Full kitchen remodel
Berkeley, CA
Encanto
Opened up the kitchen to the rest of the home by removing structural walls.
Custom warm-modern kitchens by Casa De RJ — design-driven, plant-forward, and built with clarity.
Prefer to talk it through? Call and you'll get a straight answer on whether we're a fit.
The appliances work. The cabinets close. But there's nowhere for two people to stand, the island is a landing strip for mail, and the lighting is right for cleaning and wrong for everything else. You've had the saved folder for two years. What you haven't done is start — because you know exactly what starting means: strangers in your house, a timeline nobody honors, and a number that keeps moving.
A kitchen isn't 15% of the house — it's where most of your life happens. Every year you wait is another year of cooking alone because there's no room for two.
Cabinetry lead times, labor rates, and material pricing don't hold still. The version you priced at 2AM eighteen months ago isn't the version you'd be quoted today.
Buyers don't discount a dated kitchen by what it costs to fix. They discount it by what they imagine it costs — and that number is always higher.
You didn't picture a kitchen. You pictured people in it. Kids at the island. Friends who don't leave at nine. Thanksgiving at your house instead of someone else's.
That process is genuinely awful — when nobody's running it. The whole job here is to run it.
Most contractors sell you a price, tear out your kitchen, and start figuring things out. That's why timelines slip and change orders pile up — decisions that belonged on paper get made in a dusty room with your family standing there waiting. We reverse it. You see the layout, the elevations, the selections, and the number before anything is touched. You approve a plan, not a promise.
Your kitchen gets designed around how you actually cook, host, and move — not pulled off a layout template. Function decided before finishes.
One point of contact for the whole job. You text a person, not a company inbox, and that person knows your project without looking it up.
Scope locked before demo. Weekly written updates. A schedule solid enough that you can book a vacation around it.
No vague promises. Here is the full scope of what we run, in order.
We measure, we listen to how you use the room, and we tell you what's realistic in your footprint — including which walls actually move and which ones don't.
Measured drawings with real options. Traffic flow, work zones, and storage counts resolved on paper before a dollar goes into construction.
Curated options inside your budget instead of a forty-hour showroom spiral. Decisions take an afternoon, not a season.
A number, not a ballpark. Every line visible, so change orders are the rare exception instead of the business model.
We run the city so you never sit in a permit office. [San Francisco, Peninsula, East Bay, South Bay]
We specialize in projects that require communication amongst many subs and design execution.
You always know what happened last week and what's happening next week. No wondering, no chasing.
Every job closes with a written completion and release agreement and warranty terms in writing. Not a handshake and a wave.
We visit, measure, and give you a straight read on scope, feasibility, and a realistic range.
Layout, elevations, and finishes resolved on paper. You approve before anything is ordered.
We handle the jurisdiction and lock the build calendar. You get dates you can plan around.
Weekly written updates through construction, then a documented completion and warranty.
Warm materials, natural light, and layouts that hold up to real life.
Opened up the kitchen to the rest of the home by removing structural walls.
Relocated a cramped, tucked-away kitchen to another space to optimize traffic flow.
Transformed a dark, outdated kitchen into a bright, modern space with improved functionality.
Skip the form. Call and we'll tell you in five minutes whether your kitchen is a fit — and roughly what it takes.
Proof that the process is premium — not just the finishes.
Casa de RJ was amazing to work with. He helped coordinate access for inspections and even did a full video tour for me. Super reliable, responsive, and easy to work with.
Monica, Santa Clarita · Referral
I had the tile floor grout cleaned in my kitchen and bathroom, joints recaulked and granite counter tops sealed. RJ and his subcontractor, The Grout Guy, did a great job! I would definitely hire them again. Fair price, on time, very knowledgeable.
Jeff, Walnut Creek · Construction Management
RJ’s attention to detail, patience, and ability to break down everything from structural walls to layout flow made the entire process seamless.
Monique, SF Marina · Construction Management
From the start, he was very thoughtful during the design process, always thinking about what would work best and how to make everything as efficient as possible, always thinking ahead he kept me in the loop the whole time and was really easy to communicate with, any phone call or text he was always very diligent in ensuring I was satisfied every step of that which made the whole process stress-free.
Lucas, Lafayette · Kitchen + bath
Ryan was super helpful on a current project. He was on time, on budget, courteous, and professional.
Alexandra, San Francisco · Construction Management
RJ is the absolute best. He went above and beyond when I wanted to remodel my living room. He knew exactly what I wanted and did it beautifully. I could not recommend him enough!
Faith, San Ramon · Living room remodel
A 60-minute on-site visit. We measure, we listen, and we tell you what's realistic in your space — layout, scope, and a real investment range.
What it isn't: a pressure pitch. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so at the walkthrough.
[Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm PT]
We run 2 kitchen projects at a time. Our Q1 build calendar has 3 slots left. Design and permitting run 6 to 12 weeks ahead of demo — so if you want to host Thanksgiving in the new kitchen, the walkthrough happens in Q1, not in June.
Check AvailabilityFinish the walkthrough and don't feel it was worth your hour — didn't learn something useful about your own house — we can acknowledge that.
We specialize in full, design-forward kitchen remodels — often involving layout changes, custom cabinetry, structural updates, and high-end finishes. Our work is best suited for homeowners who value thoughtful design and professional execution.
Our kitchen projects typically range from $150,000 to $500,000+, depending on scope, structural work, and material selections. We specialize in complex, high-end builds—frequently incorporating load-bearing wall removals, custom-milled cabinetry, rare stone slabs, and intricate finish carpentry.
You don't need a designer first. Design is where we start — layout, elevations, and finish selections are resolved on paper before any demolition. If you're already working with a designer, we coordinate with them directly.
A typical full kitchen remodel takes 18 to 36 weeks total, divided into two distinct phases. Pre-construction—which includes design, material selections, and city permitting—takes 10 to 20 weeks before any work begins on-site. Once demolition starts, the active construction phase typically runs 8 to 16 weeks depending on structural complexity and scope. You will get an exact, locked schedule before demo begins, accompanied by weekly written progress updates so you always know where your project stands. If a date ever moves, you hear it from us first—no surprises, no chasing.
Usually yes. We set up containment, protect adjacent rooms, and daily cleanup protocol. The kitchen itself is out of commission for roughly 8 to 16 weeks, and we tell you exactly which weeks those are before we start.
Scope is locked before demo, with every line item visible. Change orders happen when you change something, or when we open a wall and find something nobody could have seen — knob-and-tube, dry rot, an undersized panel. Those get priced and approved in writing before work continues. You will never get a surprise invoice.
Our team reviews your project details. If your timeline and scope align, we'll reach out to schedule a brief strategy call to discuss next steps — and from there, an on-site walkthrough.
Yes, we are fully licensed and insured. Our license number is CSLB #1084784, and we carry comprehensive general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
Tell us about the space and the timeline. We'll tell you what's realistic — including if we're not the right fit.
Fastest way to start: have your address, a few photos of the current kitchen, any inspiration links, and your target timeline ready.
Rather not fill out a form? Call (510) 590-6291 and we'll cover it on the phone.