A kitchen remodel is the project most homeowners in Middle Tennessee tackle first and budget for worst. The honest ranges, from the projects we build: a mid-range remodel in the existing footprint — new cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting and floors — most often costs $45,000 to $85,000 in the Nashville area in 2026. A full remodel that moves walls, plumbing or gas, adds an island with services and uses custom cabinetry and natural stone runs $90,000 to $150,000 and can go beyond that in a large home. Below is how those totals break down, so you can see which decisions are worth what.
Where the money goes in a kitchen remodel
| Line item | Share of a typical budget | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | 28–35% | Stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom; inset doors; height to the ceiling; interior fittings |
| Countertops | 10–15% | Quartz vs. quartzite or marble; waterfall edges; full-height backsplash slabs |
| Labor: demo, framing, drywall, trim, paint | 15–20% | Walls removed, ceilings changed, extent of repairs behind the old cabinets |
| Plumbing, gas and electrical | 8–12% | Relocating the sink or range; new circuits; island services; under-cabinet and recessed lighting |
| Appliances | 8–15% | Standard vs. professional ranges, panel-ready refrigeration, built-in coffee and wine |
| Tile, flooring and lighting fixtures | 8–12% | Tile format and pattern; hardwood repair vs. replacement; pendants and fixtures |
| Design, permits and contingency | 5–8% | Drawings, permits and inspections; the 5–10% you should hold for surprises |
Cabinets and counters together are usually half of the budget, which is why we price those first and why the biggest savings live there: a semi-custom painted line instead of full custom, or quartz instead of quartzite, can change the total by $15,000 without changing the layout.
Three tiers, with real Nashville numbers
- Refresh ($20,000–$40,000). Same layout. Cabinets refaced or replaced with a stock line, new quartz counters, tile backsplash, sink, faucet and lighting. Right for a smaller kitchen with a workable layout.
- Mid-range remodel ($45,000–$85,000). Same footprint or minor changes. Semi-custom cabinets to the ceiling, an island where one fits, quartz or entry quartzite, new floors, recessed and under-cabinet lighting, appliances replaced.
- Full remodel ($90,000–$150,000+). Walls opened to the living room, sink or range relocated, gas run, a large island with seating and a prep sink, custom cabinetry, natural stone or full-height slabs, professional appliances, a pantry built in.
“It’s integrated into a consistent look with the rest of the house, like it’s always been there.”
How long a kitchen remodel takes
Plan on six to ten weeks of construction for a typical kitchen and up to fourteen for a full remodel with structural work. The pacing item is cabinets, which take four to twelve weeks to arrive after you approve the drawings, followed by counters, which are templated after cabinets are set and installed about ten days later. We do not start demolition until cabinets are on site, and we set up a temporary kitchen so the house stays livable.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Nashville?
If the work moves plumbing, gas or electrical circuits, adds circuits, or touches a load-bearing wall, yes — Metro Nashville Codes and the surrounding county and city building departments require permits and inspections. Replacing cabinets and counters in place generally does not. Unpermitted structural or electrical work is a problem when you sell and a bigger one if something goes wrong. A licensed contractor pulls the permits in their own name; that is part of what you are paying for.
Does a kitchen remodel add value?
National remodeling-value surveys consistently put a mid-range kitchen remodel among the projects that return the largest share of their cost at resale, and in the Nashville market a dated kitchen is the first thing buyers discount. The projects that pay back best fix the layout and the light — opening the kitchen to the living space, adding an island, getting real task lighting in — rather than putting expensive finishes on a bad plan. Spend on the plan first.
See how we approach kitchen remodeling, or send us photos of your kitchen for a free estimate.
