Cabinetry · Stone · Indoor-outdoor
Kitchen Remodeling
A kitchen here usually opens onto a terrace. That single fact changes almost every specification in it.
Overview
Costa Rican houses live outward. The kitchen tends to sit at the hinge between the interior and a covered terrace, which means the cabinetry is exposed to a humidity swing that flat-pack melamine simply does not survive. We build kitchens as millwork rather than as assembled units: hardwood or marine-grade substrate, hardware rated for the environment, and a layout that assumes the doors are open most of the year.
What's included
- Shop-built cabinetry in kiln-dried hardwood or marine-grade substrate
- Local granite, quartzite and terrazzo counters, sealed and scheduled
- Indoor-outdoor layouts with pass-throughs and covered terrace connection
- Ventilation sized for high-heat cooking without conditioning the terrace
- Corrosion-rated hinges, slides and fixtures for coastal properties
- Electrical and plumbing upgraded to current code as part of the scope
How it runs
Four stages, in this order.
- 01
Layout & workflow
Planned around how the house actually lives, including the terrace and the way it is used for entertaining.
- 02
Cabinetry design
Every run drawn and shop-built to the millimetre rather than assembled from stock carcasses on site.
- 03
Services & substrate
Electrical, plumbing and ventilation brought to standard while the walls are open.
- 04
Install & commission
Cabinetry, stone, appliances and finishes installed, adjusted and handed over.
Local practice
Built to Costa Rican standards, not imported ones.
Whatever the service, the underlying method is the same. Structure is reinforced concrete block and beam or light-gauge steel, sized against the seismic zone your lot sits in. Overhangs are deep enough to keep driving rain off the walls. Foundations are raised and drained. Timber is treated or naturally resistant, and detailed to stay out of ground contact.
These are not preferences. They are what has been shown to survive here, and they are why we do not simply execute a set of plans drawn for a different climate without redesigning the parts that would fail.
See the full build standard- Delivered in
- Santa Ana Lindora · Pozos · Río Oro
- Escazú San Rafael · Guachipelín · Jaboncillos
- Santa Cruz Tamarindo · Playa Langosta · Senderos
- Carrillo Playas del Coco · Playa Hermosa · Ocotal
- Curridabat Guayabos · Lomas de Ayarco · Hacienda Gregal
- Belén Cariari · La Asunción · San Antonio
- Garabito Herradura · Los Sueños · Jacó hills
- Peninsula Papagayo Nacascolo · Papagayo master plan
- Nicoya & Cóbano Nosara · Playa Guiones · Santa Teresa
Questions
Kitchen Remodeling in Costa Rica
Are imported kitchen cabinets worth it in Costa Rica?
Rarely. Imported units carry duty, freight and long lead times, and most are built on particle substrates that fail in this humidity. Locally shop-built millwork in properly dried hardwood usually costs less delivered and performs considerably better.
What counter material works best here?
Locally sourced granite and quartzite are excellent and avoid import cost entirely. Poured and precast terrazzo has a long Costa Rican tradition and looks superb. Marble is beautiful but wants a disciplined sealing schedule in a humid kitchen.
Can the kitchen open directly to the terrace?
Yes, and it usually should. The specification consequence is that cabinetry, hardware and appliances near that opening have to be selected for exterior-adjacent conditions rather than interior ones.
Next step
Tell us about the lot.
Send us the plano catastrado and a rough idea of what you want to build. We will come back with a feasibility read on what the site actually allows, what it is likely to cost, and how long permitting will take in your cantón.
Replies within one business day. Consultations in English or Spanish.