Ready to rework the frustrating parts of the rooms you use most?
"We engaged with Watershed Builders to do a complete renovation of our first floor. We are delighted with the results — it exceeded our expectations. Our project manager, Marc, was on top of every detail, communicated effectively and managed the project efficiently. Their online platform with daily updates is outstanding."
—David F.
From opening up an isolated kitchen to carving out storage that wasn’t there before, our work turns your first floor back into the everyday space you love to spend time in.
Before
After
19 Weeks
$300,536
First-Floor Remodel
Created a custom drink station so family and friends can grab what they need without a pile-up
Installed a custom range hood and white cabinets that share one geometric motif
Added built-ins to store and showcase the kids’ achievements and keepsakes
Replaced the tub-shower unit with a glass-enclosed walk-in shower
“Our project manager, Marc, was on top of every detail, communicated effectively and managed the project efficiently. Their online platform with daily updates is outstanding. The office and design staff were friendly and helpful through every step of the process. We would highly recommend Dom and the Watershed team!”
—David F.
You take pride in your home. We take pride in the work we do to make it feel like one, and these are the commitments that guide us.
At Watershed Builders, we live where we work, and we’re proud to serve the communities we’re a part of. From the first phone call to the last check-in, we’re treating you with the same kindness and respect that we treat our neighbors with. That includes giving you a fixed-price we won’t go back on weeks down the road.
Your home is a haven, and it takes a lot of trust to leave it in someone else’s hands. We understand that, and strive to treat your home like it’s our own. Whether it’s organizing a temporary kitchen so you can stay put while we renovate or making sure active construction zones are safe for your kids, our team ensures your house feels like a home the whole way through.
Watershed builds don’t have the haphazard collection of trades and designers with overlapping schedules and poor communication you hear stories about. Every build has its own team, and one that you’re a part of, too. You get all of the updates the rest of us get, and are included in every decision that gets made.
Life is full of complications, so we’ve kept our process simple and straightforward.
Step 01
Collaboration starts with conversation, and the initial call is what kicks everything off. We’ll ask you about where you live, your ideas and concerns, and your timeline. If your project feels like a perfect fit, we’ll schedule an in-home consult.
Step 02
This is when we start getting specific about what you’re looking for and how Watershed can make it happen. We’ll walk through your home with you, assess how your spaces currently work, and where we can make improvements. As the plan takes shape, we’ll start to discuss the budget so you know if Watershed fits within your range and make a referral to a trusted designer to start schematic drawings.
Step 03
Once we move into the Pre-Construction Phase, we’ll start communicating the details of the plan we’ve solidified: real costs, code requirements, on-site conditions, and so on. You’ll get a fixed-price proposal that won’t change throughout the project, save for any updates you make to our agreement and major unforeseen complications, like structural concerns.
We charge 1% of the preliminary budget as earnest money in this phase, but every penny gets applied to building costs.
Step 04
If you’re as excited about working with us as we are with you, we’ll present you with the final proposal. Your signature gets us started.
Once we have the green light, we’ll submit the necessary permit applications and assign you a Project Manager to kick things off.
Every project is unique and priced around your specific needs, wants, and design. Reach out and let’s talk about how we can help create your space.
$300,000 - $520,000
4 - 6 Months
On average, most first-floor remodels cost about $410,000, with basic remodels landing around $300,000, and complex, high-end remodels costing upwards of $520,000. On that lower end, you can expect builder-grade finishes such as granite countertops and laminate flooring. Meanwhile, top-end selections like custom cabinetry and oak flooring drive the steep costs you see on the higher end.
Scope also influences the price considerably. Many first-floor remodels are a straightforward “pull and replace” situation. Finishes, fixtures, and appliances are replaced, and the layout remains the same. However, once you introduce structural changes like relocating the kitchen to a different wall, you should expect costs to increase and the timeline to lengthen.
When your kitchen’s too small, your living room only fits three, and your entryway leads directly into the formal dining room, it may be time for a first-floor remodel. These are some of the features our clients request.
Specialty Spaces
Whether a dry bar for entertaining or a playroom for the kids, we can transfer any specialty spaces from your preferred designs to the house itself.
Hidden Storage
Coat closets tucked into foyer paneling and touch-latch doors built into cabinet columns hide the less glamorous parts of your home.
Windows
We often replace old windows, and depending on the design, may add or expand existing windows to brighten and define the room(s).
Improved Layout
We execute layout changes designed around making your life easier, not just because they look nice.
Flooring
First-floor remodels can cover improvements from the top to the bottom, and that includes new flooring.
Structural Changes
Tearing down walls and adding new ones is a major part of most first-floor remodels.
Plumbing
We also plumb each new area when dictated by the design to ensure it suits your needs.
Lighting
Upgrading old lighting can immediately reenergize your first floor.
We’re proud to share a community with our clients and watch them settle into their new spaces. But don’t take our word for it. Here are your neighbors’ experiences in their own words.
You have questions about working with us, and your neighbors have some of the answers. For the things they don’t know, we can fill in the rest.
A basic first-floor remodel starts at around $300,000, with costs rising from there based on what finishes, fixtures, and appliances you choose and the extent of structural work detailed in the scope.
Oftentimes, yes. First-floor remodels tend to be less involved than a whole-home project, and many of our clients stay in the house throughout the whole build. We set up comfort measures like dust barriers, temporary kitchen setups, and send daily updates on what’s coming next to make staying at home as painless as possible.
A first-floor remodel makes the most sense when you have a lower cap on your budget, and heavily trafficked spaces like the kitchen or living room bother you the most. However, we can do the same work on a first-floor remodel as part of a multi-phase, whole-home remodel by working exclusively on the first floor during one phase and elsewhere in the house during the other(s).
First-floor remodels typically involve layout changes and target more than one area of the level, such as the kitchen, hall bathroom, and living room. We also do bathroom remodels, so if a single bathroom remodel is really what you’re after, give us a call and tell us what you’re thinking about.
We’re proud to work where we live, so you may have already seen our work in the wild. These are the services that created those beautiful spaces, and could lead to yours.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
Layouts and interior that need a redux, not a whole new homeowner.
