Kitchen Remodeling in Pasadena, MD

What kinds of kitchens do Pasadena homes have?

Two very different kinds. One is the 2010s townhouse kitchen with an open plan that needs new finishes rather than a new layout. The other is the older home, including converted cottages in waterfront communities like Green Haven, where kitchens tend to be small and may have been added piecemeal as summer places became year-round homes.

The approach is different for each, so we treat them as two different jobs.

Refreshing a 2010s townhouse kitchen

A newer townhouse kitchen usually has a sound layout: an island or peninsula facing the living area, cabinets along one or two walls, and plumbing that’s only a decade or so old. The finishes are usually what is worth changing. Typical updates include:

• A larger island with seating, or a peninsula converted to an island
• Quartz counters replacing laminate or entry-level granite
• A full-height tile or slab backsplash
• New cabinet doors and hardware, or full cabinet replacement
• Pendant and under-cabinet lighting on new switches

Since nothing structural moves, these kitchens are mostly finish work. Electrical changes for lighting still bring a trade permit.

Older homes near the water: check the floodplain first

For a house in the tidal floodplain, the first step isn’t picking cabinets. It’s working out how the project’s cost compares with the building’s market value. Anne Arundel County treats any repair, renovation or addition costing 50% or more of that value as a substantial improvement, and then the lowest floor must be raised to one foot above the 100-year flood elevation.

Small cottages can cross that line sooner than owners expect, because their market value is modest and a kitchen gut is a big share of it. Combine the kitchen with a bathroom and new windows, and the total climbs fast. An independent appraisal that leaves out the land value can document the building’s worth for the county.

Planning with Hurricane Isabel in mind

The county’s caution has history behind it. Hurricane Isabel in September 2003 left more than 570 homes and 15 businesses in Anne Arundel County uninhabitable from flooding, according to a county emergency management report. For low-lying kitchens, that’s a reason to think about where appliances, outlets and base cabinets sit relative to the floor, and to choose flooring that can be dried out and kept.

Steps in a full kitchen remodel

For a full remodel in an older Pasadena home, the sequence usually runs:

1. Floodplain check and scope, so the plan fits the county’s rules from the start
2. Tear-out of cabinets, counters, flooring and any failed subfloor
3. Framing for layout changes, then rough plumbing and electrical by licensed trades under their own permits
4. Drywall, cabinets, counters templated after the base cabinets are set
5. Backsplash, lighting, flooring and final trim

Planning other rooms? See bathroom remodeling in Pasadena and Pasadena deck building, or our main kitchen remodeling page.