Dark-stained cabinets with doors that no longer close flush, a soffit eating the space above them, and a wall between the kitchen and the family room. That’s the 1970s kitchen, and Selma has more homes from that decade than any other, about 21 percent of the housing by Census estimates.

Three kinds of kitchens you’ll find in town

The 1970s ranch kitchen

These kitchens were built as separate rooms. Expect a galley or U-shape, one window over the sink, soffits above the cabinets and limited outlets along the counters. Removing soffits can add cabinet height, but they sometimes hide ducts or vents, which is why they get checked before anyone promises taller uppers.

Homes from before 1950

Roughly one home in seven predates 1950. Kitchens in those houses are often small, with plaster walls and wiring never meant for a microwave, dishwasher and toaster oven running at once. Our small kitchen remodels page covers how to get more storage and counter space out of a tight footprint.

2000s kitchens

The 2000s added about 16 percent of homes. Those kitchens usually have granite, maple cabinets and an island, so the update tends to be about finishes, lighting and storage rather than walls. If the granite is in good shape, keeping it and changing the backsplash, paint and hardware can be enough.

Lead-safe work in pre-1978 homes

About half of the city’s homes were built before 1980, so a large share of kitchens here fall under the EPA’s lead-safe renovation rule. It applies to paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978, and it affects how cabinets, trim and walls come apart and how the room is cleaned afterward. If your house falls in that range, expect it to be part of the scope conversation.

Choosing the scope

The estimator’s scope question has three answers. Each one changes the planning range, so it helps to know roughly where you’re headed.

• Partial: keep the layout and the cabinets or reface them, then add new counters, a sink and faucet, hardware and light fixtures on existing circuits.

• Mid-range: the same layout with all-new cabinets and counters, plus flooring and backsplash.

• Full: a reworked floor plan, such as taking down soffits or adding an island, with any plumbing or electrical changes reviewed by licensed trades.

In planning terms, kitchen projects start around $25,000, typical remodels settle near $40,000, and full layout changes with premium cabinets and stone can run $50,000 to $60,000. Whichever level you pick, cabinets tend to be one of the largest line items.

Outlets, lighting and older wiring

If you run appliances off a power strip or trip a breaker when the microwave and toaster run together, the kitchen has outgrown its wiring. New light fixtures on existing circuits are fixture-level work, but added circuits for appliances or new recessed lighting involve a licensed electrician and are reviewed at the consultation. Our kitchen lighting page explains which updates fit which situation.

Permits at City Hall

Within city limits, kitchen permits come from the City of Selma Building Division at 1710 Tucker Street. The city requires a permit whenever an electrical, plumbing or mechanical system is altered, moved, improved or removed, with some exceptions, so relocating a sink, adding outlets or rerouting a range hood duct can all count. There’s more in our permit guide for Selma, and your exact needs are confirmed at the consultation.

Cabinets, counters, the sink and the wall

If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, refacing or painting can stretch the budget; if not, new cabinets let you fix the layout at the same time. Our reface vs replace comparison walks through the tradeoffs. Counter options in the estimator are keeping what you have, new quartz or premium stone, and our quartz vs granite guide compares upkeep and looks.

Opening a 1970s kitchen to the family room is a common wish. Taking that wall out depends on what it carries and what runs through it, which takes engineering, so the question is answered in person rather than guessed at.

Appliances belong in the same early conversation. A larger refrigerator, a wall oven or a wider range changes cabinet sizes, so it helps to choose them before cabinets are ordered rather than after.

Cal Water’s Selma District reported average hardness of about 53 parts per million in its 2025 water quality report, soft by the utility’s own scale. That means faucet and sink choices can lean on function and looks rather than scale resistance, though a removable aerator is still worth having.

From estimate to consultation

Expect questions about size, scope, cabinetry, counters, flooring, layout, plumbing and electrical, and finish level in the kitchen estimator. You see a personalized range at the end, then decide whether to book a free in-home consultation. We’re about 25 minutes from Selma, and the range stays a planning figure until measurements and conditions are confirmed.