Remodeling for
those who want to
love where they live.

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Kitchens · Baths · Additions · Basements · Custom Homes

◆ About Design First Builders

We are a design-build home remodeling company.

↳ Who we are

2006

Founded in Itasca, IL

20+

Years of experience

2,000+

Projects completed

5-Year

Build-quality warranty

◆ What We Build

04 Specialties

Kitchens

We specialize in kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, basements, and custom homes.

↳ See all projects
Design First Builders Park Ridge luxury bathroom with navy blue cabinets, brass fixtures, round mirrors, dramatic wallpaper, and white quartz countertops

Bathrooms

A bright and elegant family room addition featuring built-in white shelving, a central fireplace with a mounted TV above, a brown leather armchair, two modern gray chairs, a round wooden coffee table, and a large Eiffel Tower wall art piece, designed in a clean, contemporary style in the Chicagoland area.

Additions

Open-concept basement with oak bar island, sectional sofa and plaid carpet after a Roselle, IL remodel

Basements

The Design First Difference

Designed first. Then built right.

Our process is designed to give you the best remodeling experience from start to finish. Design, permitting, purchasing and construction all happen under one roof in Itasca, so nothing gets lost along the way.

Our Process

01

Architecture & Design

Plans are drawn in-house, so the design works with your home's structure from the very first sketch.

02

Interior Design

Our designers help you choose finishes, fixtures and cabinetry that fit both the plan and the budget.

03

Permitting & Purchasing

We pull the permits and order the materials, so lead times are planned, not discovered.

04

Construction

Our craftsmen build what was designed, backed by a 5-year guarantee on build quality.

05

Project Management

One point of contact keeps the schedule, the budget and you in the loop from start to finish.

New Design First Custom Home

Custom Homes

A home designed around your lifestyle. Built to last.

Experienced craftsmen and an in-house design team take your custom home from first sketch to final walkthrough, with a 5-year guarantee on build quality.

Explore Custom Homes

◆ Client stories

Google reviews

In their words.

★

4.8 on Google

Read all reviews →
Karen Lisook★★★★★

We loved working with Francesca (designer) and Matt (project manager) on our hall bath remodel. They were extremely responsive and worked within our specific budget and time frame with no issues. We would definitely work with them again.

Christine Cox★★★★★

We loved working with Design first! We are very happy with our kitchen project and enjoyed working with Matt. He was very easy to communicate with and we felt we were guided through the process well and kept up to date with plans. Will use design first again for future projects.

Steve Christ★★★★★

After interviewing a number of contractors, we engaged with Design First Builders on a home remodel project. Every phase of the project has been very pleasant starting with the initial sales visit in our home. Ryan was very knowledgeable and helped us develop a plan to move forward. This meeting was followed by a visit to their showroom in Itasca that is very impressive and helps give you all kinds of ideas. Once the project started, they were very professional to deal with and have a software program that tracks every aspect of things being done. The construction foreman, Matt, that was assigned to our project was amazing. He really knows his stuff, communicated exceptionally well and kept things moving along every day. The actual people doing the work were also great and it was a pleasure having them in my house. I plan to use Design First Builders for any other projects in the future.

Sonny Manzo★★★★★

Design First Builders did an amazing job fixing our cabinet. Definitely will call them again to do work in the future.

Rikit Patel★★★★★

I wanted to share the positive experience of working with Noah and Brian on my complete kitchen remodel project. They provided me a design which no other design firm was able to provide due to the complex layout of the current kitchen. Unfortunately due to personal commitments, I could not move forward with the project but I highly recommend them and their team for renovation projects.

Robert Holbrook★★★★★

The Design First Builders Team did a high quality and very professional job remodeling out attic to include a large office space. All of them were skilled and helpful from beginning to end. The contracted workers were efficient, polite, and hard workers. We would easily recommend Design First Builders. We plan to work with them in the future. Bob Holbtook Marinda Stopforth

Aila Keeley★★★★★

One of the ways that i rate a company is how they back up their work. Ive used Design First twice and spent a lot of money with them. They are worth every dollar spent. They fixed my problem immediately. Special shout out to Asia and Adam for helping a senior. Thanks for your help!

Kristen Wallrab★★★★★

My project with D1 recently ended and I couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. Everyone I worked with Brian, Mabel, Wendy, Linda and Peter were extremely helpful with the design process, easy to work with, and patient with me. The Builder Trend site makes it so easy to do everything and communicate with the team. I did a first floor remodel and after interviewing many firms, I chose Design First because they thought out of the box and reconfigured my kitchen in a space I never before considered while also taking into consideration design elements I wanted to incorporate. I credit the wonderful experience I had to my project manager Peter. He is first class. Not only was this my first remodel but I’m also a first time homeowner and Peter answered every question I had, was patient when I changed my mind on windows or wanted to see other options for range hoods, and he provided great recommendations for tuck pointing that were out of the scope of our assigned project. During the demo and construction stages I was out of the country twice and Peter was always available to talk, he sent me photos and messages of the work in process to make sure I knew and was happy with what was going on. It was a relief to have this constant communication because I was able to change the shape of am arched doorway while abroad which I love. When problems or hiccups arose, as they will, Peter was straightforward, responsive, and got things done. When my range hood was blemished, Peter and Keith were the first to say it’s need to be redone and were just as unhappy as I was. Knowing that they expected the same outcome I did showed me they cared about the quality of the finished project as much as I did. Peter also took care of minor cosmetic touches and walked me through some system maintenance issues. Peter is great to work with because he is responsive, direct, friendly and easy to work with. I trust Peter and have already recommended him to a good friend. When I decide to tackle other projects I will contact D1 and Peter. Thanks so much!

Francis Jhira★★★★★

This review is from Mira Amal .I worked with design first for bathroom remodel with Matt and Francesca …they are prompt with my questions and clarifications I need with the work of kitchen which is very important to me ..I am satisfied with the services they provide .

Abraham Baza★★★★★

Excellent work, I'm very happy with the results, thank you for the friendly service and the quality of the work.

◆ Awards & memberships

08 Recognitions

  • Better Business Bureau A+ accredited business
  • NARI, National Association of the Remodeling Industry member
  • Best of Houzz Service award 2023
  • Angi Super Service Award
  • NKBA Remodeling Specialist badge
  • HomeAdvisor Elite Service award
  • Best of Houzz award
  • HomeAdvisor Screened and Approved badge

Straight Answers

What to expect before you call.

What does a remodel cost?

Kitchens typically run $100,000–$120,000 and primary baths $80,000–$100,000. Guest baths run $40,000–$60,000, and single-story additions $125,000–$175,000. Final cost depends on scope and finishes.

How long will it take?

Kitchens and primary baths take 8–12 weeks, guest baths 4–6 weeks, and single- or two-story additions 4–6 months. Design, permitting and material lead times can shift that.

Where do you work?

Across Chicagoland, including Naperville, Hinsdale, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elmhurst, Park Ridge, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Wilmette and Glenview.

Do you offer custom cabinetry?

Yes. We work with AnnTucker Cabinetry and Arbor Mills, and cabinetry is planned from the start of every project.

Straight answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for home remodeling?

Most home remodeling projects in Chicago take between 4 weeks and 10 months, depending on the scope. Here’s a general timeline guide from Design First Builders based on project type:

• Kitchen remodel timeline: 8-12 weeks
• Master bathroom remodel timeline: 8-12 weeks
• Guest bathroom remodel timeline: 4-6 weeks
• Single-story home addition timeline: 4-6 months
• Two-story home addition timeline: 4-6 months
• Second-story addition timeline: 8-10 months

Every remodeling project timeline depends on factors like design complexity, permitting, materials lead times, and change orders. Your dedicated Design First Builders project manager will provide a detailed construction schedule once your design and scope are finalized.

What areas do you serve?

Design First Builders serves homeowners throughout Chicagoland, including Naperville, Schaumburg, Wilmette, Wheaton, Elmhurst, Arlington Heights, Glenview, Evanston, and Hinsdale. See our full service area page for additional communities we build and remodel in.

How much does home remodeling cost?

Remodeling costs in Chicago vary by project scope. Here’s a general average cost from Design First Builders based on project type:
Kitchen remodel cost: $100,000-$120,000
Master bathroom remodel cost: $80,000-$100,000
Guest bathroom remodel cost: $40,000-$60,000
Single-story home addition cost: $125,000-$175,000
Two-story home addition cost: $175,000-$250,000
Second-story addition cost: $400,000-$600,000

Every project’s final cost depends on design complexity, material selections, and finish level. Your dedicated Design First Builders project manager will provide a detailed, itemized estimate once your design and scope are finalized.

Do you handle cabinetry and custom finishes in-house?

Yes, Design First Builders handles cabinetry and custom finishes in-house. Our in-house cabinetry partner, AnnTucker & Arbor Mills, designs and builds custom cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms, and specialty spaces, so cabinetry is planned alongside your design from day one instead of outsourced separately.

What services does Design First Builders offer?

Design First Builders is a full-service design-build firm serving Chicagoland, offering kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations, basement finishing, home additions, full floor reconfigurations, sunrooms, and fully custom home builds. Our team also includes AnnTucker Cabinetry and Arbor Mills for custom cabinetry and finish work.

Let's talk about your home.

Free consultation. Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM, Saturdays by appointment.

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