A whole house remodel is really two different projects wearing one name: structural and systems work that a general contractor runs, and the finish-level rooms — kitchen, bathrooms, flooring — that a design-and-build specialist runs. Bundling both under a single “whole house remodel” budget is normal, but planning them as one undifferentiated project is where timelines slip and costs run away. This guide walks through what a whole house remodel actually covers, a practical order to tackle it in, where the budget concentrates, and where a kitchen-and-cabinetry specialist fits alongside the rest of the team.
What a Whole House Remodel Actually Covers
Two different layers of work get grouped under “whole house remodel,” and they’re hired, scheduled and priced differently:
- Structure and systems. Foundation and framing changes, roofing, windows, electrical and plumbing rough-in, HVAC, and permitting. This is general contractor territory — it determines what the rest of the house is physically able to have, and it has to happen before finish work can start in any room it touches.
- Finish-level rooms. Cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures, trim, paint and lighting. This is where a kitchen and bath designer or cabinetry specialist runs the project, and it’s also where the most decisions — and the most budget — concentrate, because these are the surfaces and built-ins you actually live with.
A single contractor sometimes manages both layers on smaller homes; on most whole house projects, a general contractor and a kitchen/bath design partner work side by side, each running the part they’re actually built for.
A Practical Sequence for a Whole House Project
The order matters as much as the scope. Sequencing structure before finishes, and finishes in the right internal order, is what keeps a whole house remodel from being redone twice:
| Phase | What happens | Why this order |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Structure and systems | Walls opened or moved, plumbing and electrical rough-in relocated, roofing and windows addressed, permits pulled | Every downstream room depends on where walls, plumbing and power actually end up |
| 2. Kitchen and bathrooms | Cabinetry, countertops and plumbing fixtures designed and installed | These rooms carry the most built-in casework and the most expensive finish work — get them right before the rest of the house is finished around them |
| 3. Flooring and finish carpentry | Flooring laid throughout, trim and millwork installed | Dust- and debris-generating trades are finished, so new flooring and finish carpentry don’t get damaged |
| 4. Paint, hardware, lighting | Final finishes and fixtures throughout the house | The last layer, applied once nothing heavier is still moving through the space |
This sequence is a starting framework, not a fixed rule — a smaller-scope project (finishes only, no structural change) can skip straight to Phase 2.
Where the Budget Concentrates
Kitchen and bathroom work carries a disproportionate share of most whole house budgets, for the same reason it’s sequenced early: cabinetry is the most complex, most customized element in the house. The construction tier you choose for that cabinetry — stock, semi-custom or fully custom — moves the number more than almost any other single decision in the project, in the same way it drives kitchen cabinet door replacement costs and custom cabinetry pricing on their own. Countertop material follows a similar pattern — see countertop options for how quartz, granite and other materials compare. None of this is a number you can set from a national average; it’s set by your rooms, your material choices and your cabinetry construction tier, together.
Designing the Kitchen and Bath Rooms of a Whole House Remodel
Maine Cabinet Company designs and builds the finish-level rooms of a whole house project — custom and semi-custom cabinetry, kitchen design and renovation, countertops, bathroom, and flooring — as one coordinated part of the larger remodel, working alongside the general contractor handling structure and systems. Design happens at the Falmouth showroom, measuring happens in your home, and installation follows once the space is ready for it. That coordination matters most on a whole house project: the kitchen and bathroom designs need to be locked in early enough to inform the structural plan, not bolted on after the walls are already closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s actually included in a whole house remodel?
Two layers: structural and systems work (foundation, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) and finish-level work in every room (cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures, paint). Most projects need both, run by different specialists.
Should the kitchen be designed before or after structural work is finalized?
Before, ideally. Kitchen and bathroom layouts often drive where plumbing and electrical need to land, so locking in the design early keeps the structural phase from having to guess.
Do I need a general contractor and a kitchen designer, or just one?
On most whole house projects, both — each running the part of the project they’re built for, coordinated on the same timeline.
What part of the budget usually goes to the kitchen and bath?
It varies by house and scope, but these rooms consistently carry a disproportionate share, because cabinetry and built-ins are the most customized and most expensive finish work in the project.
How far ahead should kitchen and bath design start on a whole house remodel?
Early — before the structural plan is finalized, if the layout is changing at all. A design consultation is the place to start that conversation.
Start the Kitchen and Bath Conversation Early
If a whole house remodel is on your plans, bring the kitchen and bath design into the conversation before the structural work is locked in. Maine Cabinet Company is at 417 US Route 1 in Falmouth, serving Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cumberland, Freeport, Portland, Brunswick, and Windham. Schedule a design consultation or call (207) 956-7727 to talk through where the kitchen and bath fit into your project’s sequence and budget.
