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Kitchen Design in Lakewood, Shaped by Split-Levels and Foothill Views
We provide Lakewood kitchen design, custom cabinetry and kitchen remodeling for homes from the older ranches near the Denver line to the houses on Green Mountain. The city sits against the hogback and the foothills, and most of its kitchens were built for a different way of living than the one their owners want now.
Homes in Lakewood
Lakewood's Housing, Decade by Decade
Lakewood grew quickly after the war and wasn't incorporated as a city until 1969. The result is several decades of suburban building laid side by side, each with its own kind of kitchen.
- 1950s to 1960s
Post-War Ranches
Single-story ranches, many in brick or brick and frame, fill neighborhoods across central and east Lakewood. Kitchens are galley or L-shaped and closed, usually sharing one wall with the living room. Many of these houses have a basement below, which makes moving a sink or running new ductwork far simpler than it would be on a slab.
- 1960s to 1970s
Split-Levels and Bi-Levels
Tri-levels and bi-levels put the kitchen on the main floor, a half flight above the family room and a half flight below the bedrooms. Walls are short and the stair takes a bite out of the plan. The change that does the most is usually removing the wall between kitchen and living room, then placing the island so it doesn't crowd the top of the stair.
- 1970s to 1980s
Green Mountain and Southwest Lakewood
Many homes on and around Green Mountain sit on slopes, with views east over the city or west toward the hogback. Their kitchens often carry soffits, oak cabinetry and windows smaller than the view deserves. Reorganizing the room so the sink or seating faces out is the main opportunity, followed by storage that actually reaches the ceiling.
- 2000s to today
Belmar and Newer Infill
Belmar replaced the old Villa Italia mall with a walkable mixed-use district in the 2000s, bringing townhomes and condos with open kitchens. Elsewhere, rebuilt homes and townhomes are going up on older lots. Here the kitchen is always on view from the living space, so the task is making it look composed while hiding the clutter of daily cooking.
Designing for Lakewood
Planning a Kitchen in Lakewood
- 01
The View West and the Light That Comes With It
Lakewood's best views face the foothills, and so does its hardest light. High-altitude sun is strong, and west-facing glass brings glare and heat into the kitchen in the late afternoon, right when dinner is underway. We think about where the cook stands relative to that glass, choose finishes and countertops that hold up to UV, and plan shades or window film from the start.
- 02
Altitude Changes Between Lakewood and Evergreen
Lakewood sits at roughly 5,500 feet, while Evergreen is above 7,000. Many gas ranges and cooktops need a high-altitude adjustment, and manufacturers set it by elevation, so the right configuration can differ between the two. The air is dry at both, which is why solid-wood cabinetry should acclimate in the house before it's installed.
- 03
Load-Bearing Walls in Split-Levels
The wall people want gone in a split-level often sits under the upper floor or carries roof load. Removing it is usually possible with a beam, but the beam's depth decides whether it hides in the ceiling or drops below it. An engineer sizes it and the city's building division permits it, so we get that answer before drawing the island.
- 04
A Drop Zone Between Garage and Kitchen
With Bear Creek Lake Park, Red Rocks and the foothill trails close by, many Lakewood households come in through the garage carrying bikes, packs and muddy boots. A bench, hooks and a tall cabinet between the garage door and the kitchen keep that gear off the island. In a ranch or tri-level, the space often comes from a laundry nook or hall closet.
Our Services for Lakewood Homes
Our kitchen design service begins with the house's age and shape. A ranch over a full basement and a tri-level with a half stair need very different plans, even when their square footage matches.
We draw custom cabinets made for the house rather than fitting stock boxes around a soffit. In a 1970s kitchen that often means opening the soffit, seeing what's inside, and taking the cabinetry all the way up.
Where walls, plumbing or gas lines move, we handle the work as a kitchen remodel managed start to finish. Stone, wood and hardware choices are laid out on our materials and finishes page, which is a good place to start a shortlist.
East of Lakewood, kitchen design in Denver means brick Squares, bungalows and narrow new builds. To the north, we cover Arvada kitchen design from Olde Town to the newer northwest neighborhoods. When you're ready, schedule a design consultation and bring photos of the room.
Also covered from this page
Lakewood and Nearby Communities
- Wheat Ridge
- Golden
- Morrison
- Evergreen
From this page we also cover Wheat Ridge, known for its post-war ranches on generous lots; Golden, where older homes near downtown sit alongside newer ones on the hillsides; Morrison, the small town below Red Rocks; and Evergreen, where mountain homes above 7,000 feet bring their own altitude and view questions to the kitchen.
Questions
Lakewood Kitchen Questions
01Can I open up the kitchen in a Lakewood split-level?
Usually, yes. The main-floor kitchen in a tri-level or bi-level often shares a wall with the living room, and removing it changes the house more than anything else you could do. Expect an engineered beam if the wall carries load, and plan the island so the path from the stair stays clear.
02What should I do with the soffits in a 1970s Lakewood kitchen?
Find out what's in them first. Soffits often hide ducts or vent pipes, and sometimes nothing at all. Empty ones can come out so cabinetry runs to the ceiling; ones that carry ductwork can sometimes be rerouted, or redesigned as a deliberate crown or hood surround.
03Is a kitchen in Evergreen planned differently from one in Lakewood?
In a few ways. Evergreen is well above Lakewood's elevation, so gas appliances may need a different altitude setup than the same model would in town, and the manufacturer's specifications govern it. Mountain homes also tend to orient toward views and decks, so the kitchen often wants an outside door near the cooking zone.
04How do I handle west-facing windows in a Lakewood kitchen?
Keep the view and manage the light. We avoid putting the main prep zone where the cook faces low sun in the late afternoon, choose countertops and finishes that won't fade, and plan shades or film from the start. Open shelving and natural wood will change color in direct western sun, so they go on other walls.
05Who issues permits for a kitchen remodel in Lakewood?
Work that moves walls, plumbing, gas or wiring typically needs a permit from the City of Lakewood, while cosmetic changes like new cabinet doors usually don't. Some homes with a Lakewood mailing address sit in unincorporated Jefferson County, which permits through the county instead. Confirm which jurisdiction covers your address before you plan the schedule.
Planning a kitchen in Lakewood?
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