Kitchen Remodeling in Marin and San Francisco
From new cabinets and counters to moving the range or taking out a wall. Tell us about your kitchen and we'll come take a look.
See this projectOne contractor for the whole kitchen
A kitchen remodel with The Home Doctors covers the whole job: demolition, framing changes, plumbing, gas and electrical, drywall, cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting, flooring and trim. You hire one licensed general contractor instead of lining up a cabinet shop, a plumber, an electrician and a tile setter, and we pull the permits.
Most kitchens we open up are older than they look. About 72% of Marin homes and 75% of San Francisco homes were built before 1980 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024). That usually means wiring sized for a much smaller kitchen, and plumbing that's due once the cabinets are off the wall.
Request an EstimateExamples of our kitchen remodels
Opening up the kitchenTaking out a wall so the kitchen and living room become one room. 
Turning the kitchen aroundMoving the fridge, sink or ovens so the kitchen finally works. 
Adding roomPushing out a wall for a bay, an island and more counter. 
New cabinets and countersSame layout, all new cabinets, counters and lighting. 
Rental kitchensDurable finishes that get the unit back on the market. Drag to see the difference
BeforeAfter 
BeforeAfter The order we work in
- 01
Plan and order
We settle the layout and order cabinets and anything with a long lead time before demolition.
- 02
Tear-out
Cabinets, counters and flooring come out, plus any walls that are moving.
- 03
Framing and rough-in
New framing or beams, then plumbing, gas and electrical. The city inspects before the walls close.
- 04
Walls and floors
Insulation, drywall and the new floor.
- 05
Cabinets and counters
Cabinets go in, counters are templated and set, then the backsplash.
- 06
Finish
Sink, faucet, appliances, lighting, trim and paint, and the final inspection.
What your kitchen needs depends on the job
The layout works but the kitchen is worn out
Keep the plumbing where it is and spend on cabinets, counters and lighting. The U-shaped kitchen in Haight-Ashbury kept its shape and got new cabinets and counters.
The kitchen feels closed off
Ask about the walls first. Taking one out changes how the whole floor works, and it's hard to undo. The Terra Linda great room and the Novato kitchen alteration both opened a closed kitchen up.
It's a rental
Pick durable, easy-to-replace finishes. Our Novato rental kitchen went from broken cabinets and a torn-up floor to new wood cabinets, counters and flooring.
You're keeping something old
Build the new kitchen around it. For one client we reframed an alcove to fit a vintage O'Keefe & Merritt range, with a steel backsplash behind it.
Changing the layout
The biggest kitchen changes we make are to the layout, not the finishes. Moving a wall, the sink or the range is what makes an awkward kitchen work.
In a Terra Linda kitchen in San Rafael, we took out the wall between the kitchen and the living room. The photos show the ceiling opened up during the work, and the finished room with an island and cooktop under one long ceiling. In a Petaluma kitchen, we turned the kitchen around: the fridge and the corner cabinets moved to new spots, and a double wall oven went in.
Sometimes the kitchen needs more room, not a new plan. The kitchen and dining bay addition pushed the outside wall out for a bay with big windows, then added an island, crown molding and a TV alcove over the fridge.
What our clients say
In the twenty-two years we’ve owned a home, we’ve done two major and a raft of minor remodel projects … He’s just the best to work with: knowledgeable, helpful, honest, and a great craftsman and advisor.
We have been working with Home Docs for nearly 20 years on all kinds of projects. They are the best.
Thanks you so much for your prompt, excellent service! … I will be singing your praises to all my friends and neighbors.
Where we've remodeled kitchens
We're based in Novato at 6 Pamaron Way, Suite A and work across Marin and San Francisco. Each town links to a project we've done there.
- Terra Linda, San RafaelWall removal kitchen alteration that created a great room in Terra Linda, San Rafael
- NovatoElegant kitchen remodel in NovatoMajor kitchen alteration in NovatoRental kitchen that was in bad shape, Novato
- Mill ValleyBungalow kitchen gets a needed upgrade in Mill Valley
- TiburonRe-creating a kitchen to work better in Tiburon
- Haight-Ashbury, San FranciscoU-shaped kitchen gets a new look in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco
- PetalumaKitchen reorientation remodel with special features in Petaluma
- RichmondKitchen remodel in Richmond
Questions people ask before a kitchen remodel
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Marin County?
It depends most on whether the layout changes. New cabinets and counters in the same footprint cost far less than moving the sink, the range or a wall. We price your job after we see the kitchen. For a public reference point, the median declared value on 573 kitchen permits in unincorporated Marin from 2023 to September 2026 was $51,000, according to County of Marin building permit records. That is the value written on the permit application, not a final invoice, and it leaves out room additions and new houses.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A kitchen that keeps its layout moves faster than one where walls, plumbing or gas lines move. Cabinet lead times matter too, so we order early. We can give you a schedule for your job once we have seen what it involves.
Can you take out the wall between my kitchen and living room?
Often, yes. Some walls only divide the space, and some hold up the floor or roof above, which means a beam and posts have to carry that load once the wall comes out. We look at the framing first and tell you which one you have. Our Terra Linda project in San Rafael took out the wall between the kitchen and the living room to make one big room.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. We pull the permits and book the inspections. Kitchen work that moves plumbing, gas, electrical or walls needs a permit from San Francisco, the County of Marin or your own city or town, and we deal with whichever one your home falls under.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. The Home Doctors holds California contractor license #1154343 (B, General Building Contractor), and we are fully insured. You can check the license on the Contractors State License Board website.
More kitchens we've remodeled
Tell us what your home needs.
Based in Novato, working across Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Send a few details and we'll call you back during office hours.