Our process
How the kitchen remodel process works, from first call to final walkthrough
A good kitchen remodel process settles the layout first, the finishes second and the schedule before anyone swings a hammer. Here are the seven steps, and who handles each one.
Who does what in the kitchen remodel process
Holladay Kitchen Co. is a planning resource and matching service, not a contractor. That shapes the process in a simple way: steps 1 and 2 are ours, and steps 3 through 7 are between you and the independent kitchen remodeling professional you choose to work with. We describe those later steps so you know what a well-run project should look like, and what to ask for.
Expect the planning side to take longer than the building side. Houzz's 2026 renovation study found kitchens had the longest timeline of any room, averaging 9.5 months of planning and 5.8 months of construction for 2025 projects.
Source: Houzz & Home Renovation Trends Study, 2026.
Step 1 · Holladay Kitchen Co.
Tell us what isn't working
Start with the problem, not the product. Two people can't pass at the sink. There's nowhere to land groceries. The kitchen faces a wall while everyone else is in the family room. The lights leave you chopping in your own shadow. The form asks you to pick the closest problem and leave your name, phone and email. That's all.
You don't need a budget, a design or a list of finishes yet. If you want a head start, our planning guides cover costs, layouts and permits in plain language.
Step 2 · Holladay Kitchen Co.
We share it with an independent local kitchen professional
We pass your request to an independent local kitchen remodeling professional serving Holladay and the Salt Lake Valley, who may contact you directly. This is where our role ends. We don't prepare drawings, prices or schedules, and we're not a party to any agreement you make.
Before you sign anything, check the license yourself in the DOPL Licensee Lookup. Utah's Division of Consumer Protection notes that contractors in Utah are required to obtain a license and liability insurance.
Source: Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
Step 3 · You and your remodeler
The layout and scope conversation
The first real conversation should be about how the room works: where people walk, where food is prepped, where the dishwasher door lands and whether a wall is in the way. Published planning standards give that conversation numbers. NKBA guidance, for example, calls for work aisles of at least 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for two, and a work triangle totaling no more than 26 feet.
Source: NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, Guidelines 3 and 6.
This is also when rough scope gets defined: keep the footprint, reconfigure it, open a wall or expand. Each choice changes the budget, the permits and the timeline far more than any countertop will.
Design, selections and a written scope
Step 4 turns the layout into decisions on paper: design and 3D planning, cabinet and countertop selections, appliance specs and a written scope. By the end of it, you should have the six items on this board in hand.
The reason is cost. Consumer Reports calls changing plans after work starts the biggest mistake homeowners make, and reports that change orders inflate budgets by an average of 10 percent. In Houzz's 2026 study, 31% of homeowners who went over budget blamed changes to scope or design.
Sources: Consumer Reports, "Home Renovation Without Aggravation"; Houzz & Home 2026.
The contract belongs here too. The FTC's "Hiring a Contractor" guide says it should list start and completion dates, the payment schedule, the contractor's obligation to get permits, how change orders are handled and a detailed materials list.
Proposed layout
A floor plan showing where the sink, range, refrigerator, island and storage go, with aisle and seating clearances checked.
Written project scope
What is included and what isn't: walls, plumbing moves, electrical, flooring, patching and finish work.
Material and finish selections
Cabinets, counters, flooring, fixtures and lighting chosen, so nothing stalls while you shop mid-project.
Project sequence
The order of demolition, rough-in, inspections, cabinets, templating, counters and finishes.
Expected schedule
Realistic dates for permits, lead times and each phase, including how long you'll be without a kitchen.
Major decisions resolved
Wall removal, appliance specs, sink location and budget priorities decided before the first cabinet comes out.
Step 5 · You and your remodeler
Permits and scheduling
Most kitchen remodels in Holladay need a permit. The City of Holladay requires permits for remodels "regardless of square footage," and for new electrical circuits, gas lines, water lines and drain, waste and vent piping. Cabinets, trim, carpet and paint are exempt. Applications go through the city's online iWorQ portal, and your contract should say who pulls the permit.
On timing, Holladay says it strives to complete the first plan review within 7 business days. State law sets an outer limit: a city must finish plan review for a single-family home no later than 14 business days after the application's screening period ends. Other cities in the valley run their own offices; see the Holladay permit guide and the remodel timeline guide.
Sources: City of Holladay Building Division FAQ; Utah Code 10-20-909.
Older homes add a step before demolition. Under Utah's asbestos rule, contractors must have an inspection done by a Utah certified asbestos inspector before renovating, and EPA's lead-safe rules apply to paid work in homes built before 1978. Ask how that inspection fits the schedule.
Sources: Utah Admin. Code R307-801-9; EPA RRP Rule.
Step 6 · You and your remodeler
Construction and inspections
A typical sequence runs demolition, rough-in plumbing and electrical, inspections, insulation and drywall, flooring, cabinets, countertop templating and installation, then fixtures, lighting and finish work. The building department inspects permitted work, so walls stay open until rough-in work passes.
In pre-1978 homes, lead-safe practices include containing the work area, using HEPA-equipped tools and verifying the cleanup. If something unexpected turns up behind a wall, any change should be written up as a change order before the work happens. For the day-to-day side, read living through a kitchen remodel.
Source: EPA RRP work practices.
Step 7 · You and your remodeler
Final walkthrough
Walk the kitchen with the written scope in hand. Open every drawer and door, run the dishwasher and disposal, test each circuit and light, and list anything unfinished. Confirm the permit has its final inspection.
Before the last payment, the FTC recommends asking the contractor, and every subcontractor and supplier, for a lien release or lien waiver. Keep the contract, change orders, receipts and warranties together.
Source: FTC, "Hiring a Contractor".
Step 1 starts here
Tell us what isn't working, and the layout conversation can start
Pick the closest problem. We'll share it with an independent local kitchen remodeling professional who may contact you about next steps.
Questions
Kitchen remodel process FAQ
Which parts of the process does Holladay Kitchen Co. handle?
Only the first two steps: taking your request and sharing it with an independent local kitchen remodeling professional. Design, scope, permits, construction and the final walkthrough are handled between you and the professional you choose to hire.
Why does planning take longer than construction?
Because most of the decisions happen before demolition. Houzz's 2026 renovation study found kitchens averaged 9.5 months of planning and 5.8 months of construction. Settling layout, selections and scope up front is what keeps the construction phase shorter and steadier.
Who pulls the permit for my kitchen remodel?
Usually the contractor, but put it in writing. The FTC's "Hiring a Contractor" guide recommends that the contract state the contractor's obligation to get all necessary permits.
What if something unexpected turns up during demolition?
Hidden problems happen, especially in older homes. Ask that any change be documented as a written change order showing the cost and schedule impact before the work proceeds. Consumer Reports suggests budgeting at least a 10 percent cushion for surprises.
Better layouts. Better living.
Know the plan before demo
Start with what isn't working. The layout comes next, then the selections, then the schedule.
or call (385) 895-9892