Start with how you use the kitchen
The best kitchens we build start with a conversation, not a catalogue. Who cooks, and how often? Do people gather around the island while you prep, or do you want the mess out of sight? Do you bake, entertain large groups, or need a homework spot for the kids?
Those answers decide the layout long before anyone talks about colours. A family that hosts every weekend needs a different kitchen from a couple who cook together most nights, even if the square footage is the same.
Choosing a layout
Most Calgary kitchens we renovate end up in one of a few shapes. An L-shaped kitchen with an island suits most open main floors. A U-shape gives the most counter space for serious cooks. A galley works well in narrower inner-city homes, especially when one wall can open to the dining room.
Opening a closed kitchen often means removing a wall. If that wall carries the floor or roof above, it needs an engineered beam and a permit. In our 2026 cost guide, removing a load-bearing wall typically adds $8,000 to $20,000, depending on the span and what runs through the wall. Our load-bearing wall guide explains how it works.
Stock, semi-custom or custom cabinetry
Cabinetry is usually the largest single line in a kitchen budget. Semi-custom cabinetry typically runs $10,000 to $25,000 in Calgary, and fully custom cabinetry $18,000 to $50,000.
Semi-custom lines come in set sizes with a good range of finishes and work well for straightforward layouts. Custom cabinetry is drawn and built to the inch, so it can reach the ceiling, wrap around a beam, hide a panel-ready fridge or turn an awkward corner into useful storage. On most of our luxury kitchens, custom millwork is what makes the room feel finished rather than assembled.
Countertops that suit how you cook
- Quartz is the most popular choice we install. It is consistent, low maintenance and does not need sealing. Installed, it runs about $100 to $200 per square foot.
- Granite is natural stone with real variation from slab to slab. It handles heat well and runs about $120 to $250 per square foot installed.
- Porcelain slabs are thin, very hard and resist heat and stains, which makes them a good fit for islands and full-height backsplashes.
- Marble is beautiful but etches and stains, so we recommend it to clients who like the way it ages and are happy to live with a patina.
Appliances and where they go
A mid-range appliance package in Calgary typically runs $8,000 to $18,000, and a high-end integrated package $25,000 or more. Panel-ready fridges and dishwashers disappear into the cabinetry, which is why they are so common in the kitchens we design.
Moving appliances changes more than the drawing. Moving a sink usually costs $1,500 to $4,000 for new plumbing and venting, and moving a gas range $1,200 to $3,500. Induction cooktops need the right electrical capacity, so we check your panel early in the design.
Lighting, flooring and the details people notice
We plan lighting in layers. Pot lights handle general light, under-cabinet lighting lights the work surface, and pendants over the island set the mood. All three are drawn with the cabinetry so the switches and fixtures end up exactly where you need them.
Flooring usually runs through the kitchen into the rest of the main floor, so we often plan it as part of a larger main-floor renovation. Calgary's dry air is hard on solid wood, so we choose engineered flooring, porcelain or other materials that stay stable through the winter.
How long a kitchen renovation takes
Most kitchens take 6 to 10 weeks of construction, from demolition to the final walkthrough. Design, selections and permits come first, so the build can run without waiting on decisions or materials.
Your kitchen will be out of service while the work is done. Most families set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge, a microwave and a kettle in another room, and we plan the schedule so the loudest and dustiest work happens early.
Permits for a Calgary kitchen
A cosmetic update that keeps everything in place usually does not need a permit. Moving plumbing, adding electrical circuits, changing gas lines or removing walls does. Kay2 takes care of the City of Calgary permits and inspections as part of the project, and permit fees typically run $1,500 to $3,000 on a $100,000 renovation.
Mistakes we help clients avoid
- Choosing finishes before the layout is settled, then paying to change them.
- Underestimating storage, especially for small appliances and pantry items.
- Skipping proper ventilation over a powerful range.
- Leaving lighting until the end, when the ceiling is already closed.
- Making changes after construction starts, which costs far more than making them on paper.
