Elmhurst, IL · Design-Build Since 2006
Home Remodeling In Elmhurst
Design First Builders is a design-build custom home remodeling company
◆ What We Build
04 Specialties
Kitchens
Every room is designed and built by one in-house team, from a single bathroom to a second-story addition. No handoffs, no surprises.
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Bathrooms
Additions
Basements
Since 2006, Chicagoland homeowners have trusted one team to design, permit and build the rooms they live in every day.
2006
Founded in Itasca, IL
20+
Years of experience
2,000+
Projects completed
5-Year
Build-quality warranty
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 HomesClient Stories
In their words.
“
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.
Kristen W. · First-Floor Remodel
“
Every detail, from tilework to fixtures to finishing touches, was done with precision and care. Our new bathrooms feel both modern and timeless.
Erica T. · Bathrooms
“
The project ended with an absolutely beautiful addition that everyone loved! Throughout the process, DF kept all of their promises and the service was absolutely excellent!
Walt G. · Home Addition
Overview
Elmhurst homeowners can hire one team to design and build their remodel. Design First Builders is a design-build company based in Itasca, and we’ve been remodeling kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions across the western suburbs since 2006. A designer comes to your Elmhurst home for the first meeting and learns how you use each room.
About Elmhurst
What should Elmhurst homeowners know about their houses?
Choose DuPage, the county’s economic development group, describes Elmhurst as a historic, tree-lined community founded in 1836, with a wide variety of housing. The city-run Elmhurst History Museum is housed in the Glos Mansion, built around 1892 as the home of Elmhurst’s first village president, Henry Glos.
[P] Most Elmhurst houses are everyday homes, from older houses to newer builds, and each calls for a different approach. Older homes can hide surprises behind the walls, while newer homes may be easier to open up but have their own layout limits. Either way, we start with how your house is built and how you use it. Remodeling an Older Home: What to Know Before You Start covers what to check first.
Elmhurst
What do Elmhurst homeowners usually want to change?
The most common requests are a kitchen that works better with the rest of the house, a bathroom with more storage and a bigger shower, and a basement that finally has a purpose. Others need more room and look at a bump-out, a primary suite, or a second story.
What we build in Elmhurst
Elmhurst home remodeling services
01
Kitchens
A kitchen project can range from a full layout change to a finish refresh, with custom cabinets built to fit the room. See our Elmhurst kitchen remodel, our Kitchen Remodeling in Chicago page, Kitchen Remodel Cost in Chicago (2026), and Kitchen Layout Types: Which Shape Fits Your Home?
02
Bathrooms
From a hall bath refresh to a primary suite, we plan layout, tile, plumbing, and ventilation together. See our Bathroom Remodeling page, Tub or Shower in a Bathroom Remodel: How to Decide, and Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas in Chicago and the Suburbs.
03
Basements
A finished basement can add a family room, a guest suite, an office, or a gym without changing the footprint of your home. We check moisture, insulation, ceiling height, and egress first. See our Basement Remodeling in Chicago page.
04
Home additions
When your home no longer fits your family, a bump-out, a ground-level addition, or a second story can add the room. See our Home Additions in Chicago page, Home Addition Mistakes to Avoid, and Second Story Addition: Full vs. Partial (How to Choose).
05
Custom cabinets for Elmhurst homes
Cabinets can come from our AnnTucker Cabinetry shop in Itasca or from Arbor Mills, a custom cabinet maker in Lockport, Illinois. Custom Cabinets: AnnTucker vs. Arbor Mills in Chicago compares the two.
Why design-build
Why choose design-build for an Elmhurst remodel?
One team draws your plans and then builds them. Before work begins, you review a floor plan, 3D concepts, and a cost breakdown. After you choose materials and the drawings get a final review, a project manager and crew lead build what you approved. Read Design-Build vs General Contractor in Chicagoland, then see Our Home Remodeling Process.
Timeline
How long does an Elmhurst remodel take?
From our own projects, a kitchen or primary bathroom commonly takes 8 to 12 weeks and a guest bathroom 4 to 6 weeks. A one- or two-story addition runs 4 to 6 months, and a second story 8 to 10 months. Your project manager confirms the schedule when the design is final. See How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take in Chicago? for more on bathrooms.
Budgeting
What does an Elmhurst remodel cost?
Every house is different. As a general reference, full design-build kitchens with us in the Chicago area often average $100,000 to $120,000, which is an average and not a quote. Layout, cabinets, and finishes drive the total, and so do changes made mid-project. You receive an itemized estimate with your final design.
Elmhurst
See our Elmhurst work
Browse an Elmhurst kitchen remodel and another Elmhurst kitchen remodel, along with more in our projects.
Straight answers
Elmhurst remodeling questions
Do you remodel homes in Elmhurst?
Yes. We take on kitchen, bathroom, basement, and addition projects for Elmhurst homeowners, and a designer visits your home for the first meeting.
Can you remodel both older and newer Elmhurst homes?
Yes. We examine how the house is built before the design is final, and we suggest setting aside a reserve for anything found behind the walls.
Where is your office?
Our showroom is at 1201 Norwood Avenue in Itasca.
How do I choose a contractor?
Ask every company the same questions and compare the answers. See Know Your Contractor and Remodeling Contractor Questions to Ask (With Good Answers).
Service area
Remodeling near Elmhurst
We also serve Itasca, Oak Park, Hinsdale, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, and Downers Grove. See all service areas.
Ready to plan your Elmhurst remodel?
Tell us what you’d like to change, and we’ll help you decide where to begin.
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