39.73° N104.83° WArapahoe County (also Adams and Douglas counties)
Aurora Kitchen Design for a City That Spans Three Counties
We bring Aurora kitchen design, custom cabinetry and remodeling to homes throughout Aurora and nearby Foxfield and Centennial. As Colorado's third-largest city, stretching across Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties, Aurora covers everything from small postwar houses near East Colfax to brand-new neighborhoods out past E-470. A kitchen plan that suits one end of the city rarely suits the other.
Homes in Aurora
Aurora's Housing, Neighborhood by Neighborhood
Aurora grew from west to east and north to south. Roughly speaking, the further you go from the original town near Colfax, the newer the house and the bigger the kitchen.
- 1940s to 1950s
Postwar ranch in original Aurora
North Aurora, around Colfax and in subdivisions like Hoffman Heights, is full of modest single-story ranches built after the war. The kitchens are small and enclosed, sometimes with a chimney or a furnace chase in the way. Gaining space usually means borrowing from the dining room. Every inch counts, so we often plan full-height storage, drawers instead of base shelves, and a counter-depth refrigerator.
- 1960s to 1970s
Split-levels and early two-stories
Central Aurora filled in with split-levels and two-stories, often with a kitchen squeezed between the dining room and a family room down a few steps. These plans often have a wall that's worth opening and a soffit worth removing. They also tend to have aging gas lines and wiring, which we plan for when a new range or extra circuits are on the list.
- 1980s to 1990s
1980s and 1990s suburban two-story
South of the older core, toward Cherry Creek State Park and beyond, the houses get larger, with kitchens open to a family room and a breakfast nook. The layout usually works on paper but suffers from a short island, little pantry space and builder-grade cabinetry nearing the end of its life. A new layout within the same footprint often does the job.
- late 1990s onward
Southeast Aurora master-planned homes
Southeast Aurora, including golf and planned communities like Saddle Rock and Tallyn's Reach, brought larger homes, many with walkout basements and views west across the metro to the mountains. Here the kitchen is already generous, so the work is in refinement: replacing builder finishes, adding a scullery or a coffee station, integrating appliances, and setting the island to face the view.
Designing for Aurora
What Matters in an Aurora Kitchen
- 01
HOA review in newer neighborhoods
Many of Aurora's newer neighborhoods have homeowners associations with architectural guidelines. They usually care about the exterior: a new range hood vent through the siding, a window change, a new patio door or an outdoor kitchen. Interior remodels typically don't need their approval, but read your covenants and submit any exterior changes early.
- 02
Three counties, one city building department
Aurora spans three counties, but homes inside the city limits generally deal with the city's building department for permits rather than the county. Structural, gas, electrical and plumbing work all typically need a permit. Some properties with an Aurora address are actually in unincorporated areas, so check your parcel.
- 03
Strong sun on west-facing kitchens
At around 5,400 feet, and higher on the southeast side, the sun is intense, and homes with mountain views usually take the afternoon glare that comes with them. We plan window treatments with the kitchen, keep open shelving and fade-prone timbers out of direct western light, and pick countertop finishes that don't bounce glare across the room.
- 04
Dry air and older services
The semi-arid climate dries interiors through the heating season, so timber and cabinetry need time to acclimate before installation. In older north and central Aurora homes, the electrical panel and gas service may also need upgrades before a larger range, an induction cooktop or extra appliance circuits can go in. We check that early.
How We Approach Aurora Kitchens
In a postwar ranch, designing the kitchen around how you cook usually means making a small footprint work much harder. In a southeast Aurora home, it means organizing a large room so it stays calm and efficient.
Our made-to-measure cabinetry handles both ends of that range. Small kitchens get full-height storage and fitted interiors. Larger ones get panel-ready appliances, pantry walls and islands with furniture-like detail.
When walls, gas lines or wiring need to change, we treat it as a kitchen remodel from the studs out and coordinate the city's permits and any HOA review. Our notes on countertops, timber and finishes explain what holds up best in this climate.
To the west, read about kitchen design in Cherry Hills Village, where estate homes bring a different set of questions. To the northwest, our page on Denver kitchens covers older city neighborhoods and historic homes. When you're ready, set up a consultation and bring photos of the kitchen you have now.
Also covered from this page
Aurora and Nearby Communities
- Foxfield
- Centennial
This page also covers Foxfield, a small town in Arapahoe County where homes sit on acreage-sized lots, and Centennial to the west, a city whose neighborhoods range from 1970s and 1980s suburban homes to newer subdivisions near E-470.
Questions
Aurora Kitchen Questions
01How can I make a small kitchen in a postwar Aurora ranch feel bigger?
Start by looking at the wall to the dining room, since borrowing that space is often the most effective change. Then plan storage carefully, with drawers instead of base shelves, cabinets to the ceiling and a counter-depth refrigerator. Light-reflective finishes and good under-cabinet lighting help the room feel larger.
02Do I need HOA approval for a kitchen remodel in southeast Aurora?
Usually only for exterior changes, such as a new hood vent through the wall, a different window or an outdoor kitchen. Interior work like cabinetry and counters typically doesn't need HOA approval. Read your covenants or check with your association before finalizing the plan.
03Is it worth replacing the builder-grade kitchen in a newer Aurora home?
Often the layout is sound but the cabinetry, island size and appliance choices are basic. Replacing those within the same footprint can make the kitchen feel custom without moving plumbing or walls. We look at what works first and keep it.
04Will my older Aurora home need electrical upgrades for a new kitchen?
Many homes built in the 1950s to 1970s have panels and circuits sized for a simpler kitchen. Induction cooktops, double ovens and extra appliances may need new circuits or a panel upgrade. An electrician confirms what your house needs early in the design.
05How do you design a kitchen around mountain views in southeast Aurora?
We orient the island or sink toward the west windows, keep upper cabinets off that wall and plan for the afternoon sun. Window treatments, UV-resistant finishes and careful placement of timber surfaces keep the view without the fading and glare.
Planning a kitchen in Aurora?
Bring the floor plan, the photos you've saved and a list of what frustrates you about the room you have. That list is where good briefs begin.
Schedule a consultation