The Remodeling Journal / St. Johns County, FL
From 2000s builder-grade kitchens in Julington Creek Plantation to brand-new homes in RiverTown, here is how a St. Johns kitchen remodel is planned, priced and built.
Most kitchens in St. Johns were built well, but built for a buyer who no longer lives there.
Drive down Race Track Road, State Road 13 or Longleaf Pine Parkway and you will pass thousands of homes with the same kitchen: raised-panel maple or cherry cabinets, speckled granite, a 4×4 tile backsplash and a soffit over the uppers. They were the standard in late-1990s and 2000s construction across Julington Creek Plantation, Fruit Cove and the communities off SR-13. Today those homeowners want brighter, quieter, more functional kitchens, and they want them without six months of chaos.
This guide is written for homeowners in St. Johns, FL (32259) and the surrounding St. Johns County communities. If you are comparing contractors in Jacksonville more broadly, start with our kitchen remodeling services in Jacksonville.
Quick answer
How much does kitchen remodeling in St. Johns, FL cost?
Most St. Johns County kitchen remodels land between $25,000 and $45,000 for a mid-range project with new cabinets, quartz, backsplash and flooring. Cosmetic refreshes start around $12,000–$18,000, and full custom kitchens with layout changes typically run $45,000–$70,000+. See the full breakdown in our Jacksonville kitchen remodel cost guide.
What St. Johns kitchens usually need
Every home is different, but after years of working across St. Johns County we see the same patterns repeat. Knowing which pattern your kitchen fits helps you set the right budget from day one.
2000s builder-grade kitchens (Julington Creek Plantation, Fruit Cove)
These kitchens usually have a solid layout and good square footage, which is great news: you can transform them without moving walls. Typical upgrades are replacing or refacing the cabinets, removing the soffits to run cabinets to the ceiling, swapping dated granite for quartz or quartzite, and replacing 12×12 ceramic floors with porcelain or waterproof LVP.
Newer construction (RiverTown, Durbin Crossing)
Homes built in the last ten years often have decent finishes but thin builder cabinets, laminate-edge counters and minimal lighting. Here the work is about personalization: a bigger island, panel-ready appliances, a coffee or beverage station, under-cabinet lighting and a full-height backsplash.
Larger estate homes (golf and riverside communities)
In bigger homes the request is usually a “chef’s kitchen”: a 48-inch range with a proper hood, a working island with a prep sink, a walk-in or butler’s pantry, and a scullery to hide the mess when guests are over.
Left: the Nunes 4 Flooring team with a homeowner after a kitchen remodel. Right: a working island built for everyday cooking.
Communities we serve in St. Johns and Fruit Cove
We regularly quote and build kitchens in these St. Johns County neighborhoods. If yours is not listed, we very likely still serve it.
- Julington Creek Plantation
- The Parkes of Julington
- Brookstone
- Glen Laurel
- Roland’s Way
- Victoria Preserve
- Bartram Plantation
- Mill Creek Plantation
- Governors Landing
- RiverTown & Longleaf Pine
- Durbin Crossing
- Fruit Cove
- Switzerland
- Nocatee
Because our team works in this corridor every week, scheduling site visits, material deliveries and inspections along SR-13, County Road 210 and St. Johns Parkway is simple. That local rhythm is one of the quiet reasons projects finish on time.
2026 kitchen remodeling costs in St. Johns County
Pricing in St. Johns County tracks closely with Duval County, with one difference: homes here are often larger, so kitchens have more linear feet of cabinets and more square feet of countertop. Use this table as a planning range, not a quote.
| Scope | Typical range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $12,000–$18,000 | New countertops, backsplash, sink, faucet, hardware, lighting. Existing cabinets painted or refaced. |
| Mid-range remodel | $25,000–$45,000 | New cabinets, quartz countertops, full backsplash, new flooring, lighting and appliance installation. Same layout. |
| Full custom remodel | $45,000–$70,000+ | Layout changes, larger island, wall removal (if structural review allows), custom cabinetry, quartzite or premium slabs. |
Appliances are usually priced separately. If you are deciding where to spend, our kitchen remodel ROI guide shows which upgrades buyers in Northeast Florida actually pay for, and our quartz vs. granite vs. porcelain comparison helps you pick the right surface for Florida humidity.
Permits, HOAs and logistics in St. Johns County
When a permit is required
The St. Johns County Building Department generally requires permits when a remodel involves electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work, such as new circuits, relocating a sink, adding a range hood duct or removing a wall. Replacing countertops or cabinets in the same location is often cosmetic. We confirm the exact requirement for your scope before work starts and handle the permit when one is needed.
HOA and community rules
Most planned communities in St. Johns regulate dumpsters, portable storage containers, contractor parking and working hours. Interior remodels rarely need architectural approval, but a dumpster in the driveway often does. We plan for this in the schedule so your project is not paused by a violation notice.
Living in the house during the remodel
Most families stay home. We seal the work area with dust barriers, protect floors on the path to the kitchen and help you set up a temporary kitchen in the dining room or garage.
Design choices that work in Florida kitchens
A St. Johns kitchen deals with humidity, heat and heavy use. These choices hold up best:
- Countertops: quartz for low maintenance, quartzite for a natural-stone look with high heat resistance, and large-format porcelain for outdoor or sun-exposed areas.
- Cabinets: plywood boxes resist moisture better than particleboard, especially in sink bases. Soft-close hardware is standard now.
- Backsplash: full-height tile behind the range, or slab backsplashes that match the counter. See more ideas in our kitchen backsplash guide.
- Flooring: porcelain tile or waterproof LVP. Read why in is LVP good for Florida humidity, and check our kitchen flooring trends.
- Lighting: recessed LEDs for general light, under-cabinet strips for tasks and pendants over the island.
Local tip: many 2000s homes in Julington Creek have a 12×12 ceramic floor that runs under the cabinets into the family room. Replacing cabinets first and flooring second can leave gaps. We sequence flooring and cabinets together so transitions stay clean.
A realistic kitchen remodel timeline
For a mid-range remodel in St. Johns, plan for about 2–4 weeks of design and ordering and 6–10 weeks of work on site, depending on cabinet lead times and inspections. A detailed week-by-week schedule is in our kitchen remodel timeline guide.
- Consultation and measurements: layout, budget and wish list.
- Design and selections: cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, flooring.
- Permit and HOA approval: only when the scope requires it.
- Demolition and rough-in: plumbing, electrical and inspections.
- Cabinets, template and countertops: quartz is usually installed 1–2 weeks after templating.
- Backsplash, flooring and finish work: trim, lighting, appliances and final walkthrough.
Why St. Johns homeowners choose Nunes 4 Flooring Corp
Nunes 4 Flooring Corp is a family-owned, licensed and insured contractor serving Northeast Florida, led by Bernardo and Emmanuel Nunes. Because our roots are in flooring and tile, the details that usually go wrong in a kitchen remodel, like floor transitions, tile layout and backsplash cuts around outlets, are where we are strongest. We are Schluter Certified, we offer bilingual English and Portuguese service, and you deal with the owners from estimate to final walkthrough.
Planning a bathroom too? Many St. Johns clients bundle both projects. Our bathroom remodeling services use the same crew and schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in St. Johns County?
Usually yes if you move plumbing, add or change electrical circuits, vent a new hood or alter walls. Like-for-like countertop or cabinet replacement is often treated as cosmetic. We confirm with the St. Johns County Building Department for your exact scope.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in St. Johns, FL?
A mid-range kitchen typically takes 6–10 weeks on site after 2–4 weeks of design and ordering. Custom cabinets or layout changes can extend that.
Can I keep my layout and still get a modern kitchen?
Yes. Most Julington Creek and Fruit Cove kitchens have a good layout. New cabinets to the ceiling, quartz, a full backsplash, better lighting and new flooring change the room completely without moving plumbing.
Do you serve Brookstone, Glen Laurel, Roland’s Way and Victoria Preserve?
Yes. We serve all of St. Johns and Fruit Cove, including Brookstone, Glen Laurel, Roland’s Way, Victoria Preserve, The Parkes of Julington, Bartram Plantation, RiverTown and Durbin Crossing.
Planning a kitchen remodel in St. Johns?
Get a free in-home estimate from Nunes 4 Flooring Corp. We will measure, talk through your options and give you a clear, written scope.
Get a Free EstimateCall (904) 479-1447