A better kitchen starts beyond the cabinets.
From a Narberth twin to a Blue Bell colonial, one team brings the structure, design and construction together.
A closed room off the dining room in Narberth, a stair-side galley in King of Prussia, a builder kitchen in Blue Bell: your house shapes what comes next. NK plans the opening, coordinates structural engineering and township permits, and finishes the kitchen with one team under one contract.
NK specializes in kitchen and structural remodeling throughout Montgomery County. From a new layout within the room to a bearing-wall opening, we bring the design, licensed engineering, permits, trades and finish work together.
New cabinets inside the same four walls only go so far. Seeing the family room from the stove or fitting an island where the dining room was changes how you use the space. NK brings the structural work and kitchen design together to explore that possibility.
We assess what the wall carries, what supports it below and which pipes, ducts or wiring run through it. That work and any required engineering establish the opening and beam arrangement before the cabinet plan is final.
Prewar plaster homes
Load path traced
In older Lower Merion, Cheltenham and Jenkintown homes, a kitchen wall may carry loads down to masonry piers or other supports. We trace the actual load path and assess the bearings before our licensed engineering partner designs any required beam, posts or footings.
Open plan
LVL $6K+ · steel $8K+
A beam tucked into the ceiling makes two rooms read as one. When joist depth or the span rules that out, a dropped beam is cased and trimmed so it looks designed in, not patched in.
Before the cabinets
Fixed while it's open
Sloping floors, old plumbing notches in joists or a soft subfloor near the sink need attention before the cabinets and stone go in. We investigate the cause and coordinate the appropriate repair or leveling work while the room is open.
We trace what the wall carries and what supports it below, including existing masonry piers in older homes. That assessment informs any beam, post or footing design needed from our licensed engineering partner.
We review plumbing stacks, ducts, wiring and gas lines around the opening, and identify any investigation needed before the structural work and cabinet layout are finalized.
We assess the span and joist depth to see whether a beam can fit within the ceiling. Where that is not feasible, the design can incorporate a cased and trimmed dropped beam.
We review the existing panel and wiring with the planned appliances and lighting in mind, then identify any circuits or service upgrade needed for the kitchen.
An illustration of what changes when a bearing wall comes out and the kitchen is rebuilt around a new beam.
Design renderings for illustration, not photos of a completed NK Construction & Design project.
Before
After
Explore an open-plan colonial, a split-level connected to the living room, or a prewar kitchen with its trim and plaster preserved. These design illustrations show kitchen possibilities; our project collection shows completed NK work.
NK Construction & Design's kitchens in the county run from about $40,000 to $180,000 and up. The single biggest swing factor is structure: keeping the room as it is versus removing a bearing wall. After that come cabinet grade, stone selection and the condition of the wiring behind the walls.
$40,000–$60,000
4–6 weeks of construction
Replacement cabinets on the same footprint, stone tops, new sink and faucet, tile backsplash, upgraded lighting and paint
$60,000–$110,000
6–10 weeks of construction
Stripped to studs, appliances relocated, island added, new circuits and plumbing runs, new floor, ducted range hood, full appliance package
$110,000–$180,000+
8–12 weeks of construction
Everything in a gut remodel plus engineered beam and posts, stamped plans, rerouted mechanicals, matched flooring and ceiling across the joined rooms, and a larger design concept
These are NK’s 2026 planning ranges. Your written, itemized proposal brings the structural work, trades and finishes together, with selections and allowances spelled out. Existing conditions, choices, lead times and approvals affect the final budget and schedule; the line items above are examples, not automatic extra charges. We confirm actual permit fees for your project.
Penn Wynne, PA · Completed NK project
A dated kitchen and a separate back entry in Penn Wynne were rebuilt as one green galley kitchen with shaker cabinetry, a built-in mudroom, and a continuous checkerboard floor.
The original kitchen had flat blue cabinets, worn beige counters, and yellowed floor tile, with a cluttered back entry closed off behind it. The space was opened up with a new structural beam, and both areas were rebuilt as a single room with new electrical, plumbing, and tile throughout.
Main Line estates, streetcar-era twins, postwar Capes and newer subdivisions call for different kitchen plans. These examples show how layout, structural work and original details can come together; we assess the actual house before defining the work.
Kitchen permits go through your property’s municipality and responsible code administrator or approved third-party agency. Lower Merion, Abington, Upper Dublin, Whitpain, Cheltenham and Upper Merion can have different applications, fees and inspection arrangements. NK identifies and manages the right route for your project.
Permit review, with drawings and inspections as required
Permit review, with drawings and inspections as required
Permit review, with drawings and inspections as required
Permit review, with drawings and inspections as required
Permit review, with drawings and inspections as required
May be exempt when the work is limited to finishes
May be exempt when the work is limited to finishes
Requirements differ by municipality. NK Construction & Design confirms yours during design.
A new kitchen window, garden door or bump-out may need historic review in designated areas, including parts of Lower Merion. We check the property’s designation and proposed work before the design is final.
NK Construction & Design handles the paperwork end to end: drawings, application, inspection scheduling and on-site meetings with the inspector. The approved permits go into your closeout packet.
Both warranties start on the day your final walkthrough is completed.
Our workmanship warranty covers the installed work described in your agreement, including plumbing, electrical, drywall and plaster, cabinet and countertop installation, tile, trim and paint. Fifteen months takes you through a full winter and summer, when wood movement and small cracks can become apparent.
Covers the flush beams, posts, new footings and joist repairs NK Construction & Design installs from its licensed engineer's design. Structure is where NK Construction & Design specializes, so we stand behind it longer.
Finish materials such as cabinets, countertops, fixtures and appliances carry their manufacturers' own warranties, and NK Construction & Design hands you that paperwork at closeout. The warranty doesn't cover normal wear, damage from misuse, or changes made later by others. The written project warranty controls coverage, exclusions and remedies for your agreed scope.
Commuting to Center City, traveling for work or working from a spare bedroom leaves little time to supervise a remodel. NK keeps the day-to-day coordination with one manager and plans selections, site access and temporary facilities around your household.
The same project manager runs your kitchen from the walk-through through closeout and answers your texts within the business day. You do not have to track down the plumber or cabinet installer.
Photos, what got done, what happens next week and any decision we need from you, delivered by email or text so you know where things stand without calling.
Every selection is mapped to a dated calendar before demolition. Meetings happen evenings, weekends or by video, with decision deadlines agreed in advance.
Where the home allows, we set up your refrigerator, microwave and coffee equipment at a temporary station before demolition. We agree available facilities and utility interruptions with you in advance.
Township inspectors, permit offices, HOA approvals, utility shutoffs and appliance deliveries are scheduled and met by NK Construction & Design. Access and attendance arrangements are agreed with you in advance.
We check cabinet, appliance and beam availability before agreeing demolition. Countertops are templated after the cabinets are installed, with fabrication coordinated into the schedule. Early planning helps reduce avoidable downtime, while lead times can change.
Allow approximately 2–5 months from the first walk-through to the finished kitchen. We plan the design, engineering, procurement and permits before the construction phase. Your final schedule reflects selections, approvals, deliveries and existing conditions.
Week 1
We measure the kitchen and review the proposed opening, accessible framing and existing services. We discuss the budget and identify any investigation or engineering needed to define the work.
Weeks 2–7
The layout and cabinet design are drawn while our engineering partner calculates any beam and posts, then you receive one priced scope with allowances listed.
Weeks 8–12
NK coordinates the municipal application and checks cabinet, appliance and structural-member availability before agreeing demolition. Countertop templating and fabrication follow cabinet installation.
Construction day 1
Dust protection and floor runners go in, and the temporary kitchen facilities agreed for your home are set up before demolition.
Construction weeks 1–4
Shoring, beam and posts go in first, then plumbing, electrical, gas and ventilation are roughed in and inspected.
Construction weeks 4–10
Cabinets, templated countertops, tile, lighting, trim and appliances are installed.
Final week
Coordinate required final inspections, address corrections and hand over applicable permit records, warranties and product-care information.
Use these with every company you interview, including us. The answers show quickly who can deliver a kitchen that involves real structural change.
NK Construction & Design combines remodeling and structural construction expertise to coordinate kitchen design, structural modifications, construction and finishing work within one project.
Five parts of the county, five different kinds of kitchen projects.
Bryn Mawr · Haverford · Gladwyne · Ardmore · Wynnewood · Merion Station · Narberth · Bala Cynwyd
Large prewar homes where the kitchen, pantry and breakfast room are three separate spaces. Projects here focus on combining them while protecting original detail.
Cheltenham · Elkins Park · Wyncote · Glenside · Jenkintown · Abington · Huntingdon Valley · Willow Grove · Hatboro
Streetcar-era twins and postwar homes with small back kitchens. Expect plaster walls, small panels and floors that need leveling.
Ambler · Blue Bell · Fort Washington · Dresher · Maple Glen · Plymouth Meeting · Lafayette Hill · Gwynedd Valley
Mostly 1960s–1990s colonials and split-levels. The usual request is a kitchen merged with the formal dining room and a large island.
Lansdale · North Wales · Montgomeryville · Hatfield · Harleysville · Souderton · Telford
Borough twins near the train lines plus 1980s–2000s subdivisions. Projects range from compact remodels to full open-plan conversions.
King of Prussia · Conshohocken · Norristown · Bridgeport · Collegeville · Royersford · Limerick · Pottstown
River-town rowhomes and twins alongside split-levels and newer developments. Joist repair and kitchen-to-living-room openings are common.
Tell us what frustrates you about your kitchen and what you want to change. We’ll discuss the layout, structural work and likely budget, then agree the next steps for your home. After that conversation, NK may offer an estimate without charge, at its discretion.
Questions, answered
More questions about your kitchen? Explore the full FAQ collection for planning, construction and local guidance.
Owner Nebojsa "Nebo" Keresevic holds the NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist designation. Depending on your household and space, the kitchen can include clear circulation, lower drawers instead of deep cupboards, a raised dishwasher, reachable wall oven or microwave, easy-grip hardware, brighter task lighting and slip-resistant flooring. We adapt those choices to how you use the room, with a finished look that still feels like your home.
Yes. NK Construction & Design can help homeowners plan remodeling and construction projects from the early stages. Depending on the project, that can include reviewing layout goals, discussing how the space should function, coordinating finishes and materials, considering structural changes, and identifying the information needed before construction begins. For projects that require specialized architectural or engineering documentation, those requirements can be discussed as part of the planning process.
Many households can remain, but safe access, dust separation, noise, utilities and the agreed scope determine whether that is practical. NK discusses temporary facilities using available refrigerator, microwave and coffee equipment where feasible. A two- to three-day sink interruption may be a planning allowance for some connections, not a promise; actual shutoffs and any need for alternative accommodation are agreed for the project.
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