Kitchen Remodel Contractor Serving Greater Boston
Essex is a kitchen remodeling contractor serving Boston and the surrounding towns. For more than 30 years, our own carpenters and project managers have taken homeowners from the first plan to the finished kitchen, with every cost on the table.
No vague promises. No budget surprises three months in.
What Our Kitchen Remodeling Covers
A kitchen remodel touches almost every trade in the house. Our own carpenters and project managers do the bulk of the work and are on site every day, and we coordinate every other trade the job needs. From a full kitchen reno to a kitchen redesign that keeps the walls where they are, the work can include:
- New layouts. Opening up walls, moving the sink or range, or adding an island.
- Cabinetry, countertops and islands. Planned around how you cook and sized to fit the room.
- Plumbing, electrical and lighting. Including the panel capacity you need if you want to switch from gas to induction cooking.
- Ventilation and healthier air. Filtration and ventilation that reduce allergens and pollutants, part of our focus on healthier, high-performance homes.
- Flooring, tile and finish work. The details that make the new kitchen look like it belongs in the house.
Already working with an architect? We work alongside architects all the time. Don’t have one yet? We can introduce you to one.
Planning a Kitchen Remodel? Here’s Where to Begin
Most people begin a kitchen remodel by picking cabinets and tile. That is usually the wrong end. Here is the order we recommend:
- Start with how you cook and live. Where do you prep, eat and gather? What doesn’t work today? Those answers shape the layout.
- Check what’s behind the walls. Plumbing, wiring and ventilation decide what is possible. Panel capacity, for example, determines whether your range can be gas or induction.
- Get a line-item budget before you pick finishes. Knowing what the structure and systems cost first tells you how much is left for the parts you see.
- Bring your architect and builder in early. Drawings get priced while they are still being drawn, not after, so there are no expensive redesigns.
- Then choose finishes. With the plan and budget set, cabinet, counter and tile decisions get much easier.
Our Weston Kitchen Remodel, Featured in Martha Stewart Living
This kitchen was part of a whole-house renovation of a late-19th-century Victorian farmhouse in Weston, with Essex as the general contractor. It’s set up for cooking and entertaining, with:
- Two islands, a coffee bar and a window-lined breakfast nook that opens to the family room
- A butler’s pantry with storage, counter space and a second dishwasher
- Both a gas range and an induction range, plus dual ovens (one steam convection) and a warming drawer
- ENERGY STAR rated appliances, including Wolf and Sub-Zero, and two wine and beverage fridges
The kitchen and family room were featured in Martha Stewart Living. The home, developed by Green Phoenix and designed by LDa Architecture & Interiors, earned LEED Platinum certification.
Why Boston Homeowners Choose Essex for Kitchen Remodeling
Most general contractors operate with opaque pricing. Since 1995, Essex has completed more than 500 projects across Greater Boston on a different model:
- Open-book contracting. You see exactly what we see. No hidden markups.
- Weekly financial reports. Actual costs against the budget, line by line, every week.
- Our people, on your site. Our carpenters and project managers do the bulk of the work and are on site every day.
- A clean, safe job site. It matters more when the kitchen is torn out and you are still living in the house.
That approach has earned us industry recognition, including a Gold PRISM Award for Best High Performance / Energy Efficient Home from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. We are also members of BRAGB, NARI and the National Association of Home Builders.
Kitchen Remodeling FAQs
Planning and permits come first. Then demolition, any structural work, and rough plumbing, electrical and ventilation, followed by inspections. After that come insulation and walls, cabinets, countertops (measured once the cabinets are in), backsplash, appliances and fixtures, and a final walkthrough.
Cabinetry is often one of the biggest line items. Moving plumbing, gas lines or walls also adds cost quickly, because it brings in more trades and more work behind the walls.
Keep the sink and range where they are if you can, and settle your decisions before construction starts, since changes mid-project cost more. Our open-book budget shows you the cost of each choice so you can decide where to spend and where to save.
Usually, yes. Boston uses a short-form permit for renovations with no structural changes and a long-form permit for work like moving walls, expanding the kitchen, or adding a window or doorway. Plumbing and electrical work need their own permits. We handle permitting as part of the project.
Yes. We know Eastern Massachusetts housing stock, including homes dating back to the 1700s. We update older kitchens for how you live today while keeping the character of the house.
Often, yes. Your home stays a safe, organized environment throughout the work, and we plan the schedule with you up front so you know how long you will be without a working kitchen.
Ready to Start Your Kitchen Remodel in Boston?
Every kitchen remodel starts with a conversation. Tell us how you cook, live and entertain, and our kitchen remodeling team will give you an honest read on scope, budget and schedule for your Boston-area home.
Call 978-658-6300, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM, or send us a message online.
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Contact Us
Ready to start your remodeling project? Our team is here to answer your questions, discuss your ideas, and provide the guidance you need to move forward with confidence. Whether you’re in the early planning stages or ready to schedule a consultation, we’re just a phone call away.
Start Your Project With Us
We believe a clean job site is a visible signal of a professional project. Our approach ensures that your home remains a safe, organized environment throughout the duration of the build.
- Discovery & Feasibility: We review your goals, site conditions, and budget expectations.
- Pre-Construction & Planning: Detailed budget forecasting and scheduling to mitigate risks.
- Execution & Reporting: Weekly meetings and financial actuals keep the project on track.
- Post-Construction Support: We stand by our work long after the dust has settled.
John and Walter, We are so happy! Can’t begin to tell you what a pleasure it has been to work with Essex, you and all your crew, all wonderful people. Any time you would like a rave review just say the word.
We couldn’t be happier with the work! We can certainly attest to your flexibility, ‘can do’ approach, and innovative solutions. Thanks again for a great job that was on time, on budget and exceeded expectations!
Walter and John unfailingly put in the time and effort needed to ensure that I understand my options and can choose those that meet my needs best. Essex staff are true professionals, from their craftsmanship to their project management and communication with me as a client. I will not hesitate to use them for home improvements in the future.
Never in all my years of home remodeling projects have I experienced the work ethic your group displayed. From your timeliness, quality of workmanship, and right down to the end of the day clean up. Everything by Essex was top notch and I am pleasantly surprised by how the team came together to get the job done.
Thanks for everything Walter. It is a pleasure to work with a true professional like you – you are a dying breed, I am afraid.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed having them work here. I know it’s a weird thing to say, but they are all perfectly delightful, so professional, talented and knowledgeable gentlemen.
Walter, I felt a great need to let you know what a great group of guys you have hired.
Walter. You and your team are the best!!
You took good care of me! I liked working with you and the crew a great deal, and even two years later still get compliments on the excellent quality of the workmanship.
Thank you for the phenomenal job. The patience, attention and professionalism that you displayed made what we thought would be a stressful and uncertain experience seamless and stress-free. You returned our calls, showed up on time, and you completed the project on schedule.
Walter and John have led their company in highly successful projects with Torrey Architecture. Our firms have collaborated to provide design-build capabilities to realize our clients’ dreams to transform their homes. I recommend Essex as a capable and trustworthy builder who is a pleasure to work with.
