The short answer: National benchmarks put an upscale major kitchen remodel at roughly $164,000, and a midrange major remodel at roughly $83,000, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. A luxury kitchen in Stuart or Palm City can land above or below those figures. What moves the number most is not the countertop. It is whether walls, plumbing and gas lines move, the grade of cabinetry, the appliance package, and how early selections are locked.
What the national data says
The Cost vs. Value Report, published annually by the Journal of Light Construction, is the most widely cited benchmark for remodeling costs. The 2025 edition is the most recent.
| Project (2025 national average) | Cost | Share of cost recouped at resale |
|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel, midrange | $28,458 | 112.9% |
| Major kitchen remodel, midrange | $82,793 | 50.9% |
| Major kitchen remodel, upscale | $164,104 | 35.7% |
Two takeaways. First, an upscale kitchen is rarely a resale play on paper. People do it because they will live in that room every day. Second, national averages are a starting point, not a quote. The report’s upscale project assumes custom cabinetry, stone counters and high-end appliances in a defined floor plan. Your kitchen will not match that exactly.
What drives the number in a Stuart kitchen
1. Layout changes. Keeping the sink, range and refrigerator where they are is the single biggest cost control. Moving plumbing, gas and ventilation means opening floors and walls, and removing a wall to open the kitchen may require a new beam, engineering and a structural permit.
2. Cabinetry. Cabinets are often the largest line item in a luxury kitchen. Semi-custom, custom and fully bespoke millwork carry very different prices, and so do inset doors, specialty finishes and furniture-style islands.
3. Appliances. A professional range, integrated refrigeration and a second dishwasher can change the budget as much as the cabinetry.
4. Surfaces. Natural stone, large-format slabs and full-height backsplashes add material and fabrication cost.
5. Lighting and electrical. Layered lighting, new circuits for modern appliances and panel capacity all come into play in homes built 30 or more years ago.
6. What is behind the walls. Older homes can reveal outdated wiring, plumbing or moisture issues once demolition starts. A good estimate carries a realistic contingency for this, and a good builder tells you about it before the wall comes down, not after.
Condo kitchens have their own rules
A kitchen remodel in a Stuart or Hutchinson Island condominium adds steps a single-family home does not have:
- Association approval of plans before permits
- Restrictions on work hours and noise
- Elevator reservations and protection for common areas
- Limits on moving plumbing stacks and ventilation shared with other units
- Insurance certificates naming the association
None of these are deal breakers. They need to be in the schedule from the start, not discovered in week three.
How to keep a kitchen budget from drifting
Budgets rarely blow up on one big decision. They drift on dozens of small ones made after the contract is signed.
That is why we lock the Big Five selections early: cabinetry, flooring, lighting, appliances and plumbing fixtures. When those choices are made before permits, the price you approve reflects the kitchen you will actually get. It also shortens the schedule, because long-lead items can be ordered while permits are in review.
Other habits that protect a budget:
- Decide early whether the layout moves. It is the biggest fork in the road.
- Ask for allowances to be replaced with actual selections wherever possible.
- Keep a contingency for what is behind the walls, and ask how it will be tracked.
- Get change orders priced and approved in writing before the work happens.
How long does it take?
Timeline depends on scope, permitting and product lead times. A kitchen that keeps its layout moves faster than one that relocates plumbing or removes walls. Condo work adds association review. Your builder should give you a written schedule at design sign-off that shows design, permitting, ordering and construction as separate phases.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a luxury kitchen remodel cost?
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts an upscale major kitchen remodel at $164,104 on average nationally. Local costs vary with scope, layout changes, cabinetry and appliances.
Does a kitchen remodel pay for itself at resale?
Nationally, a minor midrange kitchen remodel recouped 112.9% of its cost in the 2025 report, while an upscale major remodel recouped 35.7%. Luxury kitchens are usually about how you live, not resale math.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Martin County?
Most kitchen remodels involving electrical, plumbing, gas or structural work require permits. Your builder should pull them.
Can I stay in my home during a kitchen remodel?
Many clients do, with a temporary kitchen set up elsewhere in the house. It depends on the scope and whether other rooms are involved.
What is the most common budget mistake?
Choosing finishes after the contract is signed. Locking selections early is the best protection.
Start with a conversation
Masterpiece Design/Build has designed and built kitchens as part of more than 1,000 custom homes and renovations on the Treasure Coast since 1988. If you are thinking about a kitchen in Stuart, Palm City, Sewall’s Point or Hobe Sound, book a consultation. We will talk through your goals and your budget before we draw a single line.
