Scala Design & Construction Releases Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator

Twin Cities Homeowners Can Now Calculate Kitchen Renovation Budgets Before Hiring a Contractor

Shorewood, United States – June 9, 2026 / Scala Design & Construction /

June 9, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN

Accurate online kitchen remodeling estimation tool

Scala Design & Construction, a design-build remodeling firm serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area has introduced a free online kitchen remodel cost estimator designed to give Twin Cities homeowners transparent pricing data before scheduling a single contractor meeting. The tool, available at on their website, allows homeowners to input project variables and receive a ballpark cost range based on real regional pricing, with no obligation and no sales pressure attached.

The release of the estimator responds directly to what the company describes as the single most common reason homeowners delay kitchen renovations in the Minneapolis market: uncertainty about what the project will actually cost. Kitchen remodeling in the Twin Cities is not an inexpensive undertaking. Regional pricing data indicates that a basic kitchen refresh — covering countertops, cabinet updates, and new fixtures — typically starts in the $15,000 to $35,000 range, while mid-tier remodels involving new cabinetry, flooring, plumbing, and lighting commonly run between $50,000 and $100,000. Full gut renovations with structural changes and premium finishes can reach $150,000 or more, reflecting both the skilled labor market in Minneapolis and the complexity of the region’s older housing stock.

Cabinets represent the single largest cost driver in most kitchen projects, accounting for roughly 35 to 45 percent of total project cost depending on whether homeowners choose stock, semi-custom, or fully custom cabinetry. Labor adds another significant variable, with skilled kitchen trades in the Minneapolis metro — including cabinet installers, plumbers, electricians, and tile setters — typically billing between $100 and $150 per hour. For homeowners unfamiliar with how those figures compound across a multi-trade, multi-week project, the final number can feel like a surprise even when it is entirely predictable at the planning stage.

The estimator is intended to close that information gap. By giving homeowners a realistic cost framework before they commit to anything, the tool shifts the remodeling conversation away from sticker shock and toward informed decision-making.

“Most homeowners come to us having done a lot of research on styles and finishes, but very little on what their specific project will realistically cost in this market,” said Erika Carrillo, Owner of Scala Design & Construction. “The estimator exists because we believe that an informed homeowner makes a better client and ends up with a better project. There should be no mystery about budget going into a kitchen remodel of any size.”

The Twin Cities housing market adds a layer of complexity that generic national cost calculators tend to underestimate. A significant portion of Minneapolis and St. Paul homes were built before 1970, meaning kitchen renovation projects frequently surface code updates, outdated mechanical systems, and structural considerations that require careful planning before budgets are finalized. The Scala estimator is designed with that regional context in mind, providing a starting point that accounts for local labor rates and the realities of older home construction rather than defaulting to national averages that may not reflect what homeowners in Hennepin, Ramsey, or Carver County will actually pay.

Following the estimator, Scala offers an in-home design consultation with a professional kitchen designer — not a salesperson — who provides floor plan options, 3D renderings, and a formal no-obligation estimate within 48 hours of the initial visit. The company’s design-build model means the same team manages both the design and construction phases, eliminating the handoff errors that commonly occur when homeowners hire a designer and a general contractor separately.

“We pull every required permit, coordinate all inspections, and keep clients informed at every milestone,” Carrillo added. “From the first estimate to the final walkthrough, homeowners know exactly what is happening and why.”

About Scala Design & Construction

Scala Design & Construction has operated in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro for over 18 years, specializing in kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations, basement finishing, and whole-home renovations. The company holds Minnesota Residential Building Contractor License BC791994, carries comprehensive general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and is a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Scala serves homeowners throughout Hennepin, Ramsey, and Carver counties, including Minneapolis, Wayzata, Edina, Shorewood, Eden Prairie, and surrounding communities.