Last updated on December 11th, 2024 at 07:24 am

Homes in New Mexico are typically made of simple wood, brick, and stucco, with decorative details. Adobe or Pueblo kitchens feature vigas, sturdy hoods, intricate tiling, and bright color palettes of red and yellow. While many kitchens in New Mexico follow these traditional styles and colors, others take on a more modern look that still complements the classic Santa Fe style. 

Here, we list the top 15 kitchen remodeling contractors that can help you achieve that distinct Southwestern style in your kitchen. You will find general contractors, woodworkers, and design-build remodelers, all talented at creating the distinct New Mexico style. The rankings were determined primarily by the quality and number of kitchen projects completed, but other factors such as accolades, client satisfaction, and press features were also considered.


Altair Homes

6204 Wild Onion Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114

Altair Homes is a multi-awarded custom annhome builder and remodeler serving Albuquerque since 1977. Its excellent craftsmanship is seen in its impressive list of accolades, including Best Kitchen, Best Master Bath, Best Green Builder, and Silver awards from the Homes of Enchantment Parade. Altair has also been featured in publications such as New Mexico Business Weekly, Albuquerque Journal, and Su Casa.

The firm is known for building environment-friendly homes. As a Certified LEED and Green Builder by the USGBC, the firm incorporates state-of-the-art materials and green building techniques to produce cost-effective, energy efficient, and sustainable homes. The firm is mindful to accommodate nature in its designs through floor plans that move with the topography of the land. The firm is credited as the builder of the first LEED Platinum-Certified home in New Mexico. 

Adobe and Southwestern style kitchens are the specialties of the firm. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry for maximized storage, recessed ceilings, and wide windows are signature elements.


Annex General Contracting + Design

3825 Blue Ridge Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111

Design-build firm Annex General Contracting + Design started in 1992 as a subcontractor in the metal stud framing, drywall, finish carpentry, and tile trades. The firm’s principal, Kevin Evans, brought the firm into the design-build realm in 1998. Its small yet highly-experienced team of carpenters and craftsmen has gained success in remodeling, restoring, and new construction. 

Evans studied architectural drafting and design at the Phoenix Institute of Technology while working for a commercial drywall contractor. He went on to study Architecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has earned major remodeling designations, such as NAHB’s  Certified Graduate Remodeler and Certified Green Builder. The firm’s work has graced the pages of Local IQ and Su Casa. The firm was also featured in the Planet Green Channel’s “Renovation Nation” where it showcased its skills and expertise in remodeling complex projects. 

Annex is skilled at maximizing small spaces. It utilizes smart layouts in its modest kitchens for unobstructed flow of movement and better aesthetics. This 1950’s kitchen was transformed into a more functional space with a white palette infused with striking orange. A moveable island for kitchen prep can be tucked away when not in use. 


Arch Design and Remodeling

542 Vineyard Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Opened in 2010 as a full service design/remodeling business, Arch Design and Remodeling has delved into every facet of residential rework. Its projects range from aesthetic remodels of individual rooms to whole house renovations and structural upgrades. Green remodeling, universal design, and certified aging in place living modifications are also added specializations of the firm. These are all possible because of its diverse experience and education, which include NAHB’s Certified Green Professional and Certified Aging-in-Place Courses. 

Heading this award-winning firm is Lora Vassar. She holds an architecture degree and over 30 years of experience in the residential construction industry. Since 1993, she has been designing exclusively for renovation and remodeling projects. Lora is also an elected Delegate for the NAHB and has served as President of the New Mexico Home Builders Association.

Tuscan, Southwest and Santa Fe styles are prominent in the firm’s kitchen projects. This featured kitchen has a colorful backsplash made from recycled green content while natural finished cherry cabinets surround the space. The bright blue wrap-around upper shelf gives a pop of color that breaks the monotony of the beige and browns. This Home is Certified Green at the Gold level through Build Green New Mexico, and was given Honorable Mention in Qualified Remodeler. Check out their other projects here


Cornelius Construction

107 G H Stoneman Dr., Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345

Cornelius Construction is a family-owned and operated custom home builder and remodeler headed by Bill Cornelius, who established the firm in 1980. The firm has since specialized in luxurious custom homes and extensive renovations in Ruidoso and Alto areas. Cornelius is an active member of the Lincoln County Home Builders Association (LCHBA) and has served on its board for many years. 

The firm’s homes range from beautiful log and cedar homes nestled in the mountains to territorial and stucco homes in the high desert. Interiors exude European luxury through its grand fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and exquisite chandeliers. This oversized kitchen exudes rustic elegance and old-world charm through the exposed ceiling beams, wood and marble island, and pendant lights. 


Dreamstyle Remodeling

1460 Renaissance Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107

Dreamstyle Remodeling is a nationally-recognized and awarded home remodeling company based in Albuquerque. With more than 600 employees and more than 67,000 customers throughout the Western United States, it was named the number one full-service remodeling company in the country by Remodeling Magazine in 2018. The firm has also ranked among Remodeling Magazine’s 550 and Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list. Dreamstyle Remodeling has earned numerous Design Awards from Professional Remodeler. 

The firm’s founder, president, and CEO, Larry Chavez, was an accountant prior to establishing Dreamstyle Remodeling in 1989, and spent the subsequent years growing it into one of the country’s largest remodeling companies. Today, he sits among distinguished peers at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies Remodeling Futures Program Steering Committee.

The company’s kitchen remodels range from traditional rustic designs like Meditteranean and country-style kitchens to mid-century modern and contemporary spaces. It showcases artistry through symmetry of lines, colorful tile selection, and luxurious finishes. This can be seen in this Glenwood Hills kitchen remodel that won Best Body of Work in the 2018 Pro Remodeler Design Awards.


K.M. Skelly, Inc.

10 Calle Cantando, Santa Fe, NM 87508

K.M. Skelly is a Santa-Fe based general contractor notable for its kitchen and bathroom remodels as well as historic renovations. The firm’s strength lies in its accuracy in detail resulting in exemplary renovations. For this, it has won awards for Excellence in Remodeling and Historic Whole House Remodel from the Home Builders Association of Santa Fe.

The firm’s founder and owner, Kevin Skelly, is a veteran in the homebuilding industry. He has 35 years of experience and is a Certified Green Professional and Graduate Master Builder. Having lived in Santa Fe for 19 years, he has mastered the city’s distinct style, which incorporates simple lines and reflects the landscape’s natural beauty.

This style is also evident in the firm’s kitchen remodels. This Mediterranean inspired space in an adobe home is a perfect mix of old-world and modern. The viga or exposed beams and the kiva-style hood is distinctly Santa Fe, while clean lines in the cabinetry and white color scheme give a modern touch. 


Marc Sowers Bespoke Woodwork

3600 Osuna Rd. Suite #409, Albuquerque, NM 87109

Marc Sowers is a third-generation Albuquerque-based custom woodworker. He learned the trade from his father, Craig, who designed and created custom and innovative kitchens. Sowers established Bespoke Woodwork to continue his father’s legacy. With over 20 years of experience, the firm has created high-end new and remodeled kitchens all over Albuquerque and Santa Fe. 

The firm’s kitchen portfolio is wide-ranging in design and architecture. Sower’s impeccable woodwork is often the focal point in the firm’s kitchens. It prides itself on building truly bespoke spaces that reflect its clients’ personalities and lifestyles. Aside from kitchens, the firm also does bathroom remodeling, as well as specialty rooms and spaces such as bars and basements. 

The firm’s attention to detail is evident in this kitchen, which was beautifully designed with salamander green double kitchen islands completed by the Calcutta quartz countertops and brass pulls. Marc Sowers Bespoke Woodwork also installed custom cabinetry and range hood, contrasted by the geometric stainless steel and marble backsplash. 


More Brothers Construction

1000 Diamond Back Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodels, More Brothers Construction has been bringing classic redesigns to Albuquerque residents since 1997. Under the leadership of owner Kyle Tidmore, the firm has become an award-winning remodeler of the HBA of New Mexico. Its zen bathrooms and timeless kitchens have won in the Parade of Homes for three years in a row since 2016. 

The firm’s renovation of a one-of-a-kind High Dessert kitchen was recently featured in SuCasa. The firm updated the space but retained its bones, lines, and the unique circular island. It successfully reworked part of the curved wall so handmade cabinets will better fit the radius. The white ice granite gives a stark contrast to the warm space. 


Palo Santo Designs

1300 Rufina Circle unit B3. Santa Fe NM. 87507

Palo Santo Designs is one of Santa Fe’s premier general contractors. It boasts an impressive list of accolades, including multiple green building awards from the USGBC; Grand Green Awards and Best Craftsmanship Awards from the Haciendas – A Parade of Homes; and Excellence in Remodeling Awards. Aside from its renovations and remodels, it is notable for having built a number of LEED Certified Platinum houses in the Santa Fe region. 

Mark Giorgetti and Brandon Snoy lead the firm and its team of highly experienced designers and project managers in completing every architecturally and environmentally-sound home. Giorgetti founded the firm two decades ago and has 20 years of hands-on construction experience. Snoy serves as COO of the company. He is also the current president of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.

Featured here is the firm’s Tesuque remodel. The firm transformed the home by creating a more fluid floor plan. The home originally had two small awkward kitchens, which the firm combined into one modern space decked with a combination of innovative finishes—copper, soapstone, and boxcar planks. The project earned a 2015 Remodelers Showcase Excellence in Remodeling Grand Award for Whole House Remodel and Best Kitchen. 


Prull Builders

3204 Calle Marie, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87507

Prull Builders is one of Santa Fe’s oldest builders. This highly respected firm has been building, restoring and remodeling architect-designed homes and buildings for 38 years, and has been continuously recognized with top honors. These include the AIA Excellence in Design Awards, Haciendas Parade of Homes, Santa Fe Excellence in Remodeling and the Santa Fe Historic Preservation Awards. 

President and co-owner William Prull developed his passion for building at age 16, when working at local hardware stores in his home in New Jersey. Soon after moving to Santa Fe, he started his remodeling company. He then added services in custom home building and pioneered the green building movement in the area by building passive solar homes. 

Aside from making a name in green home building, the firm also specializes in custom remodels, ranging from kitchen and bathrooms to whole-house renovations. The firm’s award-winning kitchens can range from traditional adobe and pueblo kitchens in warm tones to bright open contemporary kitchens. In the featured kitchen, the firm married the two styles effectively for a more functional space. The red kitchen island, traditional rugs, and warm wood on the floor gives a nice contrast to the airy feel of the kitchen.


PWKI Design-Build

07 Bosque Rd., Algodones, NM 87001

PWKI Design-Build is a custom home builder and renovator known for its ultra-modern and contemporary homes throughout New Mexico. The firm was established by Paul W. Kenderdine, who has worked with superstar architects like Jon Anderson, Antoine Predock, George Pearl, Rick Joy, Berry Langford, and Robert Zachry.

For 30 years, the firm’s unique and progressive construction projects have won awards in the Homes of Enchantment Parade, the Spring Homes of Enchantment Parade, and the American Institute of Architects. PWKI Design Build has also received the Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture. The firm is also a favorite of many home magazines like SuCasa, High Desert Magazine, American Builders Quarterly, and Residential Design. 

Like most of its designs, kitchen remodels from the firm are luxe modern spaces. In this transformed adobe residence, the kitchen is situated in an open layout perfect for entertaining. Butt-glazed windows capitalize on unobstructed scenic views. The focal point of the space is the black and white granite countertop, which provides striking visual texture and a nice contrast to the kitchen’s stark white palette and clean lines. 


Remington Homes

111 Chelsea Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345

From major reconstruction work to design updates, Remington Homes is capable of bringing a client’s dream kitchen to life. The family-owned business has been operating since 1977 under the watchful leadership of Glenn Remington.  A longtime resident of Ruidoso, he is passionate about his family, the community, and quality carpentry. He established the firm with the aim to serve the Ruidoso, Alto, and surrounding areas with new home construction, renovations, remodels, and a full line of construction services.

The firm is remarkably skilled at incorporating small details that contribute greatly to the overall appeal of a kitchen. It also favors adobe and southwestern styles. In this traditional kitchen, a custom hood and an ornate backsplash draw the eye and bring out the old-world charm, while a pop of yellow warms the space. 


Rutherford Design & Construction

3408 Vista Alameda Suite C, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Rutherford Design & Construction is a design-build firm offering full residential and commercial construction services throughout New Mexico, with a focus on the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Its exceptional custom homes and renovations have won awards from the HBA of Santa Fe Area. Most recently, it earned seven awards in the Spring 2018 Homes of Enchantment Parade. 

The firm’s principal, Ric Rutherford, began remodeling homes in 1993 and soon branched out into new homes and commercial construction. His designs are a product of his extensive travels around the world. He has brought home designs and styles from Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, among others. 

With the firm’s homes’ varied styles, its kitchen remodels are no exception. French Country, Tuscan, Adobe, and Contemporary kitchens fill this firm’s portfolio. The company also likes to play with light, as exhibited in this featured project. The once dark kitchen was transformed into a light-filled open space, courtesy of a skylight and pendant lights. A custom butcher block counter serves as a warm focal point. 


Wolf Corporation

1216 Parkway, Santa Fe, NM 87507

Construction veteran John C. Wolf started his career as a carpenter working in high-rise construction projects like the Hancock Center and the Standard Oil Building in downtown Chicago. He soon established his own company in Chicago, and later moved to New Mexico, where he founded Wolf Corporation in 1981.

The firm’s projects range from ultra-contemporary custom homes to delicate historic restorations. The firm’s renovation projects have earned Heritage Preservation Awards from the City of Santa Fe and the State of New Mexico, as well as LEED Gold Certification from the USGBC. Moreover, Wolf has made a mark in the remodeling TV scene as a co-host of HGTV’s This Old House Season 11. 

The firm is able to cleverly blend modern design with traditional architecture. This sleek kitchen is part of the whole house renovation of the historic Francisca Hinojos House. After a devastating fire, the firm meticulously restored the facade of the house built in 1880. Inside, the firm modernized the home to create a kitchen fit for today’s lifestyle. The space features a large island, burnished cabinets, and state-of-the-art appliances. 


Author

  • Shahe is an Editor at General Contractors with around four years of experience as a writer and editor in the construction space. Shahe has always had a huge interest in commercial/residential construction and real estate. On top of his experience at General Contractors, he has two years of experience as a Construction Partner Specialist at BuildZoom and six years of experience as a licensed real estate agent. In his work, he takes advantage of his expertise to take complex technical jargon from those realms and transform them into accessible, engaging content, blending his business administration expertise with a degree from Arizona State University with his experiential insights. Expertise: Architecture, Home Design and Build, Home Remodeling Key Highlights: Arizona Real Estate - Licensed Salesperson Education: Arizona State University - Bachelors in Business Administration

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