The short answer: most custom kitchen projects at Apico fall between $7,000 and $70,000. That is a wide range, so this guide breaks down exactly what moves the number — and where your budget will have the most impact on daily life in the room. The average kitchen project we complete sits between $15,000 and $25,000.
What determines the cost of a custom kitchen?
Four things drive the price: the number of linear feet of cabinetry, the materials (substrate, door style, wood species), the hardware spec, and the countertop. Everything else — demolition, plumbing relocation, electrical — is handled by your general contractor, not us. Our quote covers design, manufacturing, finishing, and installation.
A compact galley kitchen with MDF doors and quartz countertops might come in around $12,000. A large U-shaped kitchen with a walnut island, integrated appliance panels, and custom pantry storage will be closer to $45,000–$60,000. The island alone — if it includes a waterfall countertop, prep sink, and internal drawer organisers — can run $8,000–$15,000.
Materials: where the money actually goes
The biggest cost lever is door style and wood species. A flat MDF door with automotive-grade UV-stable paint costs less to produce than a shaker-profile walnut door — both because the material costs less and because the machining is simpler. That said, MDF with premium-grade paint is not a budget choice. It is what we would put in our own home. Our paint systems are UV-stable and formulated for kitchen environments — they resist yellowing, chipping, and staining far longer than conventional cabinet finishes.
Exotic wood species — quartered walnut, rift white oak, sapele — cost more per sheet and require veneer-matching across panels. If you are running 30 linear feet of walnut uppers, the veneer selection process alone takes half a day. That care shows in the final room, but it is reflected in the price.
We also offer water-based, environmentally friendly stains and low-VOC finishing options for homeowners who want a healthier indoor environment — without sacrificing durability or colour depth.
Countertops: granite, quartz, or marble
We coordinate countertop fabrication as part of the same project — granite, quartz, or marble, templated after the cabinet boxes are set so the surface fits with a single clean seam. You do not need a separate countertop contractor. This one-stop approach saves time, eliminates scheduling conflicts, and ensures the countertop integrates perfectly with the cabinetry.
Quartz countertops are the most popular choice for kitchens we build. They are non-porous, stain-resistant, and available in a wide range of colours and patterns. Granite remains a strong choice for homeowners who prefer natural stone character. Marble — typically honed — is reserved for clients who appreciate the patina it develops over time.
Hardware: the part you touch 10,000 times
Every Apico kitchen includes full-extension, soft-close drawer slides and European concealed hinges as standard. These are not upgrades — they are baseline. The upgrade path is handle-free push-to-open systems (Blum Servo-Drive) or custom-machined metal pulls in brushed brass, matte black, or unlacquered bronze.
Interior organisers — cutlery trays, spice drawers, pull-out waste bins, corner carousel systems — are where custom cabinetry separates itself from semi-custom. We dimension every drawer to the contents it will actually hold. That sounds minor; it is the single thing clients mention most after living with the kitchen for a year.
Installation: three to four days, our crew
Installation is handled by our own crew — never outsourced. A typical kitchen installation takes three to four days. We coordinate with your plumber, electrician, and any other trades on-site. Delivery is included in the project price.
What is not included in our quote
Our quote covers design, cabinet manufacturing, finishing, hardware, countertop coordination, delivery, and installation. It does not include demolition of existing cabinets, plumbing relocation, electrical work, tiling, or painting — those are handled by your general contractor. We are happy to recommend trusted GCs if you need one.
The bottom line
Most homeowners who walk through our door end up investing between $15,000 and $25,000 for a kitchen that is designed around how they actually cook and live. That number gets you premium materials, frameless construction, automotive-grade finishes, full-extension soft-close hardware on every drawer, and installation by the same team that built it. No shortcuts, no filler pieces, no compromise on the things you will touch every day for the next twenty years.
