Good kitchen design starts with how you cook and live, then works out the layout, storage, and finishes around that. In San Jose, a custom kitchen remodel with new cabinets, counters, and appliances typically runs $45,000 to $150,000, depending on size, layout changes, and finish level. Construction Remodeling in Bay Area designs and builds custom kitchen remodels for homes across San Jose and the South Bay, with our own licensed crew handling everything from demo to the final backsplash.
By Ray Evgeny Khaikin, Owner & General Contractor · Last updated 24 September 2026
Many San Jose homes built from the 1950s to the 1980s have closed-off galley kitchens with little storage. A custom design can change that without always moving walls. This guide covers how to design a kitchen step by step, the layouts that work best, what custom cabinets cost, and how to choose between quartz, quartzite, and granite.
Your kitchen layout decides how the room works more than any finish does. The most common options we build:
Keep at least 42 inches of walkway around an island for one cook and 48 inches for two, based on NKBA kitchen planning guidelines. Removing a load-bearing wall needs an engineer and a permit through the City of San Jose Building Division, and we handle both.
Custom cabinets are built to your exact measurements instead of standard 3-inch size steps. That means no filler strips, cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, and storage designed around what you own. Kitchen cabinets cost is usually the biggest single line in a kitchen remodel.
| Cabinet type | Typical installed cost (San Jose) |
|---|---|
| Stock cabinets | $150 to $350 per linear foot |
| Semi-custom cabinets | $300 to $650 per linear foot |
| Custom cabinets | $500 to $1,200+ per linear foot |
| Kitchen cabinet refacing | $8,000 to $20,000 for a typical kitchen |
Kitchen cabinet refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and replaces the doors, drawer fronts, and outer veneer. It costs far less than new cabinets and takes days instead of weeks. It only makes sense if the boxes are solid and you like the current layout. If you want a new layout, an island, or taller cabinets, new custom cabinets are the better investment.
Quartz countertops are engineered. They’re made of about 90 percent ground natural quartz mixed with resin and pigment. They’re non-porous, never need sealing, and come in very consistent colors and patterns.
Quartzite is a natural stone. It forms when sandstone is put under heat and pressure over millions of years. It’s very hard, handles heat better than quartz, and has natural veining, but it’s porous and needs sealing about once a year.
| Material | Installed cost per sq ft | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Quartz | $70 to $150 | Busy family kitchens, low maintenance |
| Quartzite | $100 to $250 | Natural look, heat resistance |
| Granite | $60 to $150 | Durable natural stone at a lower price |
Quartz vs quartzite: choose quartz if you want zero maintenance and consistent color. Choose quartzite if you want real stone and set hot pans down often. Quartz vs granite: granite is natural and heat-resistant but needs sealing. Quartz is more stain-resistant and has more modern color options. Quartz countertops cost for an average San Jose kitchen, about 50 to 60 square feet, usually lands between $4,000 and $9,000 installed.
Kitchen remodel cost in San Jose depends mostly on whether the layout changes and on your cabinet and counter choices. Typical ranges we see:
Most custom kitchen remodels take 8 to 14 weeks on site after design and permits. Custom cabinets usually take 6 to 10 weeks to build, so we order them early. For more cost detail, see our Union City kitchen remodeling guide.
Ray Khaikin owns and runs Construction Remodeling in Bay Area under CSLB License #1095283. You can verify any California contractor’s license with the CSLB. We design and build under one contract, so the person who draws your kitchen is on the same team as the crew that builds it. We’re fully insured, and our current Google rating is 5 stars.
Remove the doors and hardware, clean every surface with a degreaser, and sand lightly. Apply a bonding primer, then two thin coats of a cabinet-grade enamel with a fine brush or sprayer, sanding lightly between coats. Let the doors cure several days before rehanging. Painting works best on solid wood or MDF cabinets in good shape.
Quartz is an engineered countertop made of about 90 percent ground natural quartz bound with resin and pigment. It’s non-porous, stain-resistant, never needs sealing, and comes in consistent colors, including marble looks.
Quartzite is a natural stone formed from sandstone under heat and pressure. It’s harder than granite, handles heat well, and has natural veining, but it’s porous and should be sealed about once a year.
Start with how you cook and gather, then choose a layout that keeps prep, cooking, and cleanup zones close together. Plan storage around what you own, pick cabinets and countertops, add layered lighting, and set a written budget before demo.
In San Jose, most kitchen remodels range from about $30,000 for a refresh to $150,000 or more for a high-end custom kitchen. Mid-range custom remodels with new cabinets and quartz usually land between $60,000 and $100,000.
Construction Remodeling in Bay Area
111 Jackson St, Hayward, CA 94544.
Phone: (510) 990-9243.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Friday to Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM.
Serving San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Fremont, Hayward, and the rest of the South and East Bay.
If you’d like a written quote for a custom kitchen in San Jose, we’re happy to walk through it with you.