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Home Renovation in Kensington

Kensington Home Renovation

Preserving Kensington’s historic character while modernizing your home with design-build expertise.

Whether updating a classic hillside home or executing a whole-house interior overhaul, we design around your property’s distinct structure. One unified team manages design, engineering, permits, and construction.

Renovating Homes Throughout Kensington

Home renovations in Kensington require a deep respect for historic architecture combined with robust hillside engineering and mechanical updates. We diagnose hidden structural conditions early to deliver a seamless transformation.

Hillside Structural Reinforcements

We upgrade framing, foundations, and load paths to ensure structural integrity and seismic safety on sloping lots.

Historic Detail Replication

We match custom millwork, window profiles, and architectural trim to maintain your home’s authentic period charm.

Modern Mechanical Systems

We overhaul aging electrical and plumbing networks to support contemporary living requirements safely.

Winding Street Logistics

We coordinate material drops and contractor parking meticulously to navigate Kensington’s narrow hills safely.

Home Renovation Process

1. Initial Site Visit: 1 to 1 ½ hrs

Every home renovation starts with understanding how you live in the space today and how you want it to perform in the future. We begin with an on-site walkthrough to evaluate existing conditions, identify opportunities and constraints, and discuss your goals, priorities, and budget. This early alignment allows us to shape a renovation plan that improves flow, comfort, and long-term value across the entire home.

On-site walkthrough to assess existing conditions, layout, structural considerations, and overall renovation goals.
We provide a free ballpark construction cost range based on scope and complexity, for example $250k – $450k.
To move forward, we execute a preconstruction agreement (PCA) covering design coordination, engineering, budgeting, and permit planning.
Whole-home renovation scope can range from selective interior updates to comprehensive structural and systems upgrades, depending on existing conditions and client selections.

2. Design & Material Selection: 1 -2 months

Once the vision is established, the design process translates ideas into a clear, coordinated plan. For a home renovation, this phase looks beyond individual finishes to how the entire home functions, flows, and feels. By resolving details early, we reduce surprises during construction and create a realistic path to staying on budget.

In-depth consultations to align on renovation goals, scope, priorities, and long-term use of the home.
Common design considerations include improving layout and circulation, natural and artificial lighting, material selections, flooring, fixtures, and cohesive finishes throughout the home.
The contractor develops a comprehensive selections and scope list for client review, which becomes the roadmap for pricing, permitting, and construction execution.

3. Permitting: 1 - 2 months

Once the design is complete, it’s time to submit the plans to the city for approval! This can take a few months, but during this time you can still keep the project moving! While most product selections will have already been considered, this is the time to actually start shopping for certain items, in most cases top on that list is tile to allow for precise layout of fixtures, niches, and other elements that may be involved.

4. Construction: 1 - 4 months

Finally, our team begins with a careful protection of your surrounding areas. Dust barriers with zipper doors, HEPA air filtration, and floor protection are some of the methods we implement to ensure your home and family are protected from the process. A dedicated project manager and construction team will carry out the work in close coordination with the homeowner, providing clear communication, organized scheduling, and day-to-day oversight to keep the project running smoothly and predictably.

5. Move In

Once final city inspections are approved, we complete a detailed walkthrough of the renovated home to confirm all work meets expectations and aligns with the original scope. We then review and deliver all close-out documentation, including product manuals and warranties, and provide guidance on long-term care and maintenance so your home renovation continues to perform and look its best for years to come.