Before & After Gallery - Penhallow Remodeling San Jose

Construction Before & After in San Jose, CA

We can talk about square footage and cabinet lines all day, but nothing lands like seeing a 1970s galley kitchen become a open workspace with a Cambria island. That’s why we keep this gallery: real San Jose homes, real problems, real results. Every project below started with a written price and ended with the 365-Day Done Right Promise in the homeowner’s hand.

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Recent Transformations

Willow Glen Kitchen: From Closed-Off Galley to Open Workhorse

BeforeAfter

The home had a classic Willow Glen ranch layout: kitchen walled off from the dining room, one narrow doorway, and laminate counters peeling at the seams. We removed the load-bearing wall (engineered beam installed and permitted), reworked the plumbing to move the sink into a center island, and installed KraftMaid shaker cabinets in a warm neutral. The homeowner bakes heavily, so we spec’d a Cambria countertop with a matte finish that hides flour and a Blanco undermount sink deep enough for a sheet pan. The result is a kitchen where cooking and conversation happen in the same room, no wall in the way.

Cambrian Bathroom: Small Footprint, Bigger Daily Life

BeforeAfter

This Cambrian Park bathroom had original tile over a mud bed that had been absorbing moisture for decades. The homeowner wanted to age in place, so the tub had to go. We rebuilt the wet area with a cement board substrate (the moisture-resistant layer behind your tile) and a Schluter waterproofing membrane, then laid large-format porcelain with a linear drain to keep the floor flush. A Kohler wall-hung vanity and a comfort-height Delta toilet finished the room. The homeowner’s comment was that it finally feels like a hotel bathroom in her own house.

Rose Garden Whole-Home Refresh: Three Rooms, One Written Price

BeforeAfter

This Rose Garden home needed work in three rooms, and the owner didn’t want to juggle three contractors. We handled all of it under one written price: new Therma-Tru entry door, kitchen cabinet refacing with Wellborn doors, and a primary bath overhaul with a Toto toilet and Grohe fixtures. Matching hardware and consistent trim tied the rooms together. Because it was one contract, the homeowner knew the total before demolition started and never saw a change order.

Almaden Valley Kitchen: Replacing a Failed Flip Job

The previous contractor had left this Almaden Valley kitchen with upper cabinets 3/8 inch out of level and gaps that caught grease. We pulled the uppers, re-shimmed the rails, and reinstalled them dead level. While we were in there, the owner upgraded to soft-close hinges and full-extension drawers from KraftMaid. The fix cost a fraction of a full remodel, and now the cabinet doors close with a finger’s pressure instead of a slam. The 365-Day Done Right Promise on this repair means if anything shifts, we return at no charge.

Japantown Bathroom: Water Damage Behind an Old Fiberglass Surround

A crack in the fiberglass surround had been leaking into the wall cavity for years. When we opened the wall, the bottom plate and two studs in this Japantown bungalow were soft enough to push a screwdriver through by hand. We replaced the framing, sistered the affected joists, and rebuilt the shower with cement board and a full Schluter membrane. The new tile is a simple white subway pattern with a Moen valve the owner says finally holds temperature steady during a shower.

West San Jose Kitchen: Opening a Wall Without Losing Storage

The owner wanted the wall between the kitchen and family room gone, but feared losing cabinet space. We designed a peninsula in the same footprint as the old wall, which actually added storage: deep drawers on the family room side for board games and kids’ art supplies, cabinets on the kitchen side for pots and small appliances. The countertop is Silestone in a warm gray that hides fingerprints, and the overhang seats three on bar stools. The beam work was permitted and inspected, and the space now moves like a much larger house.

Want Results Like These?

Every project above started the same way: a conversation, a walk-through, then a written price before any work began. If you’re planning a kitchen, bathroom, or whole-home remodel in San Jose, call Trevor and the team at (669) 274-2362. We’ll bring the same standard to your house: background-checked uniformed technicians, a clean job site, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Estimates are free.

Written by Trevor Nash, Owner at Penhallow Remodeling San Jose, serving San Jose since 2004.