For a Glendale Heights remodel, you don’t have to coordinate a designer and a separate builder. Design First Builders is a design-build company in Itasca, and we’ve been reworking kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions across the western suburbs since 2006. We start by visiting your house, so the plan comes from the rooms as your family uses them.

What should Glendale Heights homeowners know about their houses?

According to the Village of Glendale Heights, the area was largely rural until 1958, when Midland Enterprises, run by Charles and Harold Reskin, bought two farms on Glen Ellyn Road and the first houses went up. The Village was organized in 1959 and took the name Glendale Heights in March 1960. The Village describes its landscape as dotted with ranch homes, split levels, apartments, and condominiums.

Ranches and split-levels from that era share some familiar traits: compact kitchens, small bathrooms, and floor plans that separate rooms the way families once preferred. Many owners now want those spaces to flow together, and a lower level that’s actually usable. We check how your house is built before we draw anything, and Remodeling an Older Home: What to Know Before You Start explains what to look at first.

What do Glendale Heights homeowners usually want to change?

Owners of ranch and split-level homes often ask us to open a closed-in kitchen, add a larger shower or a second sink to a small bathroom, turn an unfinished basement into living space, or add a bedroom or family room without moving.

Remodeling services in Glendale Heights

Kitchens

In a smaller kitchen, the layout matters more than the square footage. We rework the plan around how you cook and gather, and we build cabinets to fit the room. See our Kitchen Remodeling in Chicago page, Kitchen Remodel Cost in Chicago (2026), and Kitchen Layout Types: Which Shape Fits Your Home?

Bathrooms

Small bathrooms can work harder with a better plan for storage, lighting, and the shower. We design the whole room together, from tile to ventilation. See our Bathroom Remodeling page, Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas in Chicago and the Suburbs, and Tub or Shower in a Bathroom Remodel: How to Decide.

Basements

Many split-level and ranch basements have plenty of footprint and little finish. We look at moisture, insulation, ceiling height, and egress, then plan a family room, office, guest space, or gym. See our Basement Remodeling in Chicago page.

Home additions

On a ranch, a bump-out, a rear addition, or a second story can add bedrooms or a family room. See our Home Additions in Chicago page, Home Addition Mistakes to Avoid, and Second Story Addition: Full vs. Partial (How to Choose).

Custom cabinets for Glendale Heights homes

We build cabinets at our AnnTucker Cabinetry shop in Itasca, and we also work with Arbor Mills, a custom cabinet maker in Lockport, Illinois. Custom Cabinets: AnnTucker vs. Arbor Mills in Chicago shows how they compare.

Why choose design-build for a Glendale Heights remodel?

One company designs your project and builds it, which keeps decisions in a single conversation. You start with a floor plan, 3D concepts, and a cost breakdown. After your selections and one more look at the drawings, a project manager and crew lead build the approved plan. Read Design-Build vs General Contractor in Chicagoland, then see Our Home Remodeling Process.

How long does a Glendale Heights remodel take?

On our past projects, kitchens and primary bathrooms have run about 8 to 12 weeks, and guest bathrooms 4 to 6 weeks. Additions take 4 to 6 months, or 8 to 10 months with a second story. After the design is final, your project manager sets the schedule. See How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take in Chicago? for more on bathrooms.

What does a Glendale Heights remodel cost?

The answer depends on your house and your plan. 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 set the number, and changes after work begins can move it. You get an itemized estimate with the final design.

Glendale Heights remodeling questions

Do you remodel homes in Glendale Heights?

Yes. We work on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions for Glendale Heights homeowners, beginning with a visit to your home.

Can you remodel a ranch or split-level home?

Yes. We examine how the house is built, then design around it, and we suggest keeping a cushion in the budget for anything inside the walls.

Where is your office?

Our showroom is at 1201 Norwood Avenue in Itasca.

How do I choose a contractor?

Give every contractor the same set of questions and compare the replies. See Know Your Contractor and Remodeling Contractor Questions to Ask (With Good Answers).

Remodeling near Glendale Heights

We also serve Bloomingdale, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Roselle, and Itasca. See all service areas or browse our projects.

Ready to plan your Glendale Heights remodel?

Tell us what you’d like to change, and we’ll help you pick the first step.