Kitchen Remodeling in Portland, OR | Neil Kelly
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Portland Kitchen Remodeling, Done Right the First Time.

Portland homeowners have trusted Neil Kelly with their kitchens for 80 years. Every project comes with a fixed-price contract, a 5-year warranty, and in-house craftspeople who know Portland homes inside and out.

Portland HQ Since 1947
2,200+ Verified Reviews 4.6
Price Contracts Fixed
Kitchen Refresh From $55K

Three Scope Levels. Real Portland Projects.

Most Portland kitchen remodels fall into one of three scope levels. Not sure which one fits your situation? That's what this section is for. Understanding the differences is the first step toward making a decision that actually fits your home and your goals.

Refresh

Refresh

New Finishes, Same Bones.

$55k–$110kBudget Range
3–5 monthsTimeline

Cabinet refacing, new countertops, hardware, paint, lighting. No layout changes, no structural work. Best for: when the layout already works and the existing cabinets are still in solid condition.

Replace

Replace

Same Footprint, Brand-New Kitchen.

$85k–$215kBudget Range
5–8 monthsTimeline

New cabinets, new appliances and countertops while keeping the existing layout intact. Includes light plumbing and electrical updates. Best for: when the current cabinets are worn out and you want a completely fresh kitchen without changing the layout.

Reimagine

Reimagine

Walls Move. Layouts Change.

$175K–$330k+Budget Range
8–12 monthsTimeline

A fully redesigned kitchen layout that may involve moving walls, relocating plumbing or electrical and rebuilding the space from the ground up. Best for: when the kitchen no longer works for your family, cooking habits, or overall flow of the home.

Your Portland Design Team.

Neil Kelly's Portland designers have centuries of combined experience in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark counties. They know the housing stock — the Craftsman bungalows, the mid-century ranches, the 70s split-levels, and 90s custom builds. They know the permit process. And they know what works in Portland kitchens because they've built hundreds of them.

Our designers each have their own strengths, from design styles to accessibility, multi-generational living, and more. Collectively, there's no other firm in Portland that brings this level of combined expertise to a kitchen project.

What Portland Clients Say

Portland homeowners trust Neil Kelly for design/build remodeling — and they say so publicly.

4.6 out of 5 · 2,200+ verified reviews on GuildQuality

The Neil Kelly team was wonderful to work with. Their high level of expertise, their willingness to listen to our ideas and the fact that they handled all of the details made it well worth the cost.

Sandra & Art B.

Tigard · via GuildQuality

Our experience with Neil Kelly was exceptional from beginning to end. They transformed the miniscule kitchen and bath in our 120 year-old house into beautiful and useful space. Their expertise and professionalism were outstanding. We especially appreciated their readiness to accommodate us when we needed to make scheduling changes. I would recommend them highly without reservation (and have done so).

John O.

Portland · via GuildQuality

All the talented people who worked on my kitchen were organized, professional and communicated with me at a level that always made me comfortable and confident that I was doing the right thing by hiring NK.

Sharon

Pearl District · via GuildQuality

One Team. Six Phases. No Headaches.

Every Neil Kelly kitchen project moves through six clear phases — design, planning, and construction handled by the same people from start to finish. No hiring separate designers, contractors, and subs and hoping they talk to each other.

  1. 01

    In-Home Design Consultation

    A Neil Kelly designer will come to your home for free 60-to-90-minute discussion. We'll talk through your goals, your constraints, and what's actually possible in your kitchen. No commitment required — and no need to tidy up first.

  2. 02

    Schematic Design

    Floor plan options, materials direction, scope confirmation. You'll see alternatives, have your questions answered, and further shape the direction before any detailed drawings are made.

  3. 03

    Design Development

    Full plans, full specs, every material selected. This is where your kitchen concept becomes a clear direction and pricing gets finalized.

  4. 04

    Fixed-Price Contract

    The number you see is the number you pay. Permits filed, materials ordered, schedule set. No surprises when construction starts.

  5. 05

    Construction

    Construction by Neil Kelly's in-house craftspeople. A dedicated project manager handles trades, schedule, and daily details. Weekly updates.

  6. 06

    Punch List + Warranty

    Final walkthrough. Anything not right gets fixed before you sign off. Five-year warranty coverage starts on completion.

What We Know About Remodeling in Portland.

Portland's housing stock presents specific challenges that affect every kitchen remodel. Knowing them up front saves time, money, and frustration.

Pre-1950s Housing Stock

A significant portion of Portland homes were built before 1950. Balloon framing, lath-and-plaster walls, and non-standard stud spacing are common. We assess these conditions during the home visit and build them into the scope — not as change orders after demo.

Knob-and-Tube Wiring

Still present in many Portland neighborhoods. Kitchen remodels that involve new circuits, dedicated appliance lines, or panel upgrades require addressing legacy wiring. We handle this as part of the project — no separate electrician to coordinate.

Seismic Considerations

Portland sits in a seismic zone. Structural changes — removing walls, adding headers, opening floor plans — require engineering that accounts for lateral loads. Our designers and structural engineers work together early in the design process.

Portland Permit Timelines

Portland Permitting & Development processes residential permits on a timeline that varies by project complexity. Simple permits can clear in 4 weeks. Complex structural work can take 8 weeks or longer. We file early and build realistic timelines into every contract.

Historic District Considerations

Homes in Portland's historic districts — Irvington, Ladd's Addition, Alphabet District, and others — may face additional review requirements for exterior changes. Interior kitchen remodels are generally unaffected, but we flag potential issues during the consultation.

A ceiling with failing lath and plaster and exposed electrical wiring behind exposed beams

Portland Kitchen Remodel Questions, Answered.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost?

The cost of a kitchen remodel with Neil Kelly depends on the scope of the project, materials chosen, your home type and condition, and the city. Given those variables, kitchen remodels with Neil Kelly cost anywhere from $55,000 up to and beyond $290,000. The best way to learn specifics is to meet with one of our designers.

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

A remodel isn’t just construction. The process moves through three phases: design (typically 12-16 weeks), permitting (6-8 weeks), and construction (12-20 weeks). From first meeting to finished project, most kitchen remodels take somewhere in the range of 7-11 months, though every project is different. The scope of your project, the complexity of your home’s existing conditions, the jurisdiction you’re in, and how quickly decisions get made along the way all factor into the final timeline. If you have a target completion date in mind, that’s a great place to start the conversation with your designer.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?

Most major kitchen remodels require permits if structural, plumbing, or electrical work is being updated. Cosmetic changes such as changing flooring, updating backsplashes, or installing new cabinet doors usually do not require a permit. When you work with Neil Kelly, permits are handled by your dedicated project manager.

What is included in a kitchen remodel?

It depends on what your kitchen needs and what you want to achieve. A Neil Kelly kitchen remodel can range from a focused refresh — new countertops, updated lighting, refinished cabinetry — to a full reimagining of the floor plan, with custom cabinetry, new appliances, and everything in between. Whatever the scope, our designers work with you upfront to define exactly what’s included before any work begins, so there are no gaps between what you expected and what you got.

What areas does Neil Kelly Portland office serve?

The Portland office serves the greater Portland metro area including Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, Wilsonville, Hillsboro, Gresham, and surrounding communities.

What neighborhoods in Portland does Neil Kelly work in most?

Neil Kelly works throughout Portland and the metro area. Common neighborhoods include the West Hills, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Dunthorpe, Laurelhurst, Irvington, Ladds Addition, the Pearl District, Downtown Portland, and the inner East and Westside neighborhoods and surrounding metropolitan area including Happy Valley. Our Portland office also serves SW Washington including Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal.

Ready to Talk About your Portland kitchen?

Visit us at the Alberta Street design center or start online. Free consultation, fixed-price contract, five-year warranty. No pressure — just a straight conversation about what's possible in your kitchen.