Here's what I'm not going to do: throw a price at your kitchen remodel without seeing your kitchen. Any contractor who quotes a kitchen blind is guessing, and guesses have a way of doubling once the demolition starts — especially in West Palm Beach, where what's behind the walls can matter more than what's on them.
I'm Joe. I run Onel Construction out of Boca Raton. Fifteen years remodeling kitchens across South Florida — bungalows, historic homes, downtown condos, all of it. West Palm kitchens are their own animal: older housing stock, older wiring, and the occasional surprise from a previous owner's DIY era.
Where the Money Goes in a West Palm Beach Kitchen Remodel
Every kitchen breaks down the same way. Here's the honest anatomy:
Cabinets — the biggest line item. Refacing your existing boxes (new doors, new drawer fronts) costs a fraction of full replacement — and in older homes with genuinely solid wood cabinets, it's often the smartest money in the project. Stock cabinets are the value play. Semi-custom gets you the sizes and finishes you actually want. Full custom is beautiful and priced like it. Most of my customers land in the middle.
The stuff behind the walls. This is the West Palm factor. Old electrical panels that can't carry a modern kitchen's load. Wiring that predates code. Plumbing that has seen better decades. Unpermitted work from a previous owner that I have to make right before I can build on it. I don't know what's back there until we open it up, and neither does anyone else — I budget honestly for the unknowns instead of pretending they don't exist. A contractor who promises a fixed price on an old kitchen without talking about contingencies is not being straight with you.
Layout changes. The silent budget killer. Keeping your sink, stove, and fridge where they are? Reasonable. Moving plumbing, gas lines, or electrical across the kitchen? Every move is labor, permits, and inspections. In older homes, every move also risks uncovering more of what's behind the walls. Sometimes the new layout is worth it — a bad layout is a bad layout. Go in with your eyes open: the floor plan drives the price more than the finishes do.
Counters. Laminate is the budget option and there's no shame in it. Quartz is what most people choose now — tough, low maintenance, looks great. Granite, marble, butcher block — each has trade-offs I'll walk you through. The material is only half the cost; fabrication and installation is the rest.
Condos: The Downtown Special
A lot of West Palm kitchen work is in downtown condos, and condo kitchens are their own animal. HOA approvals. Limited work hours. Elevator reservations for cabinet and countertop deliveries. Parking for the dumpster — if they'll even allow one. Plumbing stacks you can't move because the unit below you exists.
I've done this dance many times. I know what the HOAs ask for, I know how to schedule around the restrictions, and I build the logistics into the plan instead of discovering them mid-job. If your building has rules, tell me upfront and I'll work with them.
The Order of Operations — Why It Matters
A kitchen remodel is choreography. Demo, then rough plumbing and electrical, then inspections, then drywall, then cabinets, then counters (templated after cabinets are in — always), then backsplash, then fixtures and appliances. Skip a step or do them out of order and you pay for it twice.
This is where experience shows. A cheap crew rips everything out on day one and then stands around waiting on inspections. I sequence the job so there's always work happening and you're not living without a kitchen a day longer than necessary.
Do I Need a Permit for a Kitchen Remodel in West Palm Beach?
For electrical, plumbing, or structural changes — yes, and in older homes the inspection is especially valuable. Panel upgrades, new circuits, relocated drains, gas line work: all permitted, all inspected. If your project involves opening up a wall, my engineer Troy Bishop reviews the structural side before anything comes down.
Some contractors treat permits as optional paperwork. On an older home, the inspection is the thing standing between you and someone else's shortcuts buried in your walls. I pull the permit, I meet the inspector, and you get a job that's documented and done right.
How to Not Get Burned
Deposits. A reasonable deposit is normal — materials have to be ordered. A contractor demanding most of the money upfront is a red flag the size of a billboard. My payment schedules are tied to completed milestones. You pay as real work gets done.
The allowance game. Some contractors bid low with tiny "allowances" for cabinets, counters, and fixtures — numbers so small you can't actually buy anything decent. Then every selection becomes a change order and the price balloons. I spec realistic numbers from the start.
One throat to choke. Onel Construction LLC is a licensed general contractor — CGC1511492. Plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, cabinets — I run the whole job. You make one phone call: mine. (561) 462-9293.
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What About Cost? The Honest Answer
I price every kitchen in person after I see it, measure it, and talk through what you want. What I can tell you now:
- Small refreshes (paint, fixtures, hardware, minor updates) can finance from $120/month with approved credit through Acorn.
- Full remodels typically land in the low $200s–$300s/month with approved credit, rates as low as 4.49% APR.
- Behind-the-wall condition, the cabinets, and the building logistics drive the number — not the zip code.
Free in-home estimate. I'll measure, we'll talk scope, and you'll get a real price for your actual kitchen.
Straight talk on numbers: the financing figures above are examples from Acorn's programs, not quotes — your actual payment depends on approved credit and the scope of your job. Material prices have moved with recent tariff increases, so don't treat any ballpark as a bid. The free estimate I give you in person uses current numbers.
Why Me and Not the Other Guy
I come out myself. No salesman — I measure your kitchen, I look at the panel, I ask about the house's history, and I price it.
Old houses don't scare me. Fifteen years in South Florida means I've opened up walls in homes of every era. I plan for what's behind them instead of being surprised by it — and I tell you about it before demo day, not after.
Condo jobs don't rattle me. HOA paperwork, elevator scheduling, work-hour windows — I've run this playbook many times.
No allowance games. Realistic numbers from the start. The price I give you is built to hold.
Related Services
- Bathroom Remodeling in West Palm Beach — older kitchens and baths in one project.
- Roof Replacement in West Palm Beach — the exterior to match the new interior.
- Kitchen Remodeling in Boca Raton — my main kitchen page, same straight process.
West Palm Beach Kitchen Remodeling FAQ
My house is older. What are the odds the electrical needs upgrading?
Honest answer: decent. Older panels and wiring weren't built for today's kitchens — multiple small appliances, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals all pulling at once. I'll look at your panel when I come out and tell you straight whether it can carry the new kitchen or needs work. It's a common line item in older West Palm homes, not a surprise.
How long will I be without a working kitchen?
A full remodel typically runs four to eight weeks depending on scope, and older homes with behind-the-wall work can run longer. I'll give you a real timeline after I've seen the space — and we'll plan a temporary setup before demo day.
I'm in a downtown condo. Can you handle the HOA process?
Yes. Bring me the building's renovation requirements and I'll build the plan around them: work hours, elevator reservations, material logistics. Condo kitchens just need choreography.
Do I need a permit?
For electrical, plumbing, or structural changes, yes — and most real kitchen remodels include at least one. I pull the permits and coordinate inspections.
Let's Talk About Your West Palm Beach Kitchen
Call or text (561) 462-9293. Free in-home estimate. I'll look at the space, listen to what you want, and give you a straight price — no games, no pressure.
Onel Construction LLC — 7100 W Camino Real, Ste 302, Boca Raton, FL 33433. Licensed & insured, CGC1511492. Serving West Palm Beach and all of Palm Beach County.
