Basement Kitchenette in Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing connects Columbus homeowners with local contractors who build basement kitchenettes: a run of cabinets with a sink, fridge and microwave, sometimes a cooktop. Like a wet bar, the cost follows the plumbing and electrical work. Check local zoning before adding a full second kitchen, since some areas restrict them.
- Free in-home estimate from a local contractor
- Moisture and radon dealt with before the walls go up
- Permits and inspections handled by the contractor
What counts as a kitchenette
A kitchenette is a small kitchen with the essentials: a sink, a fridge, a microwave, some counter and a few cabinets. It may have a two-burner cooktop. It usually has no full-size range or oven. That distinction matters for cost and, in some places, for what the zoning rules allow.
What it is used for
- Entertaining. Drinks, snacks and washing up without trips upstairs.
- A relative living downstairs. Enough to make breakfast and a simple meal independently. See in-law suite.
- Guests. A coffee maker and a fridge make a guest suite self-sufficient.
- Teenagers, who will use it more than anyone.
What drives the cost
- Plumbing. The sink needs supply lines and a drain with the correct slope to an existing waste line. Distance from that line is the main factor. A dishwasher uses the same connections.
- Electrical. Kitchen counters need protected outlets on their own circuits, and a fridge, microwave and cooktop add more. The panel must have room.
- Ventilation. Any cooking appliance should have a hood ducted to the outside.
- Cabinets and counters. The same range of prices as an upstairs kitchen, over a shorter run.
Layout tips
- Put it on a wall that already has plumbing behind it or above it.
- Keep it in a straight run or a small L. An island needs more floor area than most basements can spare.
- Allow for the fridge door and dishwasher door to open fully.
- Leave counter on both sides of the sink.
Before you plan a full kitchen
Ask the contractor or your local zoning office whether a second full kitchen is allowed. Some jurisdictions restrict them because they can turn a single-family house into two dwellings.
How it works
Tell us about your basement
Answer five quick questions online.
Get matched
We pass your request to a local basement contractor who covers your area.
In-home estimate
They inspect the space, talk through your plans and give you a written price.
Decide
There is no obligation. Go ahead only if the plan and the price suit you.
Basement Kitchenette FAQs
Is a second kitchen allowed in my house?
It depends on your city or township. Some treat a full second kitchen as creating a separate dwelling, which zoning may not permit. A kitchenette without a full range is usually simpler. The contractor or the zoning office can tell you.
Does a cooktop need a vent in the basement?
Cooking produces moisture and odors, and a basement has less natural airflow, so a vented range hood is strongly advised and may be required. It needs a route to the outside.
Other services
Basement Remodeling
Updating a basement that is already finished, from new flooring to a full redesign.
Learn moreBasement Bathroom Addition
A half or full bathroom below grade, including the drain work that makes it possible.
Learn moreBasement Bedroom
A legal bedroom downstairs, with the escape window and ceiling height the code asks for.
Learn moreEgress Window Installation
Cutting in an escape window and well so a basement room is safe and can be a bedroom.
Learn moreBasement Bars & Wet Bars
A dry bar or a wet bar with sink and fridge, built into a finished basement.
Learn moreBasement Home Theater
A media room planned around sight lines, sound control and wiring before the drywall goes on.
Learn moreBasement Home Gym
A workout room with the right floor, ventilation and enough headroom for the equipment.
Learn moreBasement Home Office
A quiet, well-lit workspace away from the rest of the house.
Learn moreBasement In-Law Suite
A self-contained space with bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette for family or guests.
Learn moreBasement Flooring
Floors that tolerate a concrete slab and the odd damp spell, laid over the right underlay.
Learn moreBasement Ceilings
Drywall, drop or painted open ceilings, chosen around headroom and access to pipes.
Learn moreBasement Waterproofing
Stopping water and damp before a basement is finished, so the new work stays dry.
Learn moreBasement Framing & Insulation
The walls behind the walls, built to stay dry and keep the room warm.
Learn moreBasement Playroom
A safe, hard-wearing space for kids that can become a teen room or den later.
Learn moreAreas we serve near Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing serves Columbus, OH and surrounding communities, including Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Grove City, Gahanna, Hilliard, Worthington, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Dublin, New Albany, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Powell and Delaware.