Home Remodeling in Glenview, IL
Design-build kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions for Glenview homeowners
Design First Builders is a design-build remodeling company that works with homeowners across Glenview, Illinois. We’ve been building in Chicago’s North Shore since 2006, and our team handles design, permits, and construction under one roof. Our office is in Itasca, and we come to your Glenview home for the first meeting.
What do you need to know before remodeling in Glenview?
Most Glenview remodels and additions need a building permit from the Village of Glenview. According to the village’s Development Center / Building Permits page, a permit is needed for work including the “addition, remodeling, altering, or construction of any structure.”
Here’s what to expect:
- Review time. Plans are routed to several village divisions, and review comments usually come back within 10 business days. Complex permits typically get an initial review within two weeks.
- Contractor checks. After reviews are approved, the village checks the contractor’s license, bond, and insurance before it issues the permit.
- Online submittals. The village encourages electronic submittals through its web portal.
- Where to go. The Development Center is at 2500 East Lake Avenue.
Rules and timelines can change, so check the village’s page for your project.
Is winter a smart time to plan a Glenview remodel?
It can be, because Glenview offers a discount on permit fees for projects filed in winter. The village says applications filed between December 1 and February 28 receive a 25% discount on building and plan review fees for single-family home improvements, including room additions, interior remodeling, and accessory structures like garages, decks, and pools. It’s a discount on those fees, not on the cost of your project.
If you want to build in spring, that’s also a good time to finish design and submit plans. Learn more in our guide to winter home remodeling in Chicagoland.
What kind of homes do Glenview remodels involve?
Glenview is a village with long-established neighborhoods and newer areas, so remodeling needs vary widely from street to street. According to the Village of Glenview, the village incorporated in 1899, grew around the railroad and nursery land, and developed The Glen on the former Naval Air Station Glenview site after the base closed in 1995. The village calls The Glen the latest of its many neighborhoods.
That mix means one homeowner may be updating a closed-off kitchen in an older home, while another wants more space in a newer one. We start by looking at your house and how your family uses it.
Remodeling projects we take on in Glenview
Kitchen remodeling
Many homeowners want a kitchen that connects to the rest of the house. We can reconfigure layouts, open walls where the structure allows, and build custom cabinetry around your plan. See our guides to open vs. closed kitchen layouts and Chicago kitchen remodel costs, and our kitchen remodeling projects.
Bathroom remodeling
We plan layout, tile, plumbing, and ventilation together, whether you’re refreshing a hall bath or building a spa-style primary suite. See our bathroom remodeling page.
Basement remodeling
A finished basement can add a family room, guest suite, office, or gym without changing your home’s footprint. Before we design, we check moisture, insulation, ceiling height, and egress. See our basement remodeling page.
Home additions and second stories
When rearranging isn’t enough, an addition adds the space your family needs. We build bump-outs, ground-level additions, and second stories, and we plan the structure, mechanical systems, and connection to your home. Read about home addition mistakes to avoid, full vs. partial second stories, and family room additions. Most additions in the Chicago suburbs take about three to seven months from design through completion. See our home additions page.
Custom cabinetry
Custom cabinets are built to fit your space and your style. Compare our two lines in AnnTucker vs. Arbor Mills custom cabinets.
How does design-build work for Glenview homeowners?
With design-build, one team handles your design and your construction, so your plans are checked against cost and building details from the start. That means fewer handoffs, one point of contact, and a project manager who coordinates the work. Learn more in design-build vs. general contractor and see our process.
Frequently asked questions about remodeling in Glenview
Do I need a permit to remodel in Glenview?
Most remodels and additions do. The Village of Glenview requires a permit for work including additions, remodeling, and altering structures. Your team can tell you what your project needs.
How long does a Glenview building permit take?
The village says review comments usually return within 10 business days, and complex permits typically get an initial review within two weeks. Timelines can vary, so build permit time into your schedule.
Is there a discount on Glenview permit fees?
How much does a remodel in Glenview cost?
It depends on your layout, materials, and what’s found once work begins. On average, full design-build kitchen remodels in the Chicago area often land around $100,000–$120,000, but that’s a general guide, not a quote. See our kitchen remodel cost guide.
What should I ask a Glenview remodeling contractor?
Ask about licensing and insurance, who manages the job day to day, what’s in the quote, who handles permits, and how changes are priced. See how to vet a contractor and 9 home remodeling mistakes homeowners make.
Remodeling near Glenview
We also serve nearby Wilmette, Evanston, Skokie, Des Plaines, and Arlington Heights. See all service areas.
Ready to talk about your Glenview home?
At your first meeting, our team comes to your Glenview home, talks through your goals, and walks you through your options.
