CALABASAS, Calif., Sept. 9 — As fall renovation season approaches, a women-led boutique contractor here has released detailed 2026 cost guidance for kitchen remodels across Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and the Conejo Valley, aiming to help homeowners set realistic budgets before committing to a scope. Construction by Maya, headquartered in Calabasas and licensed under #1034501, announced the guidance on September 8. The firm groups projects into three tiers based on current pricing for a typical 150–250 square foot kitchen, including labor, materials, and standard permits.
The company is offering complimentary in-person and virtual consultations alongside the release. At the entry level, a budget or cosmetic refresh runs $30,000 to $55,000.
That tier keeps the existing layout and footprint, using stock or semi-custom cabinets or refacing, quartz or laminate counters, a mid-range appliance package, and no plumbing or gas relocation. The most common tier, a mid-range full remodel, costs $60,000 to $110,000 and includes semi-custom cabinetry, quartz or quartzite counters, tile backsplash, better appliances, and often minor layout changes. A high-end or luxury remodel costs $120,000 to $250,000 and up, with full custom cabinetry, natural stone, professional-grade appliances, structural changes, new windows, and premium flooring.
As a benchmark, Los Angeles kitchen remodels run approximately $250 to $700 or more per square foot. The company breaks down a typical mid-range budget, with cabinets accounting for 25–35% of costs.
Stock cabinets run $100–$300 per linear foot, semi-custom $300–$650, and full custom $650–$1,200 and up; for 25–30 linear feet, that totals roughly $9,000 to $30,000 or more, with refacing saving 40–60%. Labor takes 20–35%, appliances 10–20% (a mid-range package runs $6,000–$15,000, while professional brands exceed $25,000), countertops 10–15%, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC 10–15%, and permits and design 5–10%. On a representative $85,000 mid-range remodel, cabinets and labor together total roughly $24,000 and $22,000 respectively.
Key cost drivers include layout changes, particularly moving plumbing, gas, or load-bearing walls. Home age matters too — many Valley homes built in the 1940s through 1970s may reveal outdated wiring, galvanized plumbing, asbestos, or lead. Finish level, structural and permit complexity, custom versus stock materials, and site access also shape the final number.
Founder Hila Hemo stressed that bids alone can mislead. “The number that matters is not the bid, it is the scope behind the bid,” Hemo said.
“An unusually low proposal almost always means missing scope or a change order strategy that erases the savings by month three. We give every client a line item breakdown so they can see exactly what is included and what is not.” Construction by Maya advises homeowners to set aside a 10–20% contingency, invest in hard-to-change elements such as cabinets, layout, and appliances, and save on hardware, lighting, and paint.
With long lead materials continuing to drive project timelines, the company recommends booking a contractor and ordering those materials early to protect schedules and insulate budgets from price increases.
