A high-end kitchen renovation isn’t defined by a price tag. It’s defined by decisions: the cabinetry line, the countertop material, the fixtures chosen because they solve a real problem instead of just looking good in a showroom. A recent Hantel Kitchens & Baths project shows what those decisions look like when they come together.
Custom cabinetry sets the foundation
This project started with custom cabinetry from Spring Valley Woodcraft, an Amish cabinetmaker known for master craftsmanship, using solid wood construction rather than particleboard or MDF panels. Larger layouts with more linear feet of custom cabinetry are what allow for this level of craftsmanship in the first place. The boxes are built substantial enough to carry the weight of stone countertops without flexing over time.
Countertops and the workstation sink
The countertop is Viatera, a quartz surface, in the Delicato colorway, a soft white base with subtle veining. The kitchen’s centerpiece is a Kohler Riverby workstation sink, chosen for its built-in workspace and durability under daily use.
A workstation sink isn’t a cosmetic upgrade. The integrated ledges and accessories change how the sink functions during real cooking and cleanup, one more example of a choice driven by use, not just appearance.
Materials reserved for higher-budget projects
At a certain budget threshold, an entirely different tier of fixtures becomes available. For more budget-conscious projects, Hantel typically recommends reliable, well-priced brands like Kohler or Moen. Higher-budget renovations open the door to premium brands like ROHL and Kallista, which offer finishes and functionality that aren’t available anywhere else.
A second recent Hantel kitchen renovation in a similar range illustrates the same pattern: Silestone quartz countertops in a Eternal Statuario colorway, paired with Sub-Zero Wolf appliances and Brizo faucets, another tier of brand entirely, brought in because the project’s scope supported it.
Ready to talk specifics?
If you’re weighing options for your own kitchen renovation, a complimentary consultation is the fastest way to talk through real materials and real choices for your space. Schedule a consultation with Hantel Kitchens & Baths.
Every material on-site before construction starts
Once a design and its material selections are finalized, Hantel orders everything before the first day of work: cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, and tile. Renovations with backordered materials often stall midway through demolition, leaving a homeowner without a functioning kitchen for weeks longer than planned. Our approach removes that risk. Construction doesn’t begin until every item is confirmed and received.
It also means one crew handles the project from start to finish, rather than coordinating a rotating group of subcontractors. The same employees who start a renovation are the ones who finish it, so the person in your home on day one is still there on the last day.
Design is a collaboration, not a directive
A common assumption about high-budget renovations is that the designer simply picks everything and the homeowner signs off. That’s not how Hantel’s design process works.
Hantel’s designer, Laura Duddy, treats the process as a partnership rather than a prescription. She guides clients toward choices that will hold up visually and functionally over time, but the final decision belongs to the homeowner. If a client wants something Laura wouldn’t have chosen herself, she’ll support it, as long as it won’t undermine the finished space.
That guidance matters most when a choice risks working against itself. In one recent project, a client with cream-colored cabinetry initially wanted a white backsplash. Laura steered her toward a contrasting soft green instead. Cream and white, she explains, tend to compete with each other rather than complement. A small detail, but one that changes how a finished kitchen reads for years to come.
What a kitchen remodel in Nashville needs to account for
Local conditions shaped material decisions in this project as much as design preference does. Nashville’s humidity was part of why quartz was the right call for the countertop. It’s non-porous and doesn’t require the periodic sealing some natural stone does, which matters in a climate where moisture is a constant factor. The solid wood cabinetry from Spring Valley Woodcraft was held to the same standard: real wood construction, not particleboard, chosen in part because it holds up better than engineered materials over time in a humid climate.
Homeowners in Nashville’s older neighborhoods, from Belle Meade and Green Hills to the historic homes of East Nashville, face a separate set of considerations around preserving a home’s existing character. See what to expect when renovating a kitchen in a historic Nashville home for a closer look at those challenges.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost?
There’s no flat answer, but there’s a clear pattern. Higher-income households drive most large-scale renovation spending. According to the National Association of Home Builders, households earning $200,000 or more annually are three times as likely to take on a remodeling project as those earning under $50,000. The kitchen renovation featured here landed at approximately $100,000, driven primarily by custom cabinetry, premium countertop material, and fixture selections, not labor.
Function comes first – always
Across every project, regardless of budget, Hantel’s guiding principle stays the same: a kitchen has to work before it can be beautiful. Laura is direct about this: clients shouldn’t have to choose between a kitchen that functions well and one that looks beautiful. It has to deliver both, not trade one for the other.
For a high-end kitchen renovation, that philosophy shows up in the details: cabinetry sized to the space, materials chosen for durability, and fixtures selected because they solve a real problem. Not because they’re the most expensive option on the shelf.
Planning a kitchen renovation?
If you’re considering a high-end kitchen renovation in Nashville, schedule a consultation with Hantel Kitchens & Baths. Every project starts with a conversation about how you use your space, not a sales pitch.
View our kitchen portfolio to see more completed projects like this one.