Kitchen Remodel vs Whole-Home Remodel: Where to Start

Starting Small vs Going All In

Your kitchen is outdated. But so is the primary bathroom. And the flooring throughout the house has seen better days. Do you tackle the kitchen now and save the rest for later, or pull the trigger on a complete renovation? This is one of the most common decisions Bay Area homeowners face.

Quick Comparison

Factor	Kitchen Remodel	Whole-Home Remodel
Cost	$80,000-$200,000+	$150-$400/sqft
Timeline	3-5 months	6-12 months
ROI	60-80%	50-70%
Disruption	Kitchen only	Entire home
Permits	Usually required	Always required
Best for	Kitchen is the main issue	Multiple systems need updating

Kitchen Remodel: The Highest-Impact Single Room

The kitchen is consistently the most remodeled room in American homes, and for good reason. It is where families spend the most time, it drives the most resale value, and outdated kitchens are the most visible sign of an aging home.

Bay Area kitchen remodel costs:

• Cosmetic refresh: $30,000-$60,000 (new cabinets, countertops, appliances)
• Mid-range remodel: $80,000-$150,000 (layout changes, new plumbing, custom cabinetry)
• High-end remodel: $150,000-$200,000+ (structural changes, premium materials, professional-grade appliances)

When to start with just the kitchen:

• The kitchen is your primary frustration and other rooms are acceptable
• You want the highest ROI improvement
• You do not want to deal with a months-long whole-home project
• Your budget is under $200,000

Whole-Home Remodel: Everything at Once

A whole-home remodel addresses every room, system, and surface in your house. This typically includes kitchen, all bathrooms, flooring, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, paint, fixtures, and potentially structural changes like opening up floor plans or adding windows.

Bay Area whole-home remodel costs:

• 2,000 sqft home: $300,000-$800,000
• 2,500 sqft home: $375,000-$1,000,000
• 3,000+ sqft home: $450,000-$1,200,000+

When a whole-home remodel makes sense:

• Multiple rooms need significant work
• Your electrical or plumbing is outdated throughout (common in pre-1970s Bay Area homes)
• You want consistent finishes and style across the entire home
• You plan to stay in the home for 5+ years

The Hidden Cost of Phasing

Many homeowners plan to “start with the kitchen and do the rest later.” This sounds financially prudent, but phasing individual rooms typically costs 15-25% more than doing everything at once.

Why phasing costs more:

• Contractor mobilization (setup, dumpsters, dust barriers) happens multiple times
• Separate permits for each project phase
• Plumbing and electrical work that runs through walls gets disturbed and redone
• Finishes that looked great during your kitchen remodel may be unavailable when you do the bathrooms two years later
• General conditions (portables, site protection, project management) multiply across phases

When phasing makes sense anyway:

• Your total budget is not available now but will be within 1-2 years
• You cannot relocate for a full renovation and need to live in part of the home
• You are testing a contractor relationship before committing to a larger project

The Decision Framework

Ask yourself three questions:

1. How many rooms need work? If only the kitchen needs a real overhaul, do the kitchen. If three or more rooms need significant work, go whole-home.

2. How old are your systems? If your electrical, plumbing, or HVAC is 30+ years old, a whole-home remodel lets you update everything efficiently. Updating systems room-by-room is wasteful because these systems run through the entire house.

3. What is your timeline? If you want to be done in under 6 months, a kitchen remodel is realistic. A whole-home remodel requires 6-12 months of construction plus 2-4 months of design and permitting.

How Custom Home Approaches Both

Custom Home’s two-phase process works for both kitchen-only and whole-home projects. In Phase 1, we design the full scope, whether that is one room or every room. You see 3D visualizations of the finished result and receive an itemized budget.

For clients considering phasing, Phase 1 can design the complete vision while budgeting for phased execution. This way, even if you start with the kitchen, the design ensures that future phases connect seamlessly.

What is Your Next Step?

Not sure which scope is right? Start with a conversation. We will walk through your home, identify what needs attention now versus later, and recommend an approach that fits your budget and priorities.

Contact Custom Home for a free consultation to discuss your remodeling project.