Kitchen Remodel · Fair Oaks, CA · case study
Transitional kitchen · Fair Oaks
Warm-cream shaker perimeter cabinetry, a white oak slab island with a quartzite waterfall edge, a hand-troweled plaster hood, a pro gas range, and a fireclay apron sink that finally fits the bowl size the homeowner actually cooks at.
Days on site
35
Service
Kitchen Remodel
Where
Fair Oaks
Scope tier
Luxury scope
Before / after
Drag to see what changed
Same camera angle, same room — drag the slider to reveal the before and after.
After
The brief
What the homeowner wanted
A 1985 oak-cabinet kitchen with a builder-grade microwave-as-hood, dated tile counters, and an undersized stainless sink. The homeowners wanted a transitional Sacramento aesthetic that ages well — warm cream cabinets, real stone, white oak for warmth, and a hood that reads sculptural instead of appliance. We kept the existing footprint (same range wall, same window over the sink) so the project compressed into 35 working days even with custom cabinetry and a plaster hood.
The scope
Exactly what we built
A scope checklist is how every Tanbark project starts. Below is the real list we worked from on this build — the same level of specificity goes into the itemized estimate you'll get after your in-home walk-through.
- Full demo of existing cabinets, counters, backsplash, floor, and lighting
- Re-route of plumbing for fireclay apron sink
- Electrical upgrade to GFCI + dedicated 20A circuits per code
- Custom shaker perimeter cabinets in warm cream
- White oak slab island with quartzite waterfall edge
- Hand-troweled plaster range hood with concealed liner
- Pro 36" gas range + paneled French-door refrigerator
- Fireclay apron-front sink with brass bridge faucet
- Refinished original white oak floor
- Layered lighting: recessed + over-island pendants + under-cabinet LED
Materials + finishes
What we specified
We publish the actual material specs because finishes are what make a build feel custom — and because the cheap version of every line below is the difference between a one-year project and a twenty-year project.
- Warm-cream shaker cabinets, painted in oil-modified enamel
- White oak slab island, rift-sawn, sealed with hard-wax oil
- Honed quartzite counter with full-thickness waterfall edge
- Hand-troweled lime plaster hood with concealed stainless liner
- Pro 36" gas range + paneled French-door refrigerator
- Fireclay apron sink + unlacquered brass bridge faucet
Material + finish detail
The details up close
Day by day
How 35 working days actually go
Visitors love seeing the schedule honestly. Below is how this project actually broke down. Your timeline will look similar; the exact day count lives in your written estimate.
- 1
Design + selections
Pre-buildCabinet drawings finalized, stone selected at the slab yard, hardware locked.
- 2
Demo + rough-in
Day 1-7Full demo, plumbing re-routed for apron sink, electrical upgraded to code.
- 3
Floor refinish
Day 8-12White oak floor sanded, stained, sealed in three coats.
- 4
Cabinets
Day 13-20Custom shaker perimeter and white oak island installed and adjusted.
- 5
Counter + hood
Day 21-26Quartzite counter templated, fabricated, and set; lime plaster hood hand-troweled in three coats.
- 6
Appliances + finish
Day 27-33Range, refrigerator, faucet, sink installed; backsplash run; under-cabinet LED installed.
- 7
Inspection + reveal
Day 34-35City of Sacramento final inspection, deep clean, walk-through, warranty packet handed over.
Why this build matters
The details that took it from good to great
- Keeping the existing range wall + window over the sink is what compressed a 35-day build that would otherwise have been 8-10 weeks.
- Hand-troweled lime plaster hood is a specialty trade — we book the trowel artist 6 weeks ahead so the schedule doesn't slip.
- Refinishing the original white oak floor (instead of replacing it) preserved the character of the home and saved a meaningful slice of budget for the island and counter.
“The kitchen reads like it's always been there. The plaster hood is the moment everyone walks in for.”
— Fair Oaks homeowner
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Want the same scope-checklist for your project?
Grab the free 2026 Sacramento Remodel Planning Kit — the same scope worksheet, contractor question list, and material spec sheet we use on builds like this kitchen remodel in Fair Oaks.
- Scope-Built Quote Worksheet — for apples-to-apples bids
- 10 questions every Sacramento contractor should answer
- Sacramento permit reality check by jurisdiction
- The 5 line items that blow most remodel budgets
- Material + finish cheat sheet (what to spec, what to skip)
About the number on a project like this:
We don't publish project totals because the same build can cost very differently depending on the home, the existing conditions, the finish level you actually want, and how much custom millwork or stone the design calls for. The right number for your project lives in your itemized written estimate, which we deliver within 48 hours of your in-home walk-through.
On the walk we bring the same scope-checklist approach you see above. By the end of the visit you'll know exactly which line items are fixed scope, which are selections, and where the real budget pressure lives.
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Next step
Want a build like this on your home?
Book a free in-home walk-through. A Tanbark Project Manager (not a salesperson) will measure, ask the right questions, and bring you an itemized scope-built estimate within 48 hours.
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