1. What spaces are holding you back?
Is it one bathroom that drives you crazy? A kitchen that doesn't work for how you cook? Or is it the whole first floor that feels choppy and dated? Make a list of the rooms that truly impact your daily life.
Renovation Investment Guide & FAQ
Renovating your home is a big decision — and a significant investment. This guide is designed to give you honest, real-world ranges for projects in the Northern Virginia / DMV area, plus answers to the questions we hear most often about budget, timing, and living through a remodel.
- Realistic ranges for kitchens, bathrooms & full-home projects
- Transparent pricing on popular upgrades & deluxe packages
- Guidance on where to start & how to plan your living situation
Where Should We Start?
Before we talk dollars, it helps to get clear on what you're trying to accomplish and how you want to live in your home. A good plan always starts with three simple questions.
2. What's your investment comfort zone?
Most of our clients are planning projects in ranges like:
- Single bathroom or laundry project
- Kitchen or kitchen + adjacent dining / living refresh
- Full first-floor or multi-room renovation
- Full-home with some outdoor living upgrades
You don't need an exact number on day one, but a target range helps us tailor options and phasing.
3. How much disruption can you live with?
A kitchen or full-home project can run 3–6 months from planning through construction, especially with permitting and inspections. Deciding whether you'll stay in the home, move to a finished basement, or temporarily relocate (friends, family, short-term rental) is a conversation we have early — before the first hammer swings.
Bathroom Renovation — Typical Investment Levels
Every bathroom is different, but here are the ranges we often see in the DMV area for professionally managed, permit-compliant work with quality materials and craftsmanship.
Essential Refresh & Guest Baths
Typical investment: starting around $12,000 – $25,000+
- Guest / hall bath or smaller full bath
- New tub or tub-to-shower conversion (many projects from around $16,900+)
- Updated tile, vanity, fixtures & lighting
- Fresh paint, accessories & hardware
Great for dated but functional spaces that need a serious glow-up without major layout changes.
Signature Primary Bath Upgrade
Typical investment: around $27,000 – $40,000+
- Primary bathroom with new tile shower or tub/shower combo
- New vanity (often double), countertops & storage upgrades
- Quality fixtures, niches, updated lighting & ventilation
- Improved layout where feasible within existing walls
Many “smart but beautiful” primary bath updates begin around $27K–$32K and step up with added features and higher-end finishes.
Luxe Spa Suite & Deluxe Packages
Typical investment: mid $40,000s – $75,000+ (depending on options)
- Custom tile showers with niches, benches & glass enclosures
- Heated floors, upgraded fixtures, and statement lighting
- Options for steam, body jets, linear drains & smart controls
- Coordinated upgrades to adjoining spaces (closet, bedroom entry)
These projects combine multiple high-end features into one cohesive, spa-like experience.
Popular Bathroom Upgrades & Typical Add-On Ranges
Use this as a guide to start building your dream list. Final costs depend on layout, product selections, and existing conditions, but these ranges give you a realistic feel for how different options impact your budget.
Glass Shower Enclosure
Typical add-on: $1,500 – $4,500+
Frameless or semi-frameless glass, hardware, and installation for a clean, open look.
Full Wall Niche with LED
Typical add-on: $750 – $2,000
Statement niche with integrated lighting and framing support, often on an exterior wall.
Linear Drain
Typical add-on: $800 – $1,800
Clean look and improved drainage, often paired with large-format tile or curbless entries.
Heated Floors
Typical add-on: $1,800 – $4,500
Electric radiant heat under tile for warm, comfortable floors all winter.
Kitchen Renovation — Typical Investment Levels
The kitchen is the heart of the home — and one of the best places to invest. We don't just swap cabinets and paint; we often expand mid-size kitchens into true large, open family-centered spaces that change how the main level feels and functions.
Smaller & Efficient Kitchens
Typical investment: mid $30,000s – low $50,000s+
- Compact kitchens where the footprint stays mostly the same.
- New cabinets, countertops, backsplash & lighting.
- Updated appliances and plumbing fixtures.
Great for townhomes and smaller homes where we focus on smart storage and finishes over major wall changes.
Mid-Size Kitchens (Most Common Starting Point)
Typical investment: approximately $42,000 – $62,000+
- Standard DMV kitchens that many builders originally installed.
- Layout improvements within existing walls (often adding an island).
- Quality cabinetry, stone or quartz tops, updated backsplash & lighting.
Many of our clients start with a mid-size kitchen like this — then choose to expand into a larger plan to more fully transform the main level.
Expanded Large Kitchens & Heart-of-Home Plans
Typical investment: approximately $55,000 – $85,000+
- Enlarged kitchens with reworked walls, new openings, or beam placements.
- Generous islands, pantry solutions, and integrated seating or lounge zones.
- Lighting, flooring, and trim that extend into adjoining dining and family areas.
This is where we move beyond “new cabinets” and truly reshape the home's ecosystem — aligning the kitchen with how your family actually lives.
First-Floor & Whole-Main-Level Transformations
When we're updating the entire first floor — kitchen, powder room, dining, living, and family room — we're often addressing stairs, openings, doors, and circulation as well. These projects typically invest around:
Approximately $105 – $125 per square foot
For example, a 1,200 sq. ft. first floor with an expanded kitchen, reworked powder room, new flooring and lighting, updated stairs, and key wall or opening changes can land in the $120,000 – $150,000+ range depending on selections and structural work.
This is where we move beyond a single room and redesign the core of the home — the rooms you touch all day, every day.