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Fort Collins Kitchen Co

Kitchen Work

Small and Galley Kitchen Remodel in Fort Collins

Getting real storage and real counter space out of a compact kitchen, without pretending it is bigger than it is.

Compact kitchens reward planning far more than budget. A galley in an older Fort Collins bungalow or a condo kitchen near campus has fixed dimensions, and the win comes from using vertical space, choosing a 24 inch counter-depth refrigerator instead of a 36 inch box that eats the aisle, and putting drawers where doors used to be. Small kitchen remodels here typically run $22,000 to $48,000 for a full rebuild, and a great deal of that is fixed cost: the plumber, the electrician, the permit, and the inspections cost about the same in 80 square feet as in 200. The design work is where the money shows.

What the scope covers

  • Included in scope Layout tested against real clearances before anything is ordered
  • Included in scope Full-height cabinetry to the ceiling, with the top bank on pullouts or lift hardware
  • Included in scope Drawer banks in place of base doors so the back of the cabinet is reachable
  • Included in scope Counter-depth or slim appliances specified where the aisle cannot afford full depth
  • Included in scope Undercabinet lighting so the counter is not shaded by the person standing at it
  • Included in scope Corner solutions you can reach into, rather than a lazy Susan nobody uses
  • Included in scope Single-run or galley layouts planned so two people can pass without a collision

Setting your expectation before the quote arrives

The figures above describe what this scope costs around Fort Collins when the work is permitted and run by a licensed contractor. Work through the cost calculator to set a number in your own head first, and read the Fort Collins kitchen remodel guide for how the local build sequence and the permit process run.

Questions about small kitchens

How much aisle do we need between counters in a galley?

NKBA planning guidelines call for a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for two, and a walkway of at least 36 inches where no work happens. Below 36 inches a galley starts to feel like a corridor and an open dishwasher door blocks it entirely. If the room cannot give you 42, a single-run layout with everything on one wall is usually better than two cramped runs.

Does a small kitchen cost proportionally less?

No, and that surprises people. Cabinetry and countertops scale with size, but the trades do not. The electrician still runs the small-appliance circuits, the plumber still moves the sink, the inspector still comes out, and the crew still spends a week on demolition and rough-in. Expect the per-square-foot figure to look high and the total to still be the lowest on this page.

Is an island possible in a small kitchen?

Only if the clearance survives it. An island needs 42 inches of clear aisle on the working sides, which means a room narrower than about 12 feet usually cannot take one without making the kitchen worse. A peninsula off an existing run, or a narrow rolling work table, gives most of the benefit without the clearance penalty.

What gives the biggest gain in a compact kitchen?

Drawers, then lighting, then the refrigerator. Deep drawers make the entire base cabinet reachable instead of the front third. Undercabinet lighting removes the shadow you cast on your own counter. And a counter-depth refrigerator gives back a full foot of aisle in a room where a foot is the difference between passable and awkward.

From the Notebook

More reading on small kitchens

The Best Time of Year for a Fort Collins Kitchen Remodel

Snow, holiday timing, and contractor scheduling cycles all shape when to start a Northern Colorado kitchen remodel. Here is how the seasons really play out.

Why the Cabinet Order Sets Your Kitchen Start Date

Cabinet lead time, not crew availability, decides when a Fort Collins kitchen remodel can start, and how stock, semi-custom, and custom timelines compare.

What Dry Colorado Air Does to Your Kitchen Cabinets

Fort Collins winters run low on indoor humidity, and wood cabinetry moves with it. What to specify, seal, and acclimate to protect a Northern Colorado kitchen.

Other Scopes

Where else the budget could go

Most kitchens come down to one decision: change the surfaces, or change the room. Reading the neighbouring scope is usually what settles which one you are buying.

Full Kitchen Remodel

Everything out, everything new: cabinets, counters, appliances, floor, lighting, and the wiring behind them

Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

New boxes in the same footprint, the fastest way to change how a kitchen works without moving plumbing

Countertop Replacement

New quartz, granite, or solid surface on existing cabinets, usually finished within a month of template

Open Concept Kitchen Conversion

Taking out the wall between kitchen and living space, with the beam, the permit, and the inspection that go with it

Start your kitchen with a free quote

Call (970) 305-3265 or use the quote form. A local kitchen remodeler comes out, measures, and puts a price in writing.

Call (970) 305-3265 Get a free quote