Kitchen Update – Princeton, NJ
This 220-square-foot kitchen in Princeton was a focused update rather than a full gut remodel: the existing cabinets were refinished rather than replaced, a new granite countertop was installed, the faucet was updated, and a new tile backsplash was added. At $5,900 for a 220-square-foot kitchen, this scope reflects what a targeted cosmetic and surface update costs when the cabinet boxes are structurally sound and the homeowner’s goal is refreshing the room without the disruption or cost of a full replacement.
Scope of Work
- Existing kitchen cabinets refinished
- New granite countertop installed
- New faucet installed
- New tile backsplash installed
Cabinet Refinishing: When It Makes Sense
Cabinet refinishing — stripping or sanding the existing finish and applying a new one — makes sense when the cabinet boxes are structurally solid and the door and drawer fronts are in good condition. The boxes are the expensive part of a cabinet installation: the plywood or MDF carcase, the hinges, the drawer glides, and the interior hardware. If those components are functional, replacing the entire cabinet set to get a new color or finish is a significant additional expense that refinishing can avoid.
Refinishing produces a different result from new cabinets: the wood grain, door profile, and hardware mounting points are the same as before. What changes is the color or sheen of the finish. For a homeowner whose cabinets have good bones but a dated finish — yellowed oak, worn paint, or a color that no longer suits the room — refinishing is the practical path to a visibly different kitchen at a fraction of the cabinet replacement cost.
The refinishing process requires proper surface preparation: cleaning, deglossing, sanding, and priming before the finish coats are applied. The quality of the prep determines how well the new finish adheres and how long it holds up under daily kitchen use. Skipping prep steps to save time produces a finish that chips or peels within months.
New Granite Countertop
A new granite countertop was installed across the 220-square-foot kitchen’s counter run. Granite is a natural stone — each slab has its own variation in color and veining, which means the countertop in this kitchen is unique to this installation. Natural granite requires periodic sealing to maintain its resistance to staining, particularly from acidic substances like citrus juice or wine that can etch an unsealed surface over time.
The countertop installation sequence: the cabinet tops are confirmed level, the slab is templated from the actual installed cabinets (not from drawings), the slab is cut and edged at the fabricator, and then it is set and sealed on-site. In a kitchen update where the cabinet boxes are not being replaced, the template can be taken from the existing cabinets, which simplifies the sequence compared to a full kitchen remodel where the cabinet installation has to be complete before templating can begin.
New Backsplash
A tile backsplash was installed in the zone between the countertop and the upper cabinets. In a kitchen where the cabinets are being refinished rather than replaced, the backsplash is the element with the most latitude for a visible change: it sits at eye level, it is the surface most directly associated with cooking activity, and its color, texture, and pattern set the visual tone between the counter surface below and the cabinet faces above.
Installing a backsplash in an existing kitchen requires removing whatever was previously behind the countertop — typically painted drywall or an older tile — preparing the substrate, and then setting the new tile with appropriate adhesive and grout. The grout color selection affects how the tile reads from across the room: a grout matched closely to the tile color makes the tile field look more continuous; a contrasting grout makes the individual tile units more visible.
Updated Faucet
The kitchen faucet was replaced as part of this update. A faucet replacement in an existing kitchen requires shutting off the supply valves under the sink, disconnecting the old faucet, and installing the new one in the same or compatible mounting holes in the sink or countertop. If the new faucet has a different hole configuration than the old one — for example, switching from a three-hole to a single-hole faucet — the extra holes have to be covered with a deck plate or the sink has to be replaced. The faucet choice also affects whether a sprayer, soap dispenser, or other accessories can be added without additional sink holes.
Kitchen Updates in Princeton and Mercer County
Princeton and the surrounding Mercer County area have a mix of residential property types where kitchen updates at various scopes are common. A focused update — cabinet refinishing, new countertop, backsplash, and faucet — is the right scope when the layout works, the cabinet boxes are solid, and the homeowner’s goal is a meaningfully fresher kitchen without the full cost and disruption of a complete rebuild. Belmax Remodeling handles both full kitchen remodels and targeted updates across Mercer County and the surrounding region. For more on our kitchen work, see our kitchen remodeling service page. Homeowners in the Princeton area can also visit our Mercer County service area page for more completed regional projects.
Considering a Similar Project?
Kitchen updates in the 220-square-foot range focused on cabinet refinishing, a new countertop, backsplash, and faucet typically fall in the $4,500–$8,000 range depending on countertop material and tile selection. This Princeton project came in at $5,900, completed February 2019. To discuss what your kitchen would involve, request a free estimate.