This Largo kitchen was opened up, rewired and rebuilt with white shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, new lighting and new floors, and the old sliding door to the lanai was replaced with a wall and a standard exterior door. A project like this runs $28,000 at today’s pricing. Here is what was included.
The project at a glance
- Location: Largo
- Rooms: kitchen, with lighting and paint carried into the living room
- Style: white shaker cabinets and white quartz
What we did
Opening it up
We removed a short section of wall to open the kitchen, and took out the old sliding glass door to the lanai. In its place we framed and insulated a new wall and installed a standard exterior door, which made the kitchen layout work and gave the room a solid wall for cabinets.
New electrical
- Four new recessed lights in the kitchen and four in the living room.
- A light switch moved to a more useful spot.
- The microwave outlet moved to its new location, plus extra outlets along the walls.
- A new line for the dishwasher.
Cabinets, quartz and the finishing pieces
- Fourteen white shaker cabinets with soft-close hinges and slides, a spice pull-out, a trash pull-out and finished panels on both sides of the refrigerator.
- White quartz countertops with an undermount sink, a 4-inch splash and a quartz backsplash behind the stove up to the microwave.
- Sink, disposal and refrigerator water line connected, with new shut-off valves and an air switch for the disposal.
- Self-leveling, new LVP flooring and baseboard in the kitchen.
- Drywall repairs and fresh paint in the kitchen and living room.
What a kitchen like this costs today
$28,000 at today’s pricing, which is where our smaller kitchens with base-level countertops start. Moving a wall section, replacing a slider with a wall and door, and adding eight recessed lights are what fill out a project like this one. See our kitchen remodeling page for typical ranges, or the full breakdown in how much a kitchen remodel costs in Tampa Bay.
How long did it take?
A small kitchen like this takes 3 to 5 weeks on site with us. Cabinets and materials were ordered first, and we don’t start demo until everything is confirmed to arrive inside the schedule window, so the family wasn’t left without a kitchen while we waited on boxes. The countertop window, from template to install, is the one gap you’ll notice. See how long a kitchen remodel takes.
Would refinishing have been enough?
Not here. The old layout didn’t work, the slider was in the way and the cabinets were worn. But if your boxes are solid and you like your layout, cabinet refinishing (from $5,000) or refacing (from $7,000) can get you a new-looking kitchen in about a week. I’ll tell you which one makes sense when I see it. More in refinish, reface or remodel.
What to take from this project
- A small layout change can transform a kitchen. Removing a few feet of wall and closing in an awkward slider gave this kitchen room for a proper cabinet run.
- Lighting does more than you expect. Eight recessed lights changed how both the kitchen and living room feel.
- Pull-outs earn their keep. A spice pull-out and trash pull-out are small line items you use every day.
Why replacing the sliding door changed the whole layout
A sliding glass door takes up wall space a kitchen badly needs. Framing that opening into a solid, insulated wall with a standard exterior door gave this kitchen room for a full run of cabinets. It also gave the homeowners a door that seals better against Florida heat and storms.
What to plan for if you’re opening up a kitchen
- Find out what’s in the wall. Plumbing, wiring or a structural load inside the wall changes the scope, so we check before quoting a removal.
- Plan the lighting with the layout. Recessed lights placed for the new layout, not the old one, make the room feel finished.
- Expect floor work. Removing a wall or door almost always leaves a gap in the flooring, so plan for new floors through the opened space.
- Permits. Structural, electrical and exterior door changes are permitted work, and we handle the permits.
Live in Largo? See our Largo kitchen remodeling page, or browse the white shaker cabinets and quartz options we use in our Design Portal. Want a straight answer on your own project? Call us at 813-489-1552 or book a free in-home estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small kitchen remodel cost in Largo?
Our smaller kitchens with new cabinets and base-level quartz start at $28,000. This one, with a wall section removed, a slider replaced and new lighting, comes in right around there at today’s pricing.
Can you replace a sliding glass door with a wall?
Yes. We remove the slider, frame and insulate the opening, finish it inside and out, and can add a standard exterior door where you still want access.
How many recessed lights does a kitchen need?
It depends on the size and layout, but four is a common starting point for a smaller kitchen. Each additional recessed light runs $200.
Planning a kitchen? Book a free consultation and we’ll walk your space with you.
