Lake Forest Home Remodeling: Kitchens, Baths, Basements & Additions

If you’re planning a remodel in Lake Forest, Design First Builders can take it from first sketch to final walkthrough. We’re a design-build company based in Itasca, remodeling kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions across Chicago’s suburbs since 2006. A designer walks your home with you at the start, so the plan comes from your actual rooms and your actual routine.

What should you know about remodeling in Lake Forest?

Start with the history, because it shapes the houses. The City of Lake Forest says the town plan was platted in 1857 and the city was incorporated in 1861. It describes its setting as high on the bluffs overlooking an inland sea, and reports 19,367 residents in the 2020 Census across about 17 square miles.

The City also lists five Local Historic Districts: Lake Forest, Vine-Oakwood-Green Bay Road, Green Bay Road, Meadowood Dairy, and Grove School. It says they were created to provide a local means of protection for its historic areas. If your house is in or near one of them, ask the City what applies before you finalize a design.

Where do most Lake Forest remodels begin?

It depends on the house.

• Homes with a long past often hold details worth saving and surprises worth planning for. We check what’s behind the walls early and suggest an extra 10 to 15 percent in reserve. Our guide to remodeling an older home lists what to look at first.
• Homes with a sound structure and a layout that no longer works, like a kitchen walled off from the family room, are often straightforward places to improve.
• Homes that have simply run out of room may call for an addition or a finished basement.

Our Lake Forest remodeling services

Kitchen remodeling in Lake Forest

Custom cabinets, a layout that fits how you cook, and surfaces chosen for daily use. See our Lake Forest kitchen remodel, our kitchen remodel cost guide, and our guide to kitchen layout types. Our kitchen remodeling page shows what we build.

Bathroom remodeling in Lake Forest

Layout, tile, plumbing, and lighting planned as one. See our bathroom remodeling page, our bathroom timeline guide, and our small bathroom remodel ideas.

Basement remodeling in Lake Forest

A family room, guest suite, office, or gym without changing your home’s footprint. See our basement remodeling page.

Home additions in Lake Forest

A bump-out, a family room, a primary suite, or a second story. See our home additions page, our guide to a full or partial second story, and our home addition mistakes guide.

Custom cabinets for Lake Forest homes

We offer cabinets from our AnnTucker Cabinetry shop in Itasca and from Arbor Mills, a custom cabinet maker in Lockport, Illinois. Our AnnTucker vs. Arbor Mills comparison explains the difference.

Why one team for design and construction?

Design-build puts your plans and your construction under one team, so the design you approve is the one that gets built. You have one point of contact and a project manager who coordinates the trades. Our design-build vs. general contractor guide compares the two, and our process page shows each step.

Lake Forest projects

We’ve completed a kitchen remodel in Lake Forest, and you can see it here: Lake Forest kitchen remodel. More of our work is on our projects page.

How long will it take?

These are rough guides from our projects. A kitchen takes about 8 to 12 weeks. A primary bathroom takes about 8 to 12 weeks, and a guest bathroom about 4 to 6. A single-story or two-story addition takes about 4 to 6 months, and a second-story addition about 8 to 10. Your project manager confirms your schedule once the design is final.

What should you budget?

A full design-build kitchen with us in the Chicago area often averages $100,000 to $120,000. That’s an average, not a quote. Your layout and selections set the real number, and prices can change if your plans or material costs change. You get an itemized estimate once your design is final. See our kitchen remodel cost guide.

Questions from Lake Forest homeowners

Do you remodel in Lake Forest?

Yes, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions.

Have you finished a project there?

Yes. See our Lake Forest kitchen remodel.

Is my home in a historic district?

The City lists five Local Historic Districts. Check your address with the City before you design.

Do you serve nearby towns?

Yes, including Highland Park, Northbrook, Glencoe, Winnetka, and Wilmette.

Ready to talk about your Lake Forest home?

Tell us what you’d like to change, and we’ll show you where to begin.