Kitchen layout & island design
Kitchen layouts and islands designed around how your household actually uses the space.
Kitchen layout redesigns and island additions for Puget Sound homeowners — from rethinking the workflow in an existing footprint to opening the kitchen with a wall change and adding a purpose-designed island. Structural engineering, permits, and finish work handled in one scope.
- Structural engineering coordinated
- In-house permitting
- Written proposals & timelines
What we handle in a layout and island project.
From a workflow-only refresh to a full open-concept transformation with a new island:
- Poor work triangles — sink, range, and refrigerator positions that make cooking inefficient, corrected by relocating one or more elements.
- Closed-off kitchens — walls removed (including load-bearing walls with proper engineering) to connect the kitchen to dining or living areas.
- New island additions — designed to the right size for the footprint, with seating overhang, electrical, and plumbing rough-in for a prep sink where desired.
- Peninsula conversions — existing peninsulas reconfigured into proper islands, or islands added in kitchens where a peninsula was the previous compromise.
- Relocation of plumbing and gas lines — sinks and ranges moved to serve the new layout, with all rough-in work permitted and inspected.
- Lighting redesigns — island pendants, recessed task lighting, and under-cabinet lighting planned as part of the layout rather than added as an afterthought.
- Traffic flow corrections — aisle widths, door swings, and entry points brought into compliance with current guidelines for livable kitchen design.
Layout and island projects start with a free on-site design consultation. You leave with a written proposal that covers structural engineering, permitting, trades, and finish work in one place.
How it works
Our 3-step process.
Design consultation & layout options
On-site walkthrough and design session. We measure the existing kitchen, map the current layout against your household's actual use patterns, and present layout options with honest trade-offs on cost and construction complexity. Written proposal follows.
Engineering & permitting
Structural engineering coordinated where wall changes are involved. Washington state and local permits pulled in-house. Plumbing and electrical rough-in locations confirmed before demo begins.
Build & finish
Demo, structural work, plumbing and gas relocations, electrical rough-in, framing, inspections, cabinet install, countertops, and finish. Your dedicated project manager coordinates every trade through final inspection.
What sets us apart for layout and island design in the Puget Sound area.
Design-led, not spec-driven
We start from how your household actually cooks, entertains, and moves through the kitchen — not a generic kitchen triangle drawn from a textbook. The layout proposal reflects your real use patterns.
Structural changes handled in-house
Opening a kitchen to the living area requires engineering and permits, not just a contractor with a sledgehammer. We coordinate the structural engineer, pull the Washington permits, and manage the beam install as part of the project.
One proposal for the whole scope
Layout changes involve structural, plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, and finish trades. We put the complete scope — every line item — in one written proposal so you have a clear picture before anyone picks up a tool.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Can I add an island to my existing kitchen?
Often yes — it depends on the available floor space and aisle widths. Kitchen design guidelines recommend at least 42 to 48 inches of clearance around an island; we'll measure on-site and tell you honestly what the space can support. If plumbing or electrical is needed in the island, those get scoped and permitted as part of the project.
Do I need a permit to move the sink or range to a new location?
Yes — plumbing and gas line relocations require permits in Washington. We pull them in-house and schedule the inspections. Work that isn't permitted creates problems at resale.
What does it cost to remove a wall and add an island?
It depends on whether the wall is load-bearing, what's running through it (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), and the island's size and finish complexity. The written proposal lays it out line-by-line so you know exactly what you're paying for before work begins.
How disruptive is a kitchen layout change?
More disruptive than a finish-only remodel — layout changes typically put the kitchen offline for the structural and rough-in phases. We build the project schedule around your household's needs and tell you upfront which days will see the most activity.
Are you licensed for structural and plumbing work in Washington?
Yes — we are fully licensed and insured in Washington, and carry full liability and workers' compensation insurance. Structural engineering is coordinated with a licensed engineer; plumbing and gas work is performed by licensed trades.
Can you redesign the layout without removing a wall?
Yes. Sometimes the biggest workflow improvements come from repositioning the sink, adding or relocating an island, or reconfiguring storage — all within the existing footprint. We'll map out what's possible with and without structural changes and let you choose.
Do you handle lighting as part of the layout redesign?
Yes — island pendants, recessed task lighting over the work areas, and under-cabinet lighting are planned as part of the layout design, not as an afterthought. Electrical rough-in for the lighting is included in the project scope.
Service area
Where we work.
King County
- Bellevue
- Renton
Snohomish County
- Everett
Pierce County
- Lakewood
- Tacoma
Kitsap County
- Bremerton
HQ in Bellevue, WA
Ready to rethink your kitchen layout?
Start with a free on-site design consultation. We'll walk through the space, map out layout options, and follow up with a written proposal covering the full scope.