Kitchen Remodel Cost Guide for Santa Monica Homeowners (2026)

Cabinets are the biggest line item

Cabinets typically run 25 to 40 percent of a Santa Monica kitchen remodel budget. Stock cabinets (off the shelf sizes) are the lowest cost band. Semi custom (modified standard sizes) sit in the middle. Full custom (built in a shop to your exact dimensions, with any door style and any finish) is the top band. Inset doors and painted finishes cost more than overlay doors and stained finishes due to fit tolerance and finish complexity.

Counter material drives 10 to 15 percent of budget

Quartz dominates 2026 kitchen counters for durability and consistency. Marble, quartzite, soapstone, and slab porcelain all sit at the higher end with material and fabrication costs. Edge profiles (mitered waterfall, eased, ogee) affect price. Slab thickness (2 cm vs 3 cm) affects price.

Appliance package: 10 to 25 percent

GE, Bosch, and KitchenAid sit at the entry to mid range bracket. Wolf, Sub Zero, Miele, and Gaggenau are the upper bracket. Panel ready integrated builds (Sub Zero refrigeration, integrated dishwashers) add cost in both the appliance and the cabinet panels. La Cornue and Lacanche ranges are the apex investment piece.

Layout changes and structural

Moving plumbing, gas, and electrical adds significant cost. Removing a wall (even non load bearing) requires patching ceiling and floor, blending materials. Removing a load bearing wall adds structural engineering and a steel or LVL beam. Santa Monica permit fees and plan check timelines layer on top.