Antonio Celenza Home Improvement in Baltimore: Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling with Licensed Contracting

Antonio Celenza Home Improvement is a licensed general contractor operating in Baltimore who specializes in kitchen and bathroom renovations for homeowners, with a focus on mid-range remodels that balance material choice with labor cost.

What Antonio Celenza Home Improvement actually is

This is a single-owner operation run by Antonio Celenza, a Maryland-licensed general contractor who handles full-scope kitchen and bathroom projects from design consultation through permit filing and final inspection. The business does not advertise a showroom or take on large commercial work; the focus is residential interior remodeling in Baltimore neighborhoods including Canton, Fells Point, and Hampden. Celenza works with homeowners at the point where they have decided to remodel but need someone to handle the city permitting process, coordinate with subcontractors (plumbing, electrical, tile), and manage the timeline.

Services and pricing structure

Kitchen remodels run from approximately $25,000 for a mid-range layout change with new cabinetry and countertops, to $50,000 and above for full gut renovations that include new windows, flooring, and appliances. Bathroom remodels typically fall between $12,000 and $35,000 depending on whether the project involves a simple vanity and tile update or a full layout change with new plumbing rough-in.

Pricing is project-based, not hourly. Celenza provides a written estimate after an in-home consultation. A verification visit is necessary because material costs fluctuate; confirm current pricing directly. The estimate includes labor, materials, permits, and a contingency allowance for unforeseen structural or code issues discovered during demolition.

Kitchen projects often include cabinetry selection from semi-custom lines like Kraftmaid or Merillat, with homeowners choosing between stock finishes and custom stain or paint upgrades. Bathroom work typically involves ceramic or porcelain tile selection, with Celenza coordinating installation through a licensed tile contractor. He does not fabricate or source custom tile work in-house but can manage the full contractor role, meaning the homeowner deals with one point of contact rather than juggling separate bids.

How Celenza compares to other Baltimore general contractors

Baltimore has two broad categories of kitchen and bath contractors: large renovation companies like Kitchen Kraft or Cornerstone Design Build, which carry higher overhead and advertise extensively; and independent contractors operating without showrooms or design staff, who charge less but require the homeowner to handle more coordination.

Celenza sits in the middle. Unlike Kitchen Kraft (which operates a design showroom in Canton and often bundles custom cabinetry), Celenza works with standard cabinet lines and lets homeowners choose materials independently or through his vendor relationships. This approach typically costs 15 to 25 percent less than full-service design-build firms for comparable finishes. Unlike solo handymen who may lack general contractor licensing, Celenza carries the state license required to pull permits and supervise electrical and plumbing subwork in Baltimore, a requirement the city enforces through inspections at rough-in and final stages.

Choose Celenza if you want a licensed contractor to manage a straightforward kitchen or bathroom remodel without paying for a design studio or high-end custom millwork. Choose Kitchen Kraft if you want in-house design services and semi-custom cabinetry handled entirely on-site. Choose an unlicensed handyman only if your project is cosmetic (paint, fixture swap) and does not require permits.

Who this suits and who it does not

Celenza's work suits homeowners planning a single-room remodel on a 12-to-16-week timeline who can make material selections before construction starts. His strength is managing the permitting maze specific to Baltimore row homes, where structural surprises are common and city inspectors require licensed contractor signatures on permit forms.

This service does not suit homeowners who want architectural design from scratch, those planning a full-house renovation (he does not scale to that scope), or buyers who cannot finalize material choices before the contract is signed. Celenza does not manage interior design consultation; the expectation is that the homeowner has a clear vision or works with a separate designer.

What the first visit involves

A phone inquiry typically leads to a brief conversation about scope, timeline, and approximate budget. Celenza then schedules a 30- to 45-minute home visit to measure the space, assess the current plumbing and electrical layout, and identify potential code or structural constraints. He explains the permit process specific to Baltimore (including the requirement for a master plumber and electrician sign-off on certain work). Based on that visit, he provides a written estimate within one week.

If the homeowner accepts the estimate, a contract is signed, permits are filed, and a demolition and construction timeline is set. The homeowner is expected to be present on the first day for a walk-through documenting the existing conditions, and periodic inspections by the city are scheduled at rough-in and final stages.

Hours, location, and logistics

Celenza operates by appointment; there is no storefront walk-in. He is reachable by phone and email to schedule the initial consultation. Most project communication happens on-site during construction, which typically runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with two weeks of lead time before work starts. Permits and inspections are handled by Celenza; the homeowner does not need to take time off work for the city inspector's visit.

Parking during construction uses the homeowner's driveway or street space. Celenza arranges dumpster rental as part of the project fee; the homeowner does not coordinate this separately.

For a Baltimore homeowner facing the specific combination of navigating city permits, coordinating licensed subcontractors, and finishing a mid-range kitchen or bathroom remodel in a reasonable timeline, Celenza removes the administrative friction that makes owner-directed renovation frustrating.