Kitchen Remodel in Scituate, MA: What It Costs, How Long It Takes, and What to Expect

If you live in Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham, or anywhere along the South Shore, you already know that homes here have character. Shingle-style colonials, cape cods with low ceilings and narrow doorways, waterfront properties that have been in families for generations. Remodeling a kitchen in this part of Massachusetts is not the same as remodeling a kitchen in a new-construction suburb, and the contractor you hire should understand that difference.

After more than 30 years of kitchen remodels across the South Shore, here is what I tell every homeowner who calls us.

Cost is always the first question, and it deserves a straight answer. In the South Shore market, kitchen remodels generally fall into three tiers:

Entry-level refresh ($30,000–$55,000)

• Cabinet refacing or stock/semi-custom cabinetry replacement
• New countertops (quartz or granite)
• Updated appliances
• New flooring
• Basic lighting and hardware updates

This tier works well when the layout is staying the same and the bones of the kitchen are sound. It is the most common scope for a kitchen that is dated but functional.

Mid-range renovation ($55,000–$100,000)

• Full cabinet replacement with semi-custom or custom cabinetry
• Layout changes (moving an island, opening to an adjacent room)
• New countertops, backsplash, and flooring
• Appliance package upgrade
• Electrical and plumbing updates as needed
• New windows or expanded window openings

This is where most South Shore homeowners land. It is enough budget to do the project properly, with real materials, real craftsmanship, and the layout changes that make the kitchen work the way you want it to.

High-end full renovation ($100,000–$175,000+)

• Full custom cabinetry (painted or stained, inset or overlay)
• Structural changes, including removing walls, raising ceilings, and adding a bump-out
• Premium countertops (marble, quartzite, thick quartz)
• Professional-grade appliances
• Custom range hood, built-in refrigeration, wine storage
• Heated floors, custom lighting design, specialty tile work

Waterfront homes in Scituate and Cohasset often fall into this tier, not because the homeowners are extravagant, but because the homes themselves demand a level of detail that matches their character.

A realistic timeline for a kitchen remodel in Scituate or the surrounding towns:

Planning and design: 4–8 weeks This is where most projects actually begin, not with demolition, but with decisions. Cabinet lead times drive the schedule. Semi-custom cabinets typically run 6–10 weeks from order to delivery. Custom cabinetry can be 10–16 weeks. You cannot start demolition until materials are on order and lead times are confirmed.

Permitting: 2–4 weeks Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham, and most South Shore towns require a building permit for kitchen remodels that involve electrical, plumbing, or structural work. We handle the permit application, but factor this into your timeline.

Active construction: 4–8 weeks Once cabinets arrive and permits are in hand, the active construction phase moves quickly:

1. Demolition (1–2 days)
2. Rough plumbing and electrical (3–5 days)
3. Inspections
4. Insulation and drywall (2–3 days)
5. Cabinet installation (3–5 days)
6. Countertop templating and fabrication (7–14 days, as countertops are templated after cabinets are set)
7. Tile work (3–5 days)
8. Appliance installation and finish plumbing/electrical (2–3 days)
9. Painting, trim, and punch list (3–5 days)

Total from signed contract to finished kitchen: 14–24 weeks is a realistic expectation for most projects. Projects with structural changes or custom cabinetry will be at the longer end.

After 30 years of kitchen remodels, these are the choices that have the biggest impact on how the finished kitchen looks and functions:

Cabinets are the single largest cost driver in any kitchen remodel, and the single biggest visual element. The difference between a kitchen that looks like a renovation and one that looks like it was always there is almost always in the cabinetry.

For South Shore homes, we most often recommend painted inset or full-overlay cabinetry in white, off-white, or soft navy, colors that complement the coastal character of the homes. Unlacquered brass or polished nickel hardware, beadboard panel ends on islands, and furniture-style feet on base cabinets are details that age well in this market.

Quartz is the most practical choice for a working kitchen because it is non-porous, consistent, and durable. But in a high-end South Shore kitchen, marble and quartzite have a warmth and depth that quartz cannot replicate. If you are considering natural stone, understand the maintenance requirements before you commit.

For islands specifically, a contrasting material, such as a butcher block top on a painted island or a honed marble on a white perimeter, adds visual interest and is one of the most cost-effective ways to elevate a kitchen's design.

The layout question is the one most homeowners underestimate. Moving a sink, relocating an island, or opening a wall to the dining room can cost $5,000–$20,000 more than a same-footprint renovation, but it can also be the difference between a kitchen you tolerate and one you love.

Before you decide to keep the existing layout to save money, spend time in the kitchen and ask honestly: does the flow work? Is the island in the right place? Is there enough counter space on both sides of the range? A layout change done once, done right, is almost always worth it.

Appliance selection affects cabinet layout, electrical rough-in, and ventilation, so it needs to happen early in the design process, not after cabinets are ordered. We work with homeowners to select appliances before drawings are finalized so the kitchen is designed around the actual equipment, not a placeholder.

Not all remodeling contractors are the same, and the South Shore market has its share of both excellent craftsmen and cautionary tales. Here is what to look for:

Licensed and insured in Massachusetts. Ask for the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) number and verify it at the state's online registry. Our license is CS-066138. Any contractor doing structural, electrical, or plumbing work in your home should be able to provide this without hesitation.

A Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. Required by Massachusetts law for any residential remodeling work over $1,000. Our HIC number is 170081.

Local references you can actually call. Ask for two or three homeowners in Scituate, Hingham, Cohasset, or the surrounding towns who had a similar scope of work done in the last two years. Call them. Ask about communication, schedule adherence, and how punch list items were handled.

A detailed written contract. The contract should specify scope, materials, payment schedule, and a projected start and completion date. Vague contracts lead to disputes. A contractor who resists putting specifics in writing is a contractor to avoid.

A realistic timeline. If a contractor tells you your kitchen will be done in three weeks, they are either leaving something out or planning to use subcontractors who are not invested in the quality of your project. Good work takes the time it takes.

We have been remodeling kitchens in Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham, Duxbury, Norwell, Marshfield, and the surrounding towns for over 30 years. Our work is done by our own crew, not subcontractors, and Scott Valcourt is on every job site, every day.

We are not the cheapest contractor on the South Shore. We are the contractor you call when you want the project done right, on schedule, and without the stress that comes from working with someone who does not know what they are doing.

If you are thinking about a kitchen remodel, the best first step is a conversation. We will come to your home, look at the space, listen to what you are hoping to accomplish, and give you an honest assessment of what it will take.

There is no obligation, and no pressure. Just a straight conversation with someone who has been doing this work here for a long time.

Request a free estimate and we will be in touch within 24 hours.