Planning a kitchen remodel can feel overwhelming. You’re excited about the result, but uncertain about the path to get there. How long does it actually take? When should you order materials? What happens between the design meeting and the moment you step into your finished kitchen? At Alexandria Kitchen & Bath Studio, we guide every client through a structured, five-phase process designed to eliminate surprises. Here’s exactly what to expect, week by week.
Before You Start: The Mindset Shift
The most common mistake homeowners make is rushing the planning phase because they’re eager to see progress. We understand the impulse — but planning is where the best decisions happen. A kitchen remodel is a significant investment that you’ll live with for 10, 20, or 30 years. Taking an extra two weeks in the design phase to get every detail right — cabinet configuration, lighting placement, outlet locations, appliance specifications — prevents expensive change orders and regrets later. The timeline we describe here assumes a thorough design process. Rushing through it doesn’t get you into your kitchen faster — it creates problems that slow down construction.
Phase 1: Design and Planning — 2 to 4 Weeks
This is where your vision takes shape. You will meet with Tanya, our designer, typically for two to three sessions. Session one: she measures your space in detail, photographs every angle, and asks about how you cook, how your family moves through the kitchen, what frustrates you about the current layout, and what you dream of having. Bring photos of kitchens you love — even if they’re from magazines or Pinterest — because they communicate your aesthetic preferences faster than words. Session two: Tanya presents initial layout options with different configurations for you to consider. This is where the work triangle discussion happens. Session three: materials selection. Tanya will guide you through cabinet door styles, wood species, finish colors, countertop samples, backsplash tile options, flooring, hardware, and lighting. She will help you coordinate everything so the finished kitchen feels cohesive rather than a collection of individually nice pieces that don’t go together. Once the design is finalized, Georges provides a detailed fixed-price proposal with line-item pricing. No allowances. No ranges. You know what everything costs before construction begins.
Phase 2: Permitting and Material Ordering — 2 to 6 Weeks
Once you approve the proposal, the behind-the-scenes work begins. Custom cabinets are ordered — depending on the manufacturer, lead times range from 6 to 10 weeks. Countertop slabs are selected and reserved. Specialty fixtures and lighting are ordered. Simultaneously, we pull permits with the City of Alexandria. Alexandria requires building permits for any kitchen remodel involving plumbing, electrical, or structural work. The permit review timeline varies, but we handle the entire process. This waiting period can feel quiet from your perspective, but it is essential. Use it productively: finalize your temporary kitchen setup, plan for meals during construction, and if you’re selecting paint colors and wall finishes, now is the time. We will give you a clear timeline of when materials are expected to arrive so you’re never wondering what is happening.
Phase 3: Demolition and Rough-In — 1 to 2 Weeks
Georges and his crew arrive. This is the phase where things look worse before they look better — and that’s normal. Old cabinets are removed. Flooring that’s being replaced is pulled up. If walls are coming down, this is when it happens. With the kitchen opened up, plumbing and electrical rough-ins begin: new water lines, drain relocations, wiring for under-cabinet lighting, additional outlets, and dedicated circuits for new appliances. Any structural work — beam installation, floor leveling, subfloor repair — happens now. We protect your floors leading to the kitchen, seal off the work area with plastic sheeting to contain dust, and clean up at the end of each day. You’ll have access to the temporary kitchen setup you planned in Phase 2. This is the noisiest and dustiest week — and also the shortest. Most demolition and rough-in is completed in 5-7 working days.
Phase 4: Installation and Finishing — 2 to 4 Weeks
Cabinets go in first. Watching your custom cabinets being installed is often the most exciting moment in the entire project — suddenly the kitchen looks like a kitchen again. Once cabinets are in, countertop templating happens. A fabricator comes to your home, creates a precise digital template of the installed cabinets, and fabricates the countertops off-site. This typically takes 1-2 weeks. During that gap, backsplash tile installation begins, along with trim work, painting, and under-cabinet lighting. When countertops are installed, the final push begins: sink and faucet connection, appliance installation, pendant lights, hardware, and final electrical trim. Flooring (if included in the scope) is installed either before or after cabinets depending on the material. The kitchen is functional again. You can cook.
Phase 5: Punch List and Final Walkthrough — 3 to 5 Days
Georges walks through the finished kitchen with you. A punch list is created: a cabinet door needs minor alignment, a dab of caulk needs touch-up, a drawer glide feels slightly tight. These are small adjustments, and they’re all addressed within days. The goal is that you find nothing to add to the punch list because everything has been checked before you see it. Total timeline for a mid-range kitchen remodel with AKBS: typically 8 to 12 weeks from signed proposal to final walkthrough. Larger projects with structural changes, wall removals, or complex custom features: 12 to 16 weeks. Throughout the process, you will have Tanya’s cell phone number and Georges’ direct contact. You will never wonder what’s happening or who to call with a question. That is the AKBS difference.
Ready to start planning? Contact Alexandria Kitchen & Bath Studio — (703) 836-5141 or akbs-oldtown.com.
