Renovation
Kitchens, bathrooms and whole houses across Karachi
Kitchen, bathroom and whole-house renovation in Karachi. We survey what is there, design what replaces it, and run the site until handover.
On a house in DHA Phase 6 the client wanted a new kitchen and two new bathrooms. The kitchen was really three rooms: a main kitchen, a grease kitchen and a pantry. We surveyed all of it on 19 April and photographed every wall.
We stay on the job after the drawings. Site visits, the contractor’s questions and every delivery go into a daily site log, and you can follow it, with site photos and payments, in your client portal.
Before and after
Two houses in DHA Phase 6, photographed before we started and after handover.
BeforeAfterKitchen window wall. The old cabinets stopped short of the ceiling. The new ones go all the way up, and the light comes in layers: a cove in the ceiling, strips under the wall cabinets and spots over the counter.
Grease kitchen. Louvred timber doors and a green counter gave way to plain taupe doors and a dark counter that is easy to keep clean.
Pantry door. The pantry used to open off the kitchen through a wooden door. We kept the pantry and hid the door: it is now a concealed door clad in the same tiles as the wall, to the right of the glass cabinet.
Front of the house, Hilal Residence. The stone cladding, tiled roof and timber windows came off. The front is now white render with timber fins and a black gate.
Drawing room, Hilal Residence. A whole-house renovation. The carpet, gilded sofas and crystal chandelier gave way to timber wall panels with lit reveals and low upholstered seating.
In practice
The client wanted a complete makeover of the kitchen and two bathrooms. Colours and materials went back and forth several times before they were settled, and work started on site on 20 April. When the corner kitchen cabinet arrived short on 13 May, the platform and floor tile under it were redone. The kitchen, pantry and both bathrooms were designed and built in three months.
DHA House Renovation
What’s included
Kitchen makeover
Layout, cabinets up to the ceiling where the room allows, counters, appliances and lighting in layers. A grease kitchen or pantry is planned with the main kitchen, not after it.
Bathroom makeover
Waterproofing, plumbing, tiles, vanity, mirror and lighting. On the DHA house the two bathrooms had the same footprint and opposite moods: one in dark grey marble, one in warm travertine-look tile.
Whole-house renovation
Several rooms or every floor. At Hilal Residence, a three-level house in DHA Phase 6, the structure stayed and almost everything else was redesigned.
How it fits the process
Survey
We measure and photograph every room, and check plumbing, wiring and damp before anything is drawn.
Design and drawings
Layouts, 3D views, materials and lighting. Expect a few rounds on colours and finishes; the DHA kitchen had several.
Bill of quantities and costs
Every item is measured before work starts, and spending is tracked against it.
Site
Strip-out, plumbing, tiling, ceilings and joinery. Each day goes into the site log, problems included.
Handover
We walk the rooms with you, list what still needs fixing, and close it out.
Projects
View all projects
Common questions
How much does a renovation cost in Karachi?
It depends on how much comes out and what goes back in. We quote after a site visit, once we have seen the walls, the plumbing and the wiring. For a first idea of finishing costs, try the cost calculator on this site.
How long does a kitchen or bathroom renovation take?
On a house in DHA Phase 6 we redid a main kitchen, a grease kitchen, a pantry and two bathrooms. It took three months from the first survey to handover. A single bathroom is quicker; a whole house takes longer.
Can you renovate just the kitchen or one bathroom?
Yes. A single room gets the same process, starting with a survey, because old plumbing and damp behind tiles change the plan.
Do you only design, or do you also run the site?
Both. On the DHA Phase 6 house we did the design, tracked the costs and ran the site. Every day of work went into a site log. When the corner kitchen cabinet arrived short, it was logged that morning and the platform and floor tile under it were redone.
Should I renovate or rebuild?
If the structure is sound and the layout mostly works, renovating is usually quicker and keeps more of what you paid for. If you are fighting the layout in every room, rebuilding can be the better spend. We compare the two in our journal post Renovation vs New Construction.
Can overseas or remote clients track progress easily?
Yes. Every project has a private client portal. From abroad you can approve drawings, see site photos as they come in and check what has been paid, without flying to Pakistan.
Is ZADS a licensed PCATP architectural practice in Pakistan?
Yes. Our principal architect, Abdullah Zamir, is registered with the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP Reg. No. A-09626). Drawing packages are prepared to local building bylaws: DHA, SBCA, CDA and the cantonment boards.
Related services
Interior Architecture
Interior design for Karachi homes, villas, apartments and offices: space planning, joinery, ceilings, lighting and finishes, drawn so they can be built and checked on site.
Project Management
Coordination from approvals to handover—budget, schedule, and stakeholder alignment. We coordinate with contractors, SBCA, and suppliers so your project stays on schedule and within budget.
Bill of quantities
Measured quantities and estimation support so budgets stay grounded in the drawings—not guesswork.
Tell us about your site, timeline and goals, and we will come back with next steps for renovation.
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