Services
Kitchen Remodel
Your Kitchen Deserves More Than an Upgrade — It Deserves a Transformation
The kitchen is the heart of your home — especially in Burlingame, where so many of us gather with family before heading to Washington Park or hosting weekend dinners. We’ve seen it all: cramped galley kitchens in those classic Burlingame bungalows near Broadway, or dated layouts in the ranch-style homes off California Drive. A kitchen remodel isn’t just about swapping countertops. It’s one of the smartest investments you can make in one of the Bay Area’s most competitive housing markets — and we’ve been helping Burlingame homeowners do it right for nearly two decades.
At Cole Construction, we’ve transformed everything from post-war kitchens in Burlingame’s Highlands neighborhood to sprawling remodels in the estates near the Burlingame Country Club. Our licensed crew brings precision, creativity, and a real feel for what works in Burlingame — like knowing how to handle the clay soil that can shift foundations near Easton Addition, or how to design a kitchen that stands up to our foggy mornings and sunny afternoons. We don’t just build kitchens; we build spaces that fit how you actually live.
We keep everything under one roof: design, permits, materials, and construction. That means you’re not bouncing between three different contractors. One team. One plan. One point of contact. Honestly, that’s how a kitchen remodel should work — no surprises, no runaround.
Complete Kitchen Remodeling Services
Whether you’re gutting a kitchen in a Spanish-style home near Burlingame High or bringing a 1950s ranch on Adeline Drive into the 21st century, our kitchen remodeling services handle it all — from the first pencil sketch to the final cabinet pull.
Full Kitchen Gut & Renovation
We tear it down to the studs and rebuild everything: new layout, new plumbing, new electrical, new everything. It’s the ultimate fresh start — whether you’re in a condo near downtown or a single-family home off Oak Grove Avenue.
Custom Cabinetry & Storage
We design semi-custom and fully custom cabinets that squeeze every inch of storage out of your kitchen. Working with trusted local suppliers, we match your style — whether that’s shaker, flat-panel, or something unique. No wasted space.
Countertops & Surfaces
From quartzite and quartz to marble and butcher block — we source, measure, and install premium surfaces with precision. No guesswork. We’ve done it for homes all over Burlingame, from Ray Park to the hillsides near Mills High.
Plumbing Upgrades & Fixture Installation
Need a sink moved to an island? Adding a pot filler? We handle all plumbing — filtered water lines, modern fixtures, and tricky retrofits in older Burlingame homes — all in-house.
Lighting Design & Electrical
Under-cabinet LEDs, pendant lights over an island, and recessed can lighting — we design a system that’s both functional and beautiful. We’ll even integrate smart controls so you can dim from the couch.
Flooring, Tile & Backsplash
Hardwood, porcelain tile, luxury vinyl, or artisan zellige — we install flooring and backsplashes that anchor your kitchen’s look. Durable enough for Burlingame’s busy families, beautiful enough to impress your neighbors.
Layout Redesign & Space Planning
Sometimes a kitchen doesn’t need new cabinets — it needs a new flow. We evaluate traffic patterns, work triangles, and how you actually move through the space. A smarter layout can turn a frustrating kitchen into your favorite room in the house.
Lighting Design & Electrical in Burlingame
Under-cabinet LED strips, pendant lighting, recessed task lighting, and smart home integration — designed to complement your kitchen’s aesthetics and functionality beautifully. In Burlingame, where many homes along Ralston Avenue and the Hillside neighborhood were built in the mid-20th century, we often find outdated wiring that can’t handle modern lighting loads. We upgrade that too. Whether you’re in a ranch-style home near Washington Park or a Mediterranean revival in the Bellevue tract, we’ll make your kitchen glow the way it should — without blowing a fuse.
Flooring, Tile & Backsplash in Burlingame Homes
Hardwood, large-format porcelain, luxury vinyl, and artisan tile installations that anchor your kitchen’s design — durable, beautiful, and exactly aligned with your vision. Burlingame homeowners love classic oak and hickory for that warm Peninsula feel, but we’re also seeing a lot of interest in heated tile floors lately — especially in homes near the bay where the morning fog can make the kitchen chilly. We source directly from local suppliers in San Mateo County, so your materials arrive on time and on budget.
Layout Redesign & Space Planning for Burlingame Kitchens
Not every kitchen fails because of outdated finishes — sometimes it’s the layout. We evaluate workflow, traffic flow, and ergonomics to redesign kitchens that actually work better for how you live. Many of the older homes in Burlingame’s Easton Addition have galley kitchens that were fine in 1955 but feel cramped today. We’ve helped homeowners widen doorways, create islands where there were none, and reroute pathways so you’re not bumping elbows while making coffee. The truth is, a few feet of smart redesign can change your whole experience of the space.
Permits & Code Compliance in Burlingame
California building codes for kitchen remodels are specific. We handle every permit, inspection, and city submission — so your project is always fully compliant and your investment is protected. Burlingame’s building department has its own nuances, especially regarding historical districts near the downtown Broadway area. We’ve worked with them for years. We know what they’re looking for. And we don’t cut corners — because a failed inspection in Burlingame can stall your project for weeks. That’s not something we let happen.
Design-Build Integration for Burlingame Projects
Our design and construction teams work as one — eliminating the gaps and miscommunications that plague separate design-then-build arrangements. One team. One vision. One outcome. Here’s what that means for you: when we design a kitchen for a home on Douglas Avenue, our builders are already thinking about how that custom hood vent will interact with the existing ductwork. No back-and-forth between separate companies. No surprise change orders. Just a seamless process that keeps your project on track.
What Sets Cole Construction Apart for Burlingame Homeowners
The Bay Area is home to a high standard of living — and a high standard of construction. Cole Construction has been meeting and exceeding that standard since 2007. Here’s what homeowners across Burlingame and the Mid-Peninsula consistently tell us makes the difference. It’s not just the craftsmanship — though that’s part of it. It’s that we actually know how things work in this city. From the clay soil under neighborhoods like Ray Park to the strict noise ordinances near the Caltrain tracks, we get it. We’ve lived it.
Nearly Two Decades of Local Experience in Burlingame
Since 2007, we’ve built lasting relationships with homeowners, city permitting offices, and local suppliers across the Bay Area. That means fewer delays, better pricing, and a network that works for you — not against your timeline. When we’re working on a kitchen remodel near Burlingame High School, we know which lumber yard stocks the best quarter-sawn oak. We know which inspectors are sticklers about electrical grounding. Honestly, that kind of knowledge only comes from doing this day in and day out in the same community for seventeen years.
Licensed, Bonded & Fully Insured
Every Cole Construction project is performed under a California General Contractor’s license. You’re fully protected — from the first nail to the final inspection — with zero liability exposure. We hear this a lot from Burlingame homeowners: “How do I know you’ll do what you say?” The answer is simple. We’re bonded and insured. Our license is current. And we’ve got a track record across San Mateo County that speaks for itself. You’re not taking a gamble with us.
True Design-Build Integration
Our designers and builders work as one team — so your kitchen vision doesn’t get lost in translation between separate firms. Fewer handoffs. Fewer surprises. A better result. That’s especially important in Burlingame, where many homes have unique architectural details — original tilework in the Mills Estate, custom cabinetry in the Capuchino area — that need to be handled with care. When your designer and builder are the same company, those details don’t get overlooked. They get celebrated.
Radical Transparency & Communication
We believe you should never wonder what’s happening on your project. Our project managers provide regular updates, detailed documentation, and are always available to answer your questions. We’ve had clients in the Burlingame Village area tell us they felt more informed during their remodel than they did during their home purchase. That’s the level of communication we aim for. You’ll know when materials are arriving, when inspections are scheduled, and exactly where your budget stands. No guesswork. No stress.
Craftsmanship-First Culture in Burlingame
We don’t cut corners to hit a price point. That’s just not how we operate. If a detail isn’t right — like a trim piece that doesn’t quite match in a Burlingame Hills home — we fix it. Our reputation across 19 Bay Area cities is built on homes that stand as proof of what genuine craftsmanship looks like. Honestly, it’s that simple. Whether you’re in a Spanish-style bungalow near Washington Park or a modern ranch off Rollins Road, we bring the same obsessive attention to every job. We’ve seen what happens when contractors rush through a project here in Burlingame — cracked tile, uneven counters. Not on our watch.
Get Started
Your Dream Kitchen Starts With a Conversation in Burlingame
Get a free, no-obligation estimate from Cole Construction — Burlingame’s go-to kitchen remodeling contractor since 2007. Whether you’re planning a complete gut renovation in a home near Burlingame High School or a targeted upgrade in a condo by Broadway, we’ll put together a detailed proposal tailored to your home, your vision, and your budget. We’ve worked with all kinds of layouts in this city — those cozy 1950s kitchens near Bayswater Park, the open-concept spaces in Easton Addition, even tricky ADU kitchens along the El Camino corridor. The truth is, every Burlingame home tells a different story. We’re here to help you write the next chapter. Contact us to get started.
Burlingame, with a population of around 29,000 in San Mateo County, is known for its tree-lined residential neighborhoods like Easton Addition and the hillside homes above El Camino Real. The local economy benefits from a mix of downtown boutiques, professional offices, and proximity to San Francisco International Airport, just three miles north. The city enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with average highs in the 60s and low rainfall, which means many homes rely on central heating and are susceptible to dry-rot and foundation settling over time.
Whether it’s updating a classic mid-century home near Washington Park or reinforcing a crawlspace in the older sections of the downtown flatlands, Burlingame homeowners often need remodeling services that address the specific wear of coastal fog and decades-old construction. Remodeling a kitchen or adding a bathroom in these established homes requires local expertise to handle permit requirements in this historic residential market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burlingame
Do I need a special permit for a major remodel in the Easton Addition neighborhood of Burlingame?
Yes. The Easton Addition has many homes built between the 1920s and 1950s, and the city enforces strict design review guidelines to preserve the neighborhood's character. Any exterior changes or structural additions typically require a Minor or Major Design Review permit through the Burlingame Planning Division.
How does Burlingame's proximity to the bay affect foundation work for a home remodel?
Burlingame sits on bay mud and alluvial soils with a high water table, especially in the lower-lying sections near Broadway. This can cause soil expansion and settlement, so many remodels need engineered foundations with proper drainage, pier footings, or moisture barriers to prevent long-term cracking.
Are there restrictions on remodeling a home within Burlingame's 'Oversized Home Ordinance' zones?
Yes, if your home is in certain single-family zones, the Oversized Home Ordinance limits the total floor area ratio (FAR) based on your lot size. You'll need to check with the city's Building Department before planning major additions, as exceeding FAR limits can trigger a special use permit.