitchen and we will help you scope it.
A kitchen remodel should make your home easier to live in, not simply give it a different look. At Kitchen Remodel Columbus OH, we help homeowners rethink the rooms they use every day, from tight galley kitchens and dated cabinet layouts to open kitchens designed for busy families, entertaining, and everything in between. Our work starts with the way you actually use your space: where groceries land, how people move through the room, what never seems to fit, where lighting falls short, and which materials will hold up to real life.
We serve Columbus and communities across Central Ohio with kitchen remodeling, cabinet replacement and refacing, countertops, bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling, and larger whole-home renovations and additions. Whether you already have drawings and finish ideas or you are starting with a list of frustrations, we can help turn those ideas into a practical project scope.
Kitchen Remodel Columbus OH is a referral service, not a construction crew. We match homeowners with vetted remodeling companies working across Central Ohio, then stay involved enough to make sure the scope is clear before anyone swings a hammer. That structure exists because of a pattern worth naming: most remodeling problems begin long before demolition, in the gap between what a homeowner pictured and what actually got written down.
So the questions we ask first are the unglamorous ones. Where do the groceries land. How many people are in the room at once on a weeknight. What is behind that wall. Whether the layout genuinely needs to change or whether new cabinets, better lighting, and a reworked island with seating would solve it for a third of the cost. The answers shape which remodeler is the right fit, because a firm that excels at whole house renovations is not automatically the right choice for a focused cabinet and countertop update.
Columbus housing stock is the other reason we work this way. A 1920s Clintonville foursquare, a German Village brick rowhouse, and a 2005 build in New Albany present three completely different remodels behind identical-looking drawings. Older homes bring plaster, out-of-square walls, undersized electrical service, and framing nobody documented. That is solvable, but it needs a remodeler who has done it before, and matching for that experience is most of what we do.
More about usThe honest answer is a range, because "kitchen remodel" covers everything from new doors on existing boxes to taking the room down to the studs. These are the tiers we see across Central Ohio, and the thing that moves a project between them is almost never the finishes. It is how much of the layout moves.
| Project tier | Typical Columbus range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $10,000 – $25,000 | Cabinet refacing or paint, new hardware, laminate or entry-level stone, lighting, backsplash. Layout unchanged. |
| Mid-range remodel | $35,000 – $75,000 | New cabinets, quartz or granite counters, appliances, flooring, updated electrical. Plumbing mostly stays put. |
| Full renovation | $85,000 – $150,000+ | Layout changes, walls moved, relocated plumbing and gas, custom cabinetry, structural work. |
Two numbers are worth holding onto. Cabinets are typically 30 to 40 percent of the total, which makes the cabinet decision the single biggest lever on your budget. And the 30 percent rule is a useful sanity check: spending much more than about 30 percent of your home's value on one remodel rarely comes back at resale, which matters in a market where existing space trades around $210 per square foot. Our Columbus kitchen remodel cost guide works through each line, and the budget guide shows what a given number actually buys.
Sequence causes more frustration than cost does. Work done out of order gets undone, and the two places homeowners get surprised are both scheduling facts rather than delays.
Layout, cabinet line, counters, flooring, fixtures. Finishing selections before demolition is the best protection against change orders, because every decision made mid-project costs more than the same decision made in advance.
Drawings go to the city while cabinets go on order. Cabinet lead time runs two to four weeks for stock, six to ten for semi-custom, eight to sixteen for custom, and it usually sets the start date.
Tear-out, then any wall removal or framing changes. This is when an older home tells you what it has been hiding, which is why a contingency belongs in the budget.
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical go in, then an inspector signs off before anything is covered. This is the only independent look anyone gets at the work behind your walls.
Close the walls, then run flooring, then set and level cabinets. Cabinets have to be level and final before a fabricator can template, so this order is not negotiable.
Templating happens on the installed cabinets, then fabrication runs one to three weeks. Backsplash, appliances, plumbing reconnect, and the punch list follow.
Those last two steps contain the gap nobody warns you about: you are without a kitchen sink from cabinet install until the counters arrive and a plumber reconnects. Plan a temporary dish station rather than being surprised by it. Our Columbus remodel timeline puts real durations on each phase, and the countertop installation guide covers the template stage in detail.
Our work covers the rooms and renovations that can make the biggest difference in how a home functions. Kitchen remodeling remains our core focus, including layout changes, cabinetry, counters, lighting coordination, flooring, backsplashes, and finish details. We also help homeowners refresh cabinets when a full replacement is unnecessary, install new countertop surfaces, remodel bathrooms, finish or rework basements, and plan whole-home renovations or additions when the project extends beyond a single room. The right scope depends on the house and your goals. Some kitchens improve dramatically with new cabinet fronts, counters, lighting, and paint. Others need walls moved, plumbing relocated, or an adjoining room incorporated into the footprint. We would rather help you define the right project than sell you work you do not need. Tell us about your project to get started.
Complete kitchen remodeling planned around better storage, better flow, and the way you live.
Learn more →Refresh tired cabinets or replace them with storage designed for the way your kitchen works.
Learn more →New kitchen countertops measured, planned, and coordinated with the rest of your space.
Learn more →Bathroom remodeling focused on durable materials, sensible storage, and easier everyday routines.
Learn more →Turn underused basement space into comfortable, practical square footage for the way your household lives.
Learn more →Coordinate multiple rooms, major layout changes, and additions through one thoughtful renovation plan.
Learn more →We work throughout Columbus and Central Ohio, including historic city neighborhoods, established inner-ring communities, and growing suburban areas. That means our projects can range from careful renovations in German Village and Victorian Village to family-focused kitchen expansions in Upper Arlington, Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, New Albany, Grove City, and beyond. Each part of Central Ohio has its own housing patterns, and understanding those differences helps us plan more realistically.
Older homes may bring plaster, masonry, compact footprints, settled framing, or previous renovations that require creative problem-solving. Newer homes can present different goals, such as opening builder-standard layouts, improving storage, upgrading finishes, or creating a kitchen that feels more personal. Wherever you are located, we begin by looking at the space you have, what you want it to do better, and what level of remodeling makes sense for the property. Call us to talk about your home.
This is the question behind most searches for a kitchen remodel, and the answer changed in 2026. Ohio historically did not license general contractors at all, which put the burden of vetting entirely on the homeowner. That is no longer quite true, and knowing the difference is the most useful thing on this page.
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses five specialty trades: electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics, and refrigeration. General contracting was never on that list. House Bill 614 changed the picture: as of January 1, 2026, contractors performing home improvement work on one, two, and three family dwellings are required to hold a statewide OCILB registration, backed by a background check, a $25,000 surety bond, and $500,000 in general liability coverage. Implementation is being phased in, so confirm current status directly with the Ohio Department of Commerce rather than taking anyone's word for it.
Columbus layers its own requirements on top. The city's Department of Building and Zoning Services issues its own contractor credentials, including a General Contractor license carrying a $300 application fee and a $25,000 surety bond, and a Home Improvement Contractor license that requires a minimum of three years of hands-on residential experience plus an exam. A remodeler working legitimately in the city holds the local credential regardless of what the state requires.
That last one matters more in Columbus than in a newer market. A remodeling company that mostly works in Dublin and New Albany new builds may be excellent and still be the wrong fit for a plaster-and-balloon-frame house in Victorian Village. The craftsmanship question and the experience question are not the same question.
One more practical note: a contractor who asks you to pull an owner permit for work they are being paid to perform is shifting code-compliance liability onto you. It is legal. It is also a signal worth taking seriously, and it is on our list of kitchen remodel mistakes to avoid.
Whether you need a permit comes down to one distinction: cosmetic work is exempt, and anything touching structure or systems is not.
Columbus Building and Zoning Services treats interior cosmetic work as exempt, which covers new cabinets in the same footprint, countertops, backsplash, flooring, paint, and cabinet refacing when no plumbing or electrical changes are involved. A straight swap where the sink returns to the same spot does not require a permit.
Permits apply once the project moves the sink to another wall, adds circuits or outlets for an island, relocates a gas line, changes ventilation, or removes a wall. Under the 2026 fee schedule an alteration permit starts at $385, landing near $388.85 with the one percent Ohio Board of Building Standards surcharge, and a kitchen remodel package that adds the combined mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permit comes to roughly $666.60. Residential work on one, two, and three family homes is reviewed under the Residential Code of Ohio.
Against a five-figure project those fees are noise, and a closed permit is a permanent public record that the work met code. It should appear as a visible line in your estimate. If your plan involves opening up a wall, our guide to removing a load-bearing wall covers the structural review that comes with it.
We work through layout, priorities, selections, and likely construction issues before the room is torn apart. Better preparation helps reduce rushed decisions once work begins.
A beautiful room is not enough if storage, traffic flow, lighting, or work surfaces still frustrate you. We plan with the way your household actually uses the space in mind.
Central Ohio has homes from many eras, and remodeling them often reveals surprises. Our approach leaves room for the realities of existing framing, utilities, and previous construction.
We want homeowners to know what decisions are coming, what work is underway, and what changes may affect the original plan.
We help separate must-haves from nice-to-haves so the project stays centered on the improvements that matter most to you.
Even when we are remodeling one room, we consider how it connects to the rest of the house so the finished result feels intentional.
Most full kitchen remodels in Columbus run about $35,000 to $75,000. A cosmetic refresh that keeps the layout starts nearer $10,000 to $25,000, and a full renovation that moves walls and plumbing commonly lands between $85,000 and $150,000 or more. Kitchen size, how much of the layout changes, cabinet grade, and what an older home hides behind its walls account for most of the spread.
In Columbus, yes, for a solid mid-range project as long as the layout stays put. Thirty thousand dollars generally covers new semi-custom cabinets or high-quality refacing, quartz or granite counters, a backsplash, lighting, and flooring in a standard kitchen. It does not stretch to relocating the sink, opening a wall, or custom cabinetry. Keeping plumbing and appliances in their existing positions is what makes this number work.
It is enough for a genuine refresh, not a renovation. Ten thousand dollars can cover cabinet refacing or repainting, new hardware, a laminate or entry-level stone countertop, a backsplash, updated lighting, and a faucet. What it will not cover is new cabinet boxes, moving anything plumbed, or new flooring on top of all of the above. Spent on the right items, a refresh at this level changes how a kitchen feels more than people expect.
Cabinets, by a wide margin. They typically account for 30 to 40 percent of the total, which is why the cabinet decision drives the budget more than any finish choice. Labor is next at roughly a quarter to a third. Countertops, appliances, and flooring follow. If a budget is not working, the cabinet line is where the meaningful savings are, usually by refacing solid existing boxes rather than replacing them.
Design and material selections first, then permits and ordering, then demolition and any structural work, then electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-in with an inspection before anything is covered. After that comes drywall, flooring, cabinet installation, countertop templating and install, backsplash, appliances, and the punch list. The order is not flexible at two points: rough-in has to be inspected before walls close, and cabinets have to be set and level before counters can be templated.
In everyday use the terms overlap, but the useful distinction is scope. A renovation generally updates what is already there, keeping the layout and replacing surfaces and fixtures. A remodel changes the space itself, moving walls, relocating plumbing, or reworking the footprint. The practical consequence is permits and cost: renovation-level work is often exempt from permitting in Columbus, while remodel-level work is not.
It is a guideline that says you should not spend more than about 30 percent of your home's value on a single remodeling project, because spending beyond that rarely returns at resale. In Columbus, where existing space trades around $210 per square foot, it is a useful check against over-improving for the street. It is a guideline rather than a law, and staying in a home you love for another fifteen years is a perfectly good reason to ignore it.
No, and countertop replacement on sound existing cabinets is one of the highest-impact updates available. Two conditions matter. The cabinet boxes need to be structurally sound, since stone is heavy. And the runs need to be reasonably level, because stone does not flex and a large discrepancy means shimming or correcting the cabinets first. The main risk sits in tear-out, where old glued-down laminate can damage cabinet tops or the drywall behind it.
Only if the work goes past cosmetic. Columbus exempts interior cosmetic work including cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and refacing when no plumbing or electrical changes are involved. Permits apply once you move the sink, add circuits for an island, relocate gas, change ventilation, or remove a wall. Under the 2026 fee schedule an alteration permit starts at $385, and a kitchen package including the combined mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permit runs around $666.60.
Ask for numbers and verify them. As of January 1, 2026, Ohio began phasing in a statewide home improvement contractor registration through the OCILB for residential remodeling work, backed by a background check, a $25,000 surety bond, and $500,000 in liability coverage. Columbus separately issues its own General Contractor and Home Improvement Contractor credentials through Building and Zoning Services. Also confirm that the electrician and plumber on your job hold their own state trade licenses and that the permits are pulled in their names.
Yes. Not every kitchen needs a full renovation. Cabinet replacement, cabinet refacing, new countertops, new hardware, and related finish updates can be planned as a focused project when the existing layout still works. This is often the best value in a house where the kitchen functions well and simply looks dated.
Yes. Alongside kitchens we cover bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling, and larger whole house renovations and room additions. Running a kitchen remodel and bathroom project together often makes sense, since the trades, permits, and material selections can be coordinated once instead of twice.
Yes. We work with homeowners throughout Central Ohio, including Upper Arlington, Bexley, Worthington, Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, Gahanna, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, New Albany, and the surrounding communities.
Straight answers on planning and budgeting a kitchen remodel in Columbus and Central Ohio.
Countertops Guide
Installed prices by material, what fabrication labor covers, edge and cutout add-ons, and the template gap.
Structural Guide
Costs by house type, how to tell if a wall is load bearing, beam options, and what hides in older Columbus walls.
Design Guide
Warm wood, green accents, statement stone, bigger islands, and what is on the way out.
Budget Guide
The average cost, what $10K, $30K, and $55K+ buy, and the 30% rule.
Cabinets Guide
Costs by door material, refacing vs. replacing, and what to check in a quote.
Materials Guide
Cost, durability, heat resistance, maintenance, and resale compared.
Timeline Guide
A realistic 2026 timeline by phase, cabinet lead times, and what causes delays.
Planning Guide
The common mistakes that blow budgets and hurt resale value, and what to do instead.
Cost Guide
What kitchen remodels really cost in Columbus in 2026, by project size, where the money goes, and how to keep the budget in check.
Ready to talk through your kitchen or remodeling ideas? Start with a project conversation.
Quick and no obligation
Kitchen Remodel Columbus OH is a home remodeling company in the referral sense: we connect homeowners with full-service remodeling companies and design-build remodelers working across Central Ohio, and we help you arrive at the initial consultation with a scope that is actually ready to price.
The remodelers we work with handle a full kitchen renovation from kitchen design through material selections and installation, including new cabinets, cabinet reface work, new hardware, countertops, and a new island with seating. Several also take on bathroom remodel projects, basement remodeling, room additions, and whole house renovations, which is worth knowing if more than one room is on your list. Running a kitchen and bathroom update as one project rather than two usually means one permit cycle, one set of trades, and one disruption instead of two.
What we look for in a remodeler is straightforward. Proper registration and licensing. A clear remodel process with a realistic timeline rather than an optimistic one. Real craftsmanship on the parts you will touch every day, cabinet doors, drawer glides, the edge of a countertop. And enough experience with Columbus housing stock to know what a plaster wall is hiding before the drywall comes off. Finishes make a beautiful kitchen; the rest is what makes it a kitchen that still works in ten years.
If you are ready to start, tell us the room, the rough budget you have in mind, and what is not working today. We will help you turn that into a scope and put you in front of remodelers who fit it.