Chicago Home Remodeling: Kitchens, Baths, Basements & Additions
Design First Builders is a design-build remodeling company serving Chicago homeowners. We design and build kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions. Our design studio is in Itasca. We’ve been remodeling across Chicagoland since 2006, including kitchen projects right here in the city.
What does a Chicago home need from a remodel?
Chicago’s housing is varied, and a lot of it is the bungalow. According to the Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago has more than 80,000 bungalows, about a third of the city’s single-family housing stock. These brick houses are one and a half stories above a basement, and the Center notes that their attics and basements could be finished for extra room.
That matters if you own one. The space you need may already be inside the house, in an attic, a basement, or an enclosed porch, rather than outside it. The Chicago Architecture Center also notes that the City’s Chicago Bungalow Initiative, launched in 2001, offers homeowners guidance on sympathetic rehabilitation and energy efficiency.
Not every Chicago home is a bungalow, of course. Two-flats, greystones, and newer homes each have their own layout. So we begin each project with a close look at the house in front of us.
How can a Chicago house gain space without moving?
Look for room that already exists before you build new room.
- Finish the basement into a family room, office, or guest space
- Convert an attic into a bedroom or retreat, where the roof allows
- Reconfigure a closed-off kitchen so it connects to the dining room
- Add a bump-out or rear addition when the layout can’t give you enough
Which Chicago remodeling projects do we handle?
Chicago kitchen remodeling
We plan layout and cabinetry together, using our AnnTucker Cabinetry line or Arbor Mills, a Lockport, Illinois cabinet maker. See four Chicago kitchen remodels below, plus our kitchen remodeling page and kitchen remodel cost guide.
Chicago bathroom remodeling
We coordinate layout, tile, plumbing, and lighting together. See a Chicago bathroom remodel and our bathroom remodeling page.
Chicago basement remodeling
A finished lower level turns unused square footage into living space. See our basement remodeling page.
Chicago home additions
When the house itself runs out of room, an addition is the next step. See our home additions page and our guide to full vs. partial second stories.
How does design-build work in Chicago?
Design and construction come from one company, so your plans are checked against cost and building details from the start. You have one point of contact and a dedicated project manager. Read design-build vs. general contractor and see our process.
See our Chicago remodeling projects
Browse Chicago kitchen remodels: one, two, three, and four. See more in our projects.
How long does a Chicago remodel take?
Your project manager confirms the schedule once the design is final. Typical ranges run 8–12 weeks for a kitchen or primary bathroom, 4–6 weeks for a guest bathroom, and 4–6 months for an addition.
What does a Chicago remodel cost?
It depends on the home and the project. Full design-build kitchens in the Chicago area often average $100,000–$120,000, which is a general reference, not a quote. Layout changes, cabinets, finishes, and surprises behind older walls can all move the total. Prices can also change if scope or selections change or if material costs move. We provide an itemized estimate once your design and scope are final.
Chicago remodeling questions
Do you remodel in Chicago?
Yes, in the city and across the suburbs.
Can you remodel a Chicago bungalow?
We work with Chicago homes of every age and style. For a bungalow, the first step is a look at the attic, basement, and porch.
What should I ask a Chicago remodeling contractor?
Ask the same questions of every company and compare the answers. See remodeling contractor questions to ask and how to know your contractor.
Remodeling near Chicago
We also serve Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Glenview, and Arlington Heights. See all service areas.
Ready to plan your Chicago remodel?
Tell us what’s not working in your home, and we’ll talk through what’s possible.
