Kitchen renovation in South City St. Louis
South City is a brick city. The homes were built to last, but the kitchens inside most of them were built for a different century. Whether you’re in a Tower Grove Victorian, a Holly Hills bungalow, or a brick two-story on The Hill, we renovate South City kitchens to match the pride homeowners take in these neighborhoods.
Why Chesterfield homeowners choose Aleto
South City St. Louis is unlike anywhere else in the metro. Dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own identity, all built from the same Missouri red brick and the same stubborn pride in doing things right. The homes range from grand Victorians on Flora Place to modest bungalows in Princeton Heights, but they share a common challenge: kitchens that were designed when cooking was kept behind a closed door and counter space was an afterthought.
Aleto Construction Group has been renovating homes in the City of St. Louis and throughout St. Louis County since 1955. We understand brick construction, plaster-and-lath walls, limestone rubble foundations, and the structural realities of opening up a floor plan in a home that was built before 1940. As a design-build firm, our design and construction teams work together from day one, so there’s one point of accountability from first sketch to final walkthrough.
We’ve earned back-to-back HBA Designer of the Year awards (2023 and 2024), the HBA Remodeler of the Year award, and over 35 industry honors throughout our 70-year history. In South City, where neighbors pay attention to the work being done on their block, the quality of a renovation is visible to everyone who walks by.
What a kitchen renovation in South City can include
Every kitchen renovation is different, but here are the elements we work with most often in South City homes:
Layout reconfiguration
Opening up the small, closed-off kitchens that are standard in South City’s brick two-stories, bungalows, and row houses, creating flow to dining and living spaces
Custom cabinetry
Maximizing storage in compact South City kitchen footprints with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, built-in pantries, and specialty drawers tailored to tight spaces
Countertops & surfaces
Quartz, granite, marble, and butcher block selected for durability and style, with profiles that complement the home’s existing brick and millwork character
Plumbing & electrical
Upgrading aging cast-iron plumbing stacks, replacing knob-and-tube wiring, and bringing pre-war South City homes up to current code while the walls are open
Flooring
Options that connect to the original hardwood floors found throughout most South City homes, maintaining the visual flow these floor plans need
Appliance integration
Smart appliance selection for kitchens where every inch counts: slim-profile dishwashers, counter-depth refrigerators, and compact pro-grade ranges
Working with brick & plaster
Exposing, preserving, or working around original brick walls and plaster-and-lath construction that defines the character of South City interiors
Lighting design
Layered task, ambient, and accent lighting to brighten kitchens with limited natural light, a common issue in South City’s narrow brick homes
Kitchen renovation across South City’s neighborhoods
South City isn’t one neighborhood. It’s dozens, each with its own architectural DNA. Understanding what you’re working with shapes every design and construction decision.
Tower Grove South, Shaw & Botanical Heights
These neighborhoods surrounding Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden feature some of South City’s most impressive homes: two-and three-story brick Victorians, Foursquares, Craftsman, and Queen Annes with original millwork, art glass, and fireplace mantels. The kitchens are typically small, tucked at the back of the house, and separated from the formal rooms by narrow hallways and butler’s pantries. Renovating these kitchens means carefully opening up the layout while preserving the architectural details that make these homes special. Plaster walls, load-bearing masonry, and limestone foundations all require experienced hands.
The Hill & Lindenwood Park
The Hill’s Italian heritage is visible in its architecture: tidy brick homes on tight lots, many with distinctive clay tile roofs and modest footprints that reflect the neighborhood’s working-class roots. Lindenwood Park offers slightly larger homes on wider lots with a similar character. Kitchens in both neighborhoods are compact and functional by design, but often haven’t been updated in decades. Smart storage, creative layouts, and space-maximizing solutions are essential here, because additions are often limited by narrow lot widths and tight setbacks.
St. Louis Hills, Holly Hills & Princeton Heights
These neighborhoods in southwest St. Louis feature brick bungalows and gingerbread-style homes built primarily between the 1920s and 1950s. The lots are wider than in some other South City neighborhoods, which can create opportunities for bump-out additions or expanded footprints. Kitchens are typically small with single-story rooflines that make vaulted or open ceiling treatments possible. Many of these homes have been lovingly maintained but never modernized, making them ideal candidates for a kitchen renovation that preserves the charm while bringing the functionality up to date.
South City-Specific Considerations
South City construction is almost entirely brick and masonry, which affects how walls are modified, how loads are carried, and how new work connects to old. Many homes sit on limestone rubble foundations that may need assessment before structural changes. Narrow lots (some as tight as 25 feet wide) make material staging, dumpster placement, and crew access more challenging than in suburban settings. If your home is in a city historic district, exterior changes are reviewed by the Cultural Resources Office, though interior kitchen renovations typically don’t trigger that process. Our team handles all City of St. Louis permitting, structural assessments, and any historic review coordination.
What our clients are saying…
“Aleto made our dream home come true and they made the four months renovation period smooth, pleasant, and seamless. Mike was a dream contractor – he kept in communication with us every single day. We received daily updates and he responded immediately to any and all messages we sent him. They hired the best workers, they worked with the best companies, and we could not be happier with our finished project. We recommend Aleto 100%.”
Mary – Houzz Review
Featured kitchen project
A kitchen that reflects the home’s true potential
HBA 2024, Kitchen of the Year
A cramped, one-cook kitchen expanded into a gathering space with custom inset cabinetry, a spacious island with breakfast bar, glass cabinetry, a beverage refrigerator, and stunning quartz countertops. Meticulous millwork honors the home’s historic character while bringing the kitchen into the present.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in South City St. Louis?
Costs depend on scope, materials, and the size of the kitchen. A cosmetic refresh with new countertops, backsplash, and lighting can start in the mid-five figures, while a full renovation with structural changes and custom cabinetry typically ranges from mid-five figures to six figures. South City homes often require infrastructure upgrades (wiring, plumbing, subfloor) that add to the investment, but addressing these while the walls are open is far more cost-effective than doing it later. We provide a detailed estimate before any work begins.
Can you open up a small kitchen in a South City brick home?
Yes. This is the most common request we get in South City. Most brick two-story bungalows and row houses have kitchens that were designed to be completely separate from the rest of the home. We assess the structural requirements of the masonry walls, determine load paths, design appropriate steel beams and supports, and create an open layout that improves daily function. Working with brick construction requires specific experience, and it’s something we’ve done many times across the city.
What if my lot is too narrow for an addition or bump-out?
Narrow lots are the reality in much of South City, especially on The Hill, in Dutchtown, and in Benton Park. When an addition isn’t feasible, we focus on maximizing the existing footprint: reconfiguring the layout, adding vertical storage, choosing slim-profile appliances, and opening up sight lines to make the kitchen feel larger than its square footage. If a rear bump-out is possible (which it often is, depending on the setback), we handle the design, permitting, and construction as part of the project.
Do I need Cultural Resources Office approval for a kitchen renovation?
Interior kitchen renovations in the City of St. Louis generally do not require Cultural Resources Office review, even if your home is within a city historic district. The office reviews exterior alterations, demolitions, and new construction visible from the public right-of-way. If your project involves exterior changes like a bump-out addition or window modifications, review may be required, but the standards focus on compatibility, not replication. Our team can determine whether your project triggers the process.
Can you upgrade a new construction kitchen that doesn’t meet my standards?
Yes. We work with homeowners who’ve recently moved into new Chesterfield builds and want to upgrade the cabinetry, countertops, hardware, lighting, or appliances beyond what the builder offered. It’s often more cost-effective to renovate after closing than to upgrade through a builder’s selection process, and the quality of a custom renovation typically exceeds what production builders provide as upgrades.
More Home Renovation services in South City St. Louis
Renovating more than just the kitchen? Explore our other services available in the City of St. Louis:
Whole home renovation
Transform your entire living space — updating layouts, finishes, and systems so everything works together.
Learn more →
Bathroom renovation
Convert dated bathrooms into spa-like retreats with custom tile, modern fixtures, and intelligent layouts.
Learn more →
Additions & dormers
Room additions, second stories, dormers, and sunrooms that look like they’ve always been there.
Learn more →
Ready to reimagine your South City kitchen?
Your kitchen should be the best room in your house, not the one you’re constantly working around. Tell us what’s not working, and we’ll take it from there.
A UNIQUE PARTNER FOR YOUR UNIQUE VISION
For new construction, renovation, simple repurposing, or grand reimagining, Aleto brings decades of experience and creativity to every project, large or small. You have something special in mind, and we have a knack for helping you bring your vision to life with all the quality, personality, and professionalism it deserves.
We’re a family-owned company with creativity in our DNA. Curious? Get to know us a little better.
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