Kitchen Plus

For some, the kitchen is the best room in the house, allowing for entertaining and memorable meals, for others it’s a screen porch that provides a relaxing outdoor living environment. No matter the preference, Kitchen Plus has the expertise to create a dream remodel project. Don’t let the name fool you, the Seattle-based company goes well beyond the kitchen, specializing in custom turnkey remodeling from the bathroom to home additions, personal theaters and everything in between.

Since 1992, Kitchen Plus has been building a name for itself in the Seattle residential and small commercial markets. “I purchased the company 14 years ago and we’ve been in business for 22 years,” reveals Rick Van Arnam, owner of Kitchen Plus. “Our process is what has helped us get to where we are today. We’re a one-stop shop for planning, design, manufacturing of all materials and installation that’s performed by our own people.”

Customized Design Details

Over the years, Kitchen Plus has established itself as one of the largest remodeling companies in Washington State. “We’re approaching 90 employees and we have more than 8,000 projects under our belt,” shares Van Arnam. “We’re in 22 homes every day and we average approximately 300 to 400 projects annually.”

The majority of Kitchen Plus’ remodeling work is residential, but Van Arnam says the company enters the commercial market on a small scale. “About 90 percent of our business is residential remodeling and 10 percent commercial,” he notes. “We target homeowners who have been in their home for 12 years or more with an annual income of $60,000 and up, but we offer a broad range of products for any application. We can do anything from a glamorous, spa-type bathroom to the normal 8-by-10-foot bathroom in an older home. We’re not just high-end, but we are a custom shop.”

Kitchen Plus design, builds and installs a variety of custom home renovations, structural improvements, additions and basement or attic conversions. Whether it’s removing a wall to open up a space, adding a door or window to allow more natural light or an edition that increases a home’s value, the company has the in-house professionals to work out the details.

“We just finished a $365,000 full-scale home renovation,” notes Van Arnam. “We took the roof off a three-car garage and added a bonus room. We touched every room in the house, from the three bathrooms to the kitchen and the family room. It was quite an extensive project.”

However, Van Arnam says the company doesn’t always shoot for high dollar projects. “What moves the needle around here every day is $28,000 to $32,000 renovation jobs,” he explains. “Those are the projects we live and die off. We don’t want to just do $100,000 projects; we also want to appeal to the masses.”

On Time, On Budget and No Excuses

Kitchen Plus has worked to establish longstanding relationships not only with customers, but also with subcontractors, ensuring projects finish on time and on budget. “Out of the 8,000 jobs we have done, we’ve never missed a start date,” reveals Van Arnam. “We have a 98 percent accuracy rate, because every project has a mapped out schedule. We share this with homeowners so they know what we’re going to be doing each day; that helps eliminate the fear of remodeling.”

Van Arnam says the key to success is communication. “Other contractors will tell a sub to be at the house on this date and then they show up and the contractor says, ‘Oh, can you come back in a week, we’re not quite ready for you yet,'” he explains. “Subs love us because when they show up on a scheduled date, we’re always ready to go. Other companies fail at this, because they don’t have the process that we do.”

Kitchen Plus pairs efficient scheduling and strict timelines with a network of trusted subcontractor trades the company has worked with for many years. “We subcontract major electrical, plumbing and hardwood flooring,” says Van Arnam. “Our electrical sub has been with us for more than 20 years and our plumber has been with us for seven years and that’s only because the previous plumber retired.”

With a group of reliable subcontractors, Kitchen Plus is able to guarantee a fixed price. “When we give you a price, it doesn’t change,” ensures Van Arnam. “It’s going to be the same from beginning until end, unless the homeowner changes it.”

Keeping promises has helped Kitchen Plus build a reputation for reliable, painless service. “We’re happy to note work is picking back up,” reveals Van Arnam. Backed by master craftsmanship Kitchen Plus continues to transform homes while eliminating the fear and anxiety of remodeling through effective scheduling and fixed costs.