Houston remodeling — answered.

As of 2026, most Houston kitchen remodels land between $20,000 and $60,000 for a mid-range project. High-end remodels with custom cabinetry, premium appliances, and structural changes typically run $75,000 to $150,000+. Budget 30–40% for cabinetry alone.

A straightforward kitchen remodel takes 6–8 weeks once demo starts. Full gut remodels with layout changes, permits, and custom cabinetry typically take 10–14 weeks. Custom cabinet lead times drive the schedule more than anything else.

You need a City of Houston permit (or your municipality's equivalent — Katy, Sugar Land, etc.) anytime you move plumbing, gas, or electrical, or make structural changes like removing a wall. Cosmetic refreshes (cabinets, countertops, appliances in place) don't require a permit.

Yes. We set up temporary kitchens, contain the work area with dust barriers, and coordinate schedules so disruption is minimized. Most of our Houston clients stay in the home throughout the remodel.

Under-budgeting cabinetry. Cabinets are 30–40% of the total kitchen budget, and cheap cabinets are the first thing to fail in Houston humidity. Spend right on cabinets and countertops; you can refresh backsplash and paint later.

Debbie McKelvey has formal interior design training (University of Houston, Southwest Texas State). Design is included in every project — layouts, cabinet specifications, finish selection, lighting plan.

Greater Houston metro: Katy, Cypress, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Memorial, Bellaire, West University, River Oaks, Spring, Tomball, Pearland, Richmond, Fulshear, Missouri City, and surrounding areas.

Full gut bathroom remodels in Houston typically run $15,000–$40,000 depending on size and finish level. Spa-style primary baths with walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, and premium tile range $40,000–$75,000. Powder rooms start around $8,000.

A standard bathroom remodel takes 3–5 weeks from demo to final inspection. Larger primary baths with custom showers and layout changes typically take 5–7 weeks.

For primary baths, we usually recommend a walk-in shower in the primary bath plus a tub in another bathroom for resale. Houston buyers expect at least one tub in the home.

We use cement backer board (never green drywall), proper waterproofing systems like Schluter or RedGard on shower walls, ventilation fans sized to the room's cubic footage, and moisture-resistant cabinetry. Cutting corners on waterproofing is the #1 reason bathroom remodels fail early in Houston.

Yes — curbless showers, grab bars, comfort-height toilets, ADA-compliant vanities, and non-slip tile. We handle both full aging-in-place designs and lighter modifications for homeowners planning ahead.

Demo, rough plumbing, rough electrical, framing, drywall, waterproofing, tile supply and install, vanity, countertop, fixtures, lighting, exhaust fan, paint, permits, and final cleanup. We itemize every line so you know exactly what you're paying for.

Custom kitchen cabinetry in Houston ranges from $15,000 for a small kitchen with painted shaker doors up to $60,000+ for a large kitchen with inset doors, specialty finishes, and custom built-ins. Expect 30–40% of a kitchen remodel budget to go to cabinets.

Stock cabinets are pre-built in standard sizes. Semi-custom allows modifications in ½-inch increments and limited finishes. True custom cabinets are built to your exact dimensions, in any door style, finish, and interior configuration — fitted like furniture to your space.

Shaker (most popular), inset (traditional, premium look), frameless European (modern), flat-panel, Shaker with beaded inset, and custom profiles. We match historic homes or modernize with clean lines.

Both last decades with proper prep. Painted finishes show wear sooner at pinch points (drawer edges) but are easy to touch up. Stained hardwoods hide wear better and age gracefully. For a family kitchen, we often recommend painted perimeter cabinets with a stained island for contrast.

Both. If the cabinet boxes are solid wood and in good shape, refacing (new doors + drawer fronts + veneer on boxes) is often 50-70% the cost of new. We'll tell you honestly whether your existing cabinets are worth saving.

6–10 weeks from order to delivery for most projects. This drives the overall kitchen remodel schedule — we order cabinets first so demo and rough-in can happen while they're being built.

Installation typically runs $8–$15 per square foot for standard porcelain and ceramic, $15–$25 per square foot for natural stone or complex patterns, plus the tile itself. Large-format tile (24×48 and up) and herringbone/mosaic patterns take more labor.

Small-format tile (2×2 or mosaic) with rough texture — the grout lines provide slip resistance. Avoid polished natural stone on wet floors. Porcelain with a matte finish is the workhorse.

Always. We use Schluter Kerdi, RedGard, or Wedi systems depending on the application. In Houston humidity, skipping waterproofing guarantees tile failure within 5 years.

Usually yes — we carry samples of common Houston-market tile from the past decade and work with tile showrooms to source close matches. For perfect matches on out-of-production tile, we sometimes pull one tile from a closet or inconspicuous area.

Wrong substrate. Tile installed directly on drywall or particleboard fails. Proper installation uses cement backer board in wet areas and uncoupling membranes like Schluter Ditra on floors that might flex.

For slab-on-grade, we recommend luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or engineered hardwood (glue-down). For second floors or pier-and-beam homes, solid hardwood works fine. Avoid solid hardwood directly on concrete slabs — movement and moisture issues are inevitable in our climate.

Installed pricing: LVP $4–$8/sf, engineered hardwood $7–$14/sf, solid hardwood $9–$18/sf, porcelain tile $8–$15/sf. Removal of old flooring adds $1–$3/sf depending on what's being removed.

Often yes, if the wood is ¾-inch solid or engineered with at least 3mm of wear layer. Refinishing runs $3–$6/sf and extends floor life by 15–20 years. We'll tell you honestly whether refinishing is worthwhile or if replacement is the better call.

Most single-room floors install in 1–2 days. Full-floor whole-home projects take 3–7 days depending on square footage. Hardwood refinishing adds 3–5 days for sanding, staining, and curing.

Whole-home interior repaint of a 2,500 sq ft home typically runs $4,500–$9,000 including walls, ceilings, trim, and doors. Single-room paint jobs start at $500–$1,200 depending on size and prep.

Sherwin-Williams Cashmere or Emerald for walls, Sherwin-Williams ProClassic or Benjamin Moore Advance for trim and cabinets. Quality paint costs more upfront and saves on touch-up labor long-term.

Yes. Cabinet painting costs a fraction of replacement ($2,500–$6,000 for an average kitchen) and gives you a significantly updated look. We sand, prime, and spray for a factory finish — not brush marks.

Single rooms complete in 1–2 days. Full-home interior repaints take 5–10 working days depending on size and prep needs. Cabinet painting adds 4–7 days for proper drying between coats.

Quartz is the most practical for kitchens — non-porous, never needs sealing, uniform look. Granite offers unique patterns and high heat resistance but needs sealing. Marble is stunning but soft and stains easily; better for bathrooms or low-use bars than primary kitchen prep.

Installed quartz typically runs $55–$110 per square foot in Houston. Premium brands (Caesarstone, Silestone, Cambria) run higher. A standard 40 sq ft kitchen counter lands $3,500–$6,500.

From template to install: 10–14 days typical. Template day takes 2-3 hours, fabrication runs 5–10 business days, install day takes 3-6 hours. Sinks, faucets, and backsplash happen after install.

Yes, top drawers and upper cabinets. Lower cabinets can stay full — we only need access for sink hookups. Expect the kitchen to be out of commission for the install day plus 1 day for plumbing reconnection.

Houston interior design typically runs $150–$300 per hour for consultation-only work, or $5,000–$25,000+ for full-room design packages including selections, sourcing, and project management. When interior design is bundled with a kitchen, bath, or whole-home remodel from McKelvey Designs, design is included in the quote — no separate fee.

Yes. We offer selections-only consulting (paint colors, finishes, furniture, art placement) and per-room design packages for clients who don't need construction work. Hourly or flat-fee depending on scope.

Interior designers (like Debbie) have formal training in space planning, building codes, and construction — they work on permanent changes to the home. Decorators focus on furniture, fabric, and styling within an existing space. McKelvey Designs is a design-build firm: we handle both the permanent structural work and the styling that finishes the room.

Traditional, transitional, modern, farmhouse, coastal, and Texas hill-country styles. We're known for warm, livable spaces that work for Houston families — not Pinterest sets that fall apart at the first sticky-handprint.

Absolutely. Most of our design work blends new selections with pieces clients already own. We'll tell you honestly what works, what should be retired, and what's worth investing in.

Design is the first phase. Before any demo or construction, Debbie walks the space, listens to how you live, and develops a design that solves what you actually need (not just what looks good in a magazine). Selections, layouts, and lighting plans are locked in before we order materials.

Mid-range whole-home remodels in Houston typically run $75–$150 per square foot. Luxury remodels with kitchen, primary bath, flooring, and significant electrical/plumbing updates run $150–$300+ per sq ft. A 2,500 sq ft mid-range remodel lands $200,000–$350,000.

Typical timeline: 4–8 months from demo to final walkthrough. Larger projects with additions and structural changes take 8–14 months. Plan to move out for the duration — kitchens and baths are down simultaneously.

In today's Houston market, remodeling the house you own and love is often cheaper than selling and buying equivalent updates. Moving costs (6% realtor fees + moving + new purchase costs) often exceed $50,000 on a $500,000 home — that's a lot of remodel budget.

Yes, including adding primary suites, expanding kitchens, opening up walls, and building out second stories. Structural work requires an engineer's stamp and city approval, which we coordinate.

Most Houston kitchen remodels run 8–14 weeks from demolition to final walk-through; primary bath remodels typically run 6–10 weeks. Timelines move based on cabinetry lead times, permit turnaround through the City of Houston Public Works, and any structural or plumbing changes uncovered during demo.

Yes for most renovations. The City of Houston requires permits any time you change plumbing rough-ins, electrical layouts, gas lines, or structural elements like load-bearing walls. Cosmetic-only refreshes (paint, cabinet refacing, fixture swaps) generally don't require permits. We pull and manage all permits for our clients.

Kitchen remodels are the most-requested project across our Houston service area, followed by primary-bath remodels and whole-home refreshes in established neighborhoods. We work across central Houston, the Inner Loop, the Energy Corridor, Memorial, and the suburban metro.

Yes. We've remodeled post-flood homes throughout Greater Houston, including elevated rebuilds and full interior reconstructions. We coordinate with insurance scopes when relevant and handle the moisture mitigation, framing, and finish work in one sequenced phase.

Most of our Katy projects are master-planned-community homes built in the 1990s–2010s — Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, Falcon Ranch, Grand Lakes, and similar. Kitchen updates, primary-bath remodels, and opening up dated floor plans are the three most common requests.

It depends on the exact address. The City of Katy proper is small; most homes "in Katy" sit in unincorporated Harris, Fort Bend, or Waller County, with HOA architectural review on top. We confirm jurisdiction during the first site visit and handle the submissions on your behalf.

Interior remodels rarely require HOA approval; exterior changes (windows, doors, paint, additions) almost always do. We've worked inside the architectural-review processes of every major Katy master-planned community and can prepare the submittal package for your committee.

Mid-range Katy kitchen remodels typically land in the $60k–$120k range; upper-end with custom cabinetry, premium stone, and structural changes can run $150k+. Final budgets depend on cabinet construction, countertop material, appliance package, and how much of the existing layout you keep.

Almost all Cypress homes are in unincorporated Harris County, so permits go through Harris County rather than a municipal department. HOA architectural review (Bridgeland, Towne Lake, Coles Crossing, Fairfield) is usually the more involved approval step for exterior or structural work.

Kitchens and primary baths in homes 15–25 years old — the original builder-grade finishes are reaching the end of their useful life, and homeowners are updating cabinets, countertops, tile, and lighting together rather than piecemeal.

Yes. We've taken on full-interior refreshes of larger Cypress homes — re-flooring, repainting, updating every bath, and reworking the kitchen as one coordinated project. Sequencing this as a single engagement is usually faster and cheaper than doing rooms over multiple years.

Some Cypress neighborhoods sit inside Cypress Creek and Addicks-watershed floodplains. If your home is in a regulated flood zone, county rules can affect substantial improvements — we check your flood-zone status before scoping work so there are no permit surprises.

Interior remodels generally don't, but any exterior change — windows, doors, roofing, paint, additions, hardscape — requires WDSC approval before work can start. We prepare the application materials and adjust scopes when the committee requests changes.

Two reasons: WDSC review adds 2–4 weeks on the front end of exterior projects, and Montgomery County permitting works on its own calendar separate from Harris County. We build these into the schedule up front so the timeline you see is realistic.

Kitchen and primary-bath remodels in homes 20–30 years old, plus whole-home interior refreshes for buyers updating recently purchased homes. Custom cabinetry, large-format tile, and quartz countertops are the most common spec choices.

Yes. We routinely scope phased remodels — kitchen first, then baths, then flooring — and document the materials chosen in phase one so phase two flows seamlessly. This is common in The Woodlands where homeowners want a coordinated long-term plan.

The City of Sugar Land handles its own building permits in-house. Most Sugar Land homes also sit inside HOAs (First Colony, Sweetwater, Telfair, Riverstone) that require architectural review for exterior changes. We coordinate both submissions in parallel to keep the timeline tight.

Larger homes (3,500+ sq ft) in First Colony, Greatwood, Telfair, and Riverstone built in the 1990s and 2000s. Kitchens, primary baths, and home offices are the top three project types, often combined into a single phased engagement.

Yes. Repurposing formal living/dining rooms into open kitchens or family spaces is one of the more common requests in Sugar Land. We handle the structural review, electrical reroutes, and HVAC adjustments those changes typically require.

Plan for roughly 10–14 weeks for a full Sugar Land kitchen remodel. That window covers permit pull, cabinet lead time, demolition, rough-in inspections, finish work, and the city's final inspection. Larger scopes with structural changes run longer.

It depends on which Memorial Village your home is in. Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, Hunters Creek Village, Piney Point Village, and Spring Valley Village are each independent cities with their own permitting and inspection processes. Homes in the broader "Memorial" zip codes outside the Villages permit through the City of Houston.

Each Village runs a small department with its own review schedule and inspector pool, so turnaround times vary. We've worked across all six Villages and build the realistic review window into every project timeline rather than promising city-of-Houston speed.

Older custom homes (1960s–1990s) being updated for the next generation of owners, plus newer homes (2000s+) getting kitchen and primary-bath refreshes. Whole-home interior renovations are common when homes change hands in the Villages.

Yes. We've remodeled several post-flood Memorial homes, including substantial-improvement reconstructions in elevated flood zones. We coordinate with your insurance adjuster and document the scope to keep the substantial-improvement threshold conversations clean with your city.

The City of Bellaire is an independent municipality with its own Building Department. All Bellaire permits — including for substantial remodels and additions — go through Bellaire, not Houston. The review process is stricter than the City of Houston's, especially for projects affecting setbacks or floodplains.

Yes. Bellaire's post-Harvey ordinance defines "substantial improvement" thresholds that, if exceeded, can trigger requirements like raising the home or upgrading the lowest finished floor. We map the scope against the ordinance early so you can choose to stay below the threshold or plan for it intentionally.

Mid-century ranch updates — homes built in the 1950s and 1960s getting opened-up kitchens, updated primary suites, and modernized mechanical/electrical systems. We also handle whole-home interior renovations for homeowners staying in place rather than tearing down.

Plan for 12–16 weeks from permit to final inspection. Bellaire's review and inspection cadence is slower than the City of Houston's, and many Bellaire kitchens involve structural changes (load-bearing walls, framing for new spans) that add inspection points.

Yes. The City of West University Place is independent of Houston and runs its own Building Department. Permit review is detailed and inspectors run a tight schedule, so we plan for a slightly slower cycle than a comparable City of Houston project.

Both older homes (1940s–1960s bungalows and ranches) being updated rather than torn down, and newer homes (2000s+) getting kitchen and primary-bath refreshes. Whole-home renovations are common when older homes change hands.

Yes. Most West U lots are 50' wide with strict setback rules, which means additions and exterior reconfigurations need careful planning. For interior-only remodels — kitchens, baths, opening floor plans — the lot constraints don't usually affect scope or pricing.

Plan for 10–14 weeks from contract signing through final inspection. West U's review and inspection windows are predictable but slower than the City of Houston's, and most West U kitchen projects involve some structural or layout change that adds inspection points to the schedule.

River Oaks is part of the City of Houston, so permits go through Public Works — but the River Oaks Property Owners deed restrictions and architectural review are the binding standard for exterior work. Interior remodels generally don't require ROPO review; exterior, additions, and accessory structures do.

Historic 1920s–1940s estates being updated for current owners while preserving original character — restored cabinetry, custom millwork, period-correct tile, and modernized mechanical systems behind original walls. Newer custom homes in the neighborhood also come in for kitchen and primary-bath refreshes.

Yes. Sourcing the right cabinet profiles, tile, hardware, and millwork to match an original home is one of the specialties we've built across thirty-plus years in Greater Houston. We work with custom shops and specialty suppliers when stock material won't match the era.

Expect 14–20 weeks for a full kitchen remodel in a historic River Oaks home. Custom cabinetry lead times are longer than stock or semi-custom, and homes from the 1920s–1940s often require unforeseen structural, plumbing, or electrical updates uncovered during demolition.

Spring is unincorporated Harris County, so permits go through Harris County rather than a municipal department. Many Spring homes also sit inside HOAs (Champions, Klein-area neighborhoods, Northgate Forest) that require architectural review for exterior changes.

A mix of established 1980s–1990s suburban homes in the Champions and Klein corridors and newer master-planned homes north toward The Woodlands border. Kitchens, primary baths, and opening dated floor plans are the three most common project types.

Most Spring-area kitchen remodels fall in the $50k–$110k range, with higher budgets for custom cabinetry, premium stone, and structural reconfiguration. Final pricing depends on cabinet construction, countertop material, the appliance package, and how much of the existing footprint you keep.

Yes. Whole-home interior refreshes — re-flooring, repainting, updating baths, and reworking the kitchen as one coordinated phase — are common in Spring's older sections where original 1980s and 1990s finishes are reaching end of life all at once.

It depends on whether your home sits inside the City of Tomball or in unincorporated Harris County around it. The city limits are smaller than the broader "Tomball" mailing address, so we confirm jurisdiction at the first site visit and submit to the right authority.

Newer master-planned community homes (Cypress Creek Lakes, Wildwood at Northpointe, Amira) plus older homes on larger lots closer to the historic Tomball center. Family-friendly kitchen and primary-bath updates make up most of our Tomball work.

Most Tomball-area master-planned HOAs require review for any exterior change — paint, windows, additions, hardscape. Interior remodels usually don't. We prepare the architectural-review submission when needed and adjust scopes if the committee requests changes.

Plan for 8–14 weeks from contract to final inspection. Permit and inspection cadence in unincorporated Harris County is generally faster than smaller independent cities, so timelines hinge more on cabinetry lead times and scope complexity than on jurisdiction speed.

Yes. The City of Pearland Building Department issues permits and runs inspections for homes inside city limits. Pearland spans both Harris and Brazoria counties, so the exact jurisdiction depends on your address — most newer subdivisions sit in Brazoria County.

Both newer master-planned homes (Shadow Creek Ranch, Silverlake, Pomona) being updated 10–15 years after construction, and older homes in the historic Pearland sections getting full interior refreshes. Kitchens and primary baths are the two most common project types.

Most Pearland master-planned HOAs require architectural review for any exterior change but rarely interfere with interior remodels. Review adds two to four weeks for exterior projects; we build that into the schedule from day one.

Some Pearland neighborhoods sit inside regulated flood zones, especially closer to Clear Creek. We check your flood-zone status before scoping work; substantial improvements in regulated zones can trigger additional requirements your remodel scope should account for.

The City of Richmond's limits are small; most homes with a Richmond mailing address actually sit in unincorporated Fort Bend County. We confirm jurisdiction during the site visit and submit permits to whichever authority covers your specific address.

A mix of older homes in historic Richmond and newer master-planned community homes (Aliana, Veranda, Long Meadow Farms, Pecan Grove) being refreshed 15–25 years after construction. Kitchens, primary baths, and home offices are the most common scopes.

Interior remodels rarely need HOA approval; exterior changes (windows, doors, paint, additions) almost always do. We've worked through architectural-review processes for every major Fort Bend master-planned community and prepare the submission package when needed.

Most Richmond-area kitchen remodels fall in the $55k–$115k range, with higher budgets for custom cabinetry and structural reconfiguration. Cabinet construction, countertop material, appliance package, and any layout changes are the biggest cost drivers.

Yes. The City of Fulshear is in Fort Bend County and runs its own permitting for homes inside city limits. Many "Fulshear" mailing-address homes are actually in unincorporated Fort Bend County, so we confirm jurisdiction up front.

Newer master-planned community homes (Cross Creek Ranch, Fulshear Run, Tamarron, Jordan Ranch) updating 5–15 years after construction, plus larger custom homes on acreage. Kitchen and primary-bath refreshes are the two most common project types.

Fulshear is one of the fastest-growing areas in Texas, and the master-planned communities here have detailed architectural standards to preserve neighborhood character. Exterior changes — paint, windows, doors, additions — almost always go through architectural review. Interior remodels usually don't.

Plan for 10–14 weeks for a full Fulshear kitchen remodel. The timeline covers permit pull, cabinet lead time, demolition, rough-in inspections, finish work, and final inspection. Custom cabinetry and major structural changes can extend that window.

The City of Missouri City runs its own Building Department for homes inside city limits. Many Missouri City mailing-address homes are in unincorporated Fort Bend County, so we verify jurisdiction at the first site visit before pulling permits.

Larger homes in Sienna, Riverstone, Quail Valley, and Lake Olympia, plus older established homes in the central Missouri City corridor. Kitchen remodels, primary-bath updates, and whole-home interior refreshes are the three most common scopes.

Almost never. Interior remodels in Sienna, Riverstone, and other master-planned communities don't require architectural review. Exterior changes — paint, windows, doors, additions, accessory structures — almost always do, and we prepare the architectural submittal when needed.

Plan for 10–14 weeks from contract to final inspection. The schedule depends most on cabinet lead times and whether the project involves structural changes; Missouri City's permit and inspection cadence is generally predictable and not a major variable.