Small Kitchen Guide
Remodeling a Small Kitchen in New York
Small kitchens are common in New York — condos, co-ops, older colonials, and cape cods. Here's how to renovate them effectively and what you'll spend.
Design principles for small kitchens
Full-height cabinetry
Cabinets that run to the ceiling (with or without crown molding) eliminate the dead space above standard upper cabinets and add 20–30% more storage.
Light perimeter, dark island
Light-colored perimeter cabinets open up a small space visually. If there's room for an island (even a mobile one), a contrasting darker color grounds it and creates a focal point.
Frameless construction
Frameless (European-style) cabinets provide approximately 15% more interior space than face-frame cabinets of the same exterior dimension. Worth specifying in tight kitchens.
Open shelving in select areas
Replacing two upper cabinets with open shelves creates visual breathing room without sacrificing storage if you use the shelves strategically.
Integrated appliances
Paneled refrigerator and dishwasher faces blend appliances into the cabinetry run, reducing visual clutter significantly in small kitchens.
Large-format flooring
24×24 or 24×48 tile makes a small kitchen feel significantly larger than smaller tiles. Avoid busy patterns and grout colors that break up the floor visually.
Cost of a small kitchen renovation in NY
$25,000–$40,000
Budget small kitchen renovation
Semi-custom cabinetry (Fabuwood, Kemper), quartz countertop, tile backsplash, new fixtures. No structural changes.
$40,000–$65,000
Mid-range small kitchen renovation
Premium semi-custom (KraftMaid, Medallion), quartz or stone countertop, specialty tile, lighting upgrade.
$65,000–$100,000+
Luxury small kitchen renovation
Custom cabinetry (Wood-Mode, Cabico), natural stone, integrated appliances, custom paneling. Small space, premium finishes.
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