A great kitchen is the center of the home. For most of our clients in Seattle and the Eastside, it is where mornings start, friends gather, and families spend most of their time together. When the layout is awkward or finishes are dated, it does more than annoy you. It drags down how you use the entire home.
Cornell's Quality Construction has spent more than 30 years remodeling kitchens for discerning homeowners across Greater Seattle and the Eastside. We focus on high-end, highly functional kitchen remodels that combine attention to detail with practical, durable design. Our projects are built to hold up to real life, not just to look good in listing photos.
Whether you live in a classic Seattle Craftsman, a mid-century rambler in Shoreline, or a newer home in Bellevue or Sammamish, our job is the same: design and build a kitchen that works beautifully every day, fits the architecture of your house, and feels like it belongs in a premium home.
Who We Work With
Most of our kitchen remodeling clients fit into one of a few buckets:
- Seattle and Eastside homeowners who plan to stay put and want to finally "do it right" with a full kitchen remodel.
- Families who have outgrown an original 1980s or 1990s kitchen and need more storage, better flow, and more durable finishes.
- Empty-nesters who are upgrading the kitchen now that the hard use years are over and they can invest in the space they actually want.
- New buyers of older homes in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond who love the location but need to bring the kitchen up to their standard.
They are typically busy professionals who care about quality, hate surprises, and want a kitchen remodeling contractor who shows up, communicates, and finishes the job to a high standard.
What a Cornell's Kitchen Remodel Includes
Every project is custom, but most Seattle and Eastside kitchen remodels include some mix of the following:
Layout and Flow
- Rethinking the work triangle so cooking actually feels smooth.
- Removing or moving walls to open the kitchen to the dining or living room when the structure allows.
- Adjusting door and window locations for better light and circulation.
Cabinetry and Storage
- Custom or semi-custom cabinets sized to your space, not forced in with filler strips.
- Smart storage: full-extension drawers, pull-outs, tray dividers, pantry systems, built-in trash and recycling, and appliance garages.
- Solutions for older Seattle and Eastside homes with odd corners or sloping walls.
Countertops and Surfaces
- Durable countertop materials selected for how you actually cook: quartz, natural stone, or other premium surfaces.
- Full-height or statement backsplashes that tie the whole kitchen together.
- Flooring that can handle real use: hardwood, engineered wood, tile, or other high-performance options.
Lighting and Electrical
- Layered lighting plans that combine recessed fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, pendants, and accent lighting.
- Updated circuits and code-compliant outlets, including dedicated circuits for major appliances.
Plumbing and Appliances
- Reworked plumbing to support new layouts, islands, or prep sinks.
- Integration of new appliance packages without awkward gaps or filler panels.
You are not buying a "cabinet package." You are buying a complete kitchen remodel that considers structure, utilities, layout, and long-term durability.
High-Quality Construction in Every Detail
Cornell's is known for high-quality construction. That shows up in details most people never see in photos but feel every day:
- Cabinet runs that are perfectly level and aligned.
- Tile backsplashes with clean corners and consistent grout lines.
- Trim and transitions that look intentional, not like an afterthought.
- Thoughtful scribing against old walls and out-of-plumb corners in older Seattle homes.
We do not cut corners to hit an artificial low price. Our clients hire us specifically because they want a kitchen remodel that still feels solid ten years from now.
Kitchen Remodels Across Seattle and the Eastside
We remodel kitchens throughout Greater Seattle and the Eastside, including:
- Seattle neighborhoods: Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake, Madison Park, Madrona, West Seattle, Magnolia, Ravenna, and others.
- Eastside communities: Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, Newcastle, Woodinville, and Bothell.
- North and South King County: Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Renton, Kent, Auburn, Federal Way and nearby suburbs.
Each area has its own quirks. Older Seattle kitchens often need structural work and careful integration with existing millwork. Eastside kitchens often involve more extensive finish upgrades and open-concept great room conversions. Our team understands the housing stock and how to get a Seattle or Eastside kitchen remodel through permitting and inspections without drama.
Our Kitchen Remodeling Process
Homeowners who work with us want clarity and control, not chaos. Our process is straightforward:
- Initial conversation and site visit
- We meet in your home, listen to how you cook and live, and take measurements.
- We discuss your wish list, constraints, and an honest range for budget and timeline.
- Design and planning
- Either with your designer/architect or with our design partners, we develop a layout that actually solves your pain points.
- We help with selections for cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, and finishes so everything works together and suits your home's architecture.
- We create a clear scope of work and detailed proposal so you know what is included and what is not.
- Permitting and scheduling
- We handle all required permits with the relevant city (Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.).
- Once permits are in motion, we set a realistic start date and sequence the trades so there are no unnecessary gaps.
- Construction
- We protect your home with floor coverings, dust barriers, and clear pathways.
- You get regular updates from your project lead about progress and upcoming milestones.
- Any surprises in the walls are documented and discussed with options, not hidden and billed later without explanation.
- Final walkthrough and follow-up
- We walk the kitchen with you, create a punch list if needed, and address every item.
- You receive warranty details and know exactly who to call with any questions down the line.
Budget, Timeline, and Realistic Expectations
We do not chase the "lowest bid." For most of our clients, the priority is getting the kitchen remodel done correctly, with high-quality materials and solid workmanship, on a predictable timeline.
- We will give you a realistic budget range based on the scope you describe, not a teaser number that only works on paper.
- We will be clear about what drives cost: layout changes, structural work, custom cabinetry, premium stone, appliance choices, and electrical or plumbing upgrades.
- We will talk directly about timeline: what you can expect during demolition, rough-in, cabinet install, and finish work, and how long you will be without a functioning kitchen.
If you are only looking for the cheapest kitchen remodel, we are not the right contractor. If you care about outcome, process, and the long-term feel of your home, we are.
Why Homeowners Choose Cornell's for Kitchen Remodeling
Clients across Seattle and the Eastside consistently choose us for kitchen remodels because we:
- Treat their home with respect and keep job sites clean.
- Communicate clearly about schedule, decisions, and tradeoffs.
- Deliver high-quality, durable work that looks and feels right for the home.
- Understand local housing styles and how to work within them rather than fighting them.
- Have been doing this for more than three decades and still sign our name to every project.
Start Your Kitchen Remodel
If you are planning a Seattle or Eastside kitchen remodel and want a contractor who focuses on craftsmanship, clear communication, and a smooth process in an occupied home, Cornell's Quality Construction is ready to talk.
Reach out to schedule a conversation about your kitchen project. We will walk the space, talk through options, and give you an honest view of what it will take to build the kitchen you actually want to live in.