A 1990s layout with a peninsula and soffits
Soffits, a small peninsula and a desk nook are common in 1990s kitchens. We plan around any ducts in the soffits and reuse the nook as pantry or coffee storage.
Serving Aurora & nearby Batavia, Warrenville
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Aurora, IL
Measured layouts, 3D views and an appliance plan for your Aurora kitchen, drawn before anything is ordered.
- Local crews working in Aurora ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Layout problems we solve in Aurora kitchens
Most of what makes a kitchen work is decided on paper: where the sink sits, how wide the aisles are, which drawer holds the pots. We measure your Aurora kitchen, sketch a few layout options and refine one into drawings our crew builds from.
Aisles that are too tight or too wide
Two people can't pass and the dishwasher door blocks the walkway. We size the aisles for how many cooks you have, usually around 42 inches for one and wider for two.
Narrow galley kitchen
We work galley kitchens hard: shallow pantry cabinets, cabinets to the ceiling, a counter-depth fridge and, where a wall allows, an opening to the next room.
Lighting and outlets planned as an afterthought
Outlets that land behind the coffee maker and a single switch for the whole room come from skipping the electrical plan. Ours shows every light, switch and outlet.
Sink and range on the same wall
If the sink and stove fight for the same strip of counter, we split them: a prep sink, a peninsula or a re-planned run gives each its own working space.
You can't picture the finished room
Floor plans are hard to read. We show you 3D views from where you will actually stand, so you can see sight lines, island size and cabinet heights before ordering.
Appliances chosen too late
Specs first, cabinets second. We confirm the exact appliances, their clearances and their hookups before the cabinet order is final.
No room for an island
We check the floor space first. A smaller island, a peninsula or a table at counter height can give the same seating and prep space without the squeeze.
Everything in a kitchen design
- Needs and habits interviewA conversation about your routine, your storage and your wish list, written down as the brief.
- Layout optionsSeveral floor-plan options with the trade-offs of each, so you choose the direction.
- Appliance planWe fix the appliance list early and check each opening, circuit and duct run.
- Lighting and electrical planRecessed lights, pendants, under-cabinet lighting, switches and outlets placed on the drawings.
- Material selectionsHelp choosing door style, finish, counters, backsplash, flooring and hardware that work together.
- Drawings for permit and constructionPlan and elevation drawings our crew builds from, plus what the village needs when the work requires a permit.
- Written, itemized estimateThe finished plan comes with a detailed written estimate you can adjust by line.
Materials and options
L-shaped layout with an islandThe most common plan in suburban homes: two walls of cabinets and an island for prep and seating.
U-shaped layoutCabinets on three sides, a good choice for a closed kitchen where one cook does most of the work.
Peninsula instead of an islandGives most of an island's benefits in rooms that can't spare the floor space.
Galley layoutParallel counters with a center aisle; compact and quick to work in when planned right.
Shaker and slab cabinet stylesThe two door styles we draw most often, shown in 3D in your colors.
Kitchens like yours in Aurora: before and after
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Design & Layout Planning in a 1980s two-story, Aurora
The site: a 1980s two-story near Tanner. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip and almond appliances. The reason for the call: cabinets and a layout that no longer fit how they cook. After: a new layout with an island, cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers, warm walnut butcher block counters and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered needs and habits interview, appliance plan, plus written, itemized estimate.
Before
AfterA Warrenville 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story near Timber Creek. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim, white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines and white appliances. The main complaint was a cramped layout and storage that didn't work. The result: a new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. On site this meant layout options, appliance plan, plus lighting and electrical plan.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Warrenville →
Before
AfterA Geneva 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Mill Creek. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and black appliances. The main complaint was a kitchen closed off from the rest of the house. After: a new layout with an island, cabinets in light warm taupe, warm walnut butcher block counters and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered lighting and electrical plan, material selections, plus written, itemized estimate.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Aurora
Cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Aurora →
Before
AfterAurora kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: custom kitchen cabinets
Built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in charcoal gray with polished nickel pulls and dark soapstone-look quartz counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Aurora →How your kitchen design goes
- Measure and listenA walk-through with a tape measure and your wish list in hand.
- Layout optionsYou compare layout concepts and pick the one to develop.
- 3D views and selectionsThe chosen plan becomes 3D views, and we pick cabinets, counters and finishes together.
- Final drawings and estimateConstruction and permit drawings plus a written, itemized estimate for the build.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning questions from Aurora homeowners
How much does kitchen design cost?
There's no flat answer without seeing the room. After measuring, we send a written estimate that lists the design work and the build separately.
Can I just use a free kitchen design app?
Use one to play with layouts, then let us confirm it. Most app layouts need changes once clearances and hookups are measured.
Do you build the kitchen you design?
Yes. The plan, the estimate and the construction all come from us, with one point of contact.
Do I need a designer if I already know what I want?
Knowing your style is half of it. The other half is clearances, appliance specs and storage, and that is what our plan nails down.
Which layout suits my kitchen: galley, L, U or island?
It depends on the room's shape, the doorways and how many people cook. We usually draw two or three options so you can compare them on your own floor plan.
Which Aurora homes do you most often see for kitchen design?
In Aurora we see Victorian, Prairie School, Sears catalog homes and Lustron steel houses. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Aurora contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must be registered/licensed with the City (application, required testing if applicable, proof of insurance naming the City as additional insured). Homeowners may act as own contractor if owner-occupied 6+ months with a Homeowner Liability Waiver. We take care of that before work starts.
Aurora building permit for kitchen design: where do I apply?
Permits go through Division of Building and Permits, City of Aurora, phone (630) 256-3130. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen design in Aurora?
It depends on the scope. Aurora's rule in short: Interior remodels, structural changes and interior plumbing always need a permit; electrical/mechanical may. We handle the permit when one is needed with Division of Building and Permits, City of Aurora.
Do you work in my part of Aurora?
Yes. Our crews work across Aurora, including Near Eastside, Tanner, Riddle Highlands, Palace Street — ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503 — and nearby Batavia, Warrenville, Naperville.
Working in Aurora
- A lot of Aurora kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Aurora homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Near EastsideTannerRiddle HighlandsPalace StreetWest SideFar East Side
ZIP 60506ZIP 60502ZIP 60505ZIP 60504ZIP 60503
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning nearby
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Other kitchen services in Aurora
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Custom Kitchen CabinetsBuilt-to-fit cabinetry up to the ceiling.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula InstallationNew islands and peninsulas with seating and storage.
Accessible Kitchen RemodelingKitchens that work for every age and ability.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.