Before And After
After
The finished kitchen centers the room around custom stained maple cabinetry, a massive Taj Mahal island, matching slab backsplash, GE Cafe appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and warmer full-room finishes.
Construction Solution
Big Horn Remodeling removed the builder-grade kitchen, changed the orientation from a peninsula-style layout to a large island plan, X-rayed the post-tension slab, relocated plumbing, added recessed cans and under-cabinet lighting, installed custom maple cabinetry, and completed the kitchen with leathered Taj Mahal surfaces and Rev-A-Shelf storage.
Completed Custom Maple Kitchen Remodel Case Study
Big Horn Remodeling completed this maple cabinet case study for homeowners who wanted a kitchen that finally matched the way they wanted to live, cook, store, and entertain. The original kitchen was small, builder-grade, falling apart, and poorly laid out. It used a peninsula layout that limited flow and made the room feel less open than it should have.
This custom maple kitchen remodel was a $75,000 full-gut kitchen project completed in about 1 month. Big Horn Remodeling replaced a failing builder-grade peninsula kitchen with a new island-centered layout, custom stained maple cabinets, a 16-foot leathered Taj Mahal island, matching slab backsplash, GE Cafe appliances, Rev-A-Shelf storage, recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, plumbing relocation, and electrical/plumbing permits.
This was not a cabinet refresh. It was a permitted kitchen case study with a completely different orientation. Big Horn removed the original kitchen and rebuilt the space around a Taj Mahal island remodel, custom maple cabinetry, GE Cafe appliances, new lighting, updated plumbing, custom storage accessories, and new laminate flooring supplied by the homeowner.
This page is a project case study for a completed custom maple kitchen remodel. For broad service information, pricing ranges, and scheduling a kitchen remodel in Las Vegas, use the main kitchen remodel service page .
Who This Project Is Similar To
This project is most similar to homeowners who want a full layout change, custom wood cabinetry, a large island, slab backsplash, plumbing relocation, and permit-managed trade work - not a cabinet painting or countertop-only refresh.
Client Goal: A Warmer Custom Kitchen With A Massive Island
The homeowners wanted a complete custom kitchen, not a standard builder-grade update. Their existing kitchen no longer fit the home, and the old peninsula layout did not give them the open island-centered kitchen they wanted. The goal was to create a warmer, more functional kitchen with substantial work surface, premium storage, and a cabinet finish that felt custom to them.
The cabinet finish became one of the most important design details. The clients wanted maple cabinets and supplied a stain direction they liked, but they wanted the color to be slightly redder. Big Horn custom-mixed the stain and stained a maple sample piece for approval. Once the homeowners saw the sample, they were incredibly happy with the color direction, and that became the finish foundation for the entire kitchen.
Custom cabinet direction
The maple cabinet package used plywood boxes, raised-panel doors, long pulls, and soft-close Blum hardware for a furniture-like kitchen finish.
Approved stain sample
Big Horn mixed a red-toned stain and sampled it on maple so the homeowners could approve the final cabinet color before the kitchen was built.
Before Condition: Builder-Grade, Small, And Poorly Oriented
Before construction, the kitchen was small, outdated, and falling apart. It had builder-grade components and a layout that did not reflect how the homeowners wanted the space to function. The peninsula restricted the room instead of creating a natural gathering point.
Storage was limited, the layout felt dated, and the kitchen needed to be rebuilt from the ground up. The before-and-after comparison above shows the change in the same general kitchen view, while the gallery and body visuals document the finished custom cabinet, slab, lighting, appliance, and island details.
The Design Plan: Replace The Peninsula With A True Island Layout
The biggest layout decision was replacing the old peninsula with a new island orientation. That change opened up the room, created a stronger focal point, improved circulation, and gave the homeowners the large work surface they wanted.
The finished island is approximately 16 feet long, which required careful slab planning and bookmatched Taj Mahal material to keep the island visually intentional instead of pieced together. The island also added everyday function: seating, sink placement, dishwasher integration, deep drawers, cabinet storage, and a large uninterrupted prep surface.
What Made This Technical
Post-tension slab X-ray before trenching
Plumbing moved about 4 feet
Refrigerator water line added
Additional recessed cans
Under-cabinet lighting
Electrical and plumbing permits
Technical Scope: Layout Change, Slab X-Ray, Plumbing, Electrical, Cabinets, And Stone
This project required both visible finish work and hidden-system coordination. Big Horn changed the kitchen orientation, relocated plumbing, added a refrigerator water line, pulled electrical and plumbing permits, added recessed cans, installed under-cabinet lighting, and built the kitchen around fully custom maple cabinetry and Taj Mahal slabs.
The home had a post-tension slab, so Big Horn X-rayed the concrete before trenching about 4 feet for the plumbing relocation. Homeowners planning a similar layout change should review the kitchen remodel permits guide and the kitchen remodel scope guide before assuming the work is only cabinets and countertops.
Materials And Finish Selections
The material package is what gives this project its warm custom identity: stained maple cabinetry, raised-panel doors, long dark pulls, leathered Taj Mahal countertops, matching slab backsplash, GE Cafe appliances, Rev-A-Shelf storage, new laminate flooring, recessed cans, and under-cabinet lighting.
Permits And Hidden-System Work
Big Horn Remodeling pulled electrical and plumbing permits for this project. The electrical permit was required because additional recessed cans were added. The plumbing permit was required because plumbing was relocated and a new refrigerator water line was added.
The plumbing relocation was especially important because the home had a post-tension slab. Before cutting concrete, Big Horn X-rayed the slab, then carefully navigated around the slab conditions while trenching approximately 4 feet to relocate the plumbing for the new island layout. That hidden work separates a post-tension slab kitchen layout change from a surface-level cabinet and countertop replacement.
Electrical permit
Added recessed cans and lighting work required electrical permit coordination.
Plumbing permit
Island plumbing relocation and a new refrigerator water line required plumbing permit coordination.
Timeline: Approximate 1-Month Kitchen Remodel
The active remodel timeline was approximately 1 month. The schedule included demolition, slab X-ray, concrete trenching, plumbing relocation, electrical rough-in, recessed lighting, cabinet installation, countertop fabrication and installation, slab backsplash installation, appliance installation, Rev-A-Shelf accessory installation, flooring installation, under-cabinet lighting, finish details, and final walkthrough.
For planning context, compare this timeline with the Las Vegas kitchen remodel timeline guide. A project with custom cabinetry, slab work, permits, and plumbing relocation should not be planned like a simple finish swap.
Preconstruction
Finalize cabinet stain sample, cabinet layout, appliance specs, Taj Mahal slab planning, permits, and schedule.
Demo and verification
Remove the old builder-grade kitchen, then confirm framing, slab conditions, layout, and rough-in paths.
Rough work
X-ray the post-tension slab, trench approximately 4 feet for plumbing relocation, add the refrigerator water line, and complete electrical rough-in.
Cabinet and flooring installation
Install the homeowner-provided laminate flooring and the fully custom maple cabinet package.
Stone and finish work
Install leathered Taj Mahal countertops, bookmatched island slabs, matching slab backsplash, lighting, GE Cafe appliances, and Rev-A-Shelf accessories.
Final walkthrough
Complete touch-ups, clean-up, and review the finished kitchen with the homeowners.
Finished Result: Warmer, More Open, More Custom, And More Functional
The finished kitchen is warmer, more open, more custom, and dramatically more functional. The homeowners loved the outcome, especially the custom stain, which matched exactly what they wanted. The massive island gives the kitchen a true centerpiece, while the Taj Mahal countertops and backsplash create a continuous luxury surface throughout the room.
The final kitchen now includes custom maple cabinetry, bookmatched island slabs, under-cabinet lighting, added recessed cans, GE Cafe appliances, premium pull-out storage, a custom hood area, new laminate flooring, and a layout that no longer feels constrained by the original peninsula.
For budget context around projects like this, compare the scope against the Las Vegas kitchen remodel cost guide.
Project Location Map
This project was completed in The Lakes area of Las Vegas. The exact address is withheld for client privacy.
Project completed in The Lakes area of Las Vegas. Exact address withheld for client privacy.
Full-gut remodel
The original builder-grade kitchen was removed and rebuilt around a new island orientation, custom cabinetry, and permitted trade work.
Custom stain process
Big Horn mixed and sampled the red-toned maple stain so the finished cabinet color matched the homeowner's direction.
Taj Mahal slab package
Leathered Taj Mahal countertops, bookmatched island slabs, and matching backsplash made the stone package feel intentional.
Lighting and systems
Added recessed cans, under-cabinet lighting, plumbing relocation, and a refrigerator water line were coordinated with permits.
Planning a custom maple cabinet project?
Big Horn Remodeling can review your existing layout, cabinet goals, slab conditions, plumbing paths, appliance package, lighting plan, permits, and finish selections before demolition starts.
