Soffits above the cabinets
Many 1990s kitchens have a boxed soffit over the wall cabinets. We find out what is inside, reroute ducts where possible and take the cabinets to the ceiling.
Serving Bartlett & nearby Hanover Park, Carol Stream
Get your kitchen remodel priced by a contractor who works in Bartlett — and know what to expect before the estimate visit.
Most Bartlett homeowners call us about one thing that bothers them every day: a cramped layout, worn-out cabinets or a dark, closed kitchen. We plan the whole room around how you cook, then handle cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting and the trades behind the walls.
Many 1990s kitchens have a boxed soffit over the wall cabinets. We find out what is inside, reroute ducts where possible and take the cabinets to the ceiling.
Tile counters with stained grout and a fluorescent box overhead are two quick wins: new stone and flush LED lights.
If the cook can't see the rest of the family, we open the wall or reorient the layout so the kitchen faces the room.
We plan small kitchens around storage and light — the two things that make them feel bigger.
If one person has to step aside every time the other opens the fridge, the zones are wrong. We separate prep, cooking and cleanup so the kitchen works for two.
If the kitchen still says 1990, we change what dates it: cabinet doors, counters, backsplash, lighting and hardware, plus flooring that ties into the rest of the floor.
A single center light and dark counters make cooking harder than it should be. We add recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting with dimmers.
A 36-inch refrigerator, a panel-ready dishwasher or a range hood that vents outside often needs new cabinet openings, a new circuit or a duct run. We plan for them from day one.
Before
In progress
AfterThis one is a 1980s two-story in Bartlett. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim, white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines, oak parquet and a brass chandelier over the nook. What bothered the owners most: cabinets that were falling apart. After: cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light beige 18x18 porcelain tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included countertops, electrical and lighting, plus drywall and paint.
Before
AfterA raised ranch near Ontarioville, a typical kitchen for Hanover Park. What we started with: dark stained oak cabinets with wide face frames and a scalloped wood valance over the sink, harvest-gold laminate, brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a large fluorescent light box. The reason for the call: tired laminate, old flooring and poor light. After: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with satin brass pulls, white quartz with soft gray veining counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. Work included plumbing and gas, electrical and lighting, plus permits and inspections.
Kitchen Remodeling in Hanover Park →
Before
AfterThe site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Carol Stream. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip, beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: a dated kitchen with worn surfaces everywhere. After: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included countertops, plumbing and gas, plus project management.
Kitchen Remodeling in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterA new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Bartlett →
Before
AfterWhat changed: new cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, installed level and ready for dark soapstone-look quartz counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Bartlett →ZIP 60103ZIP 60120
Costs and budgetingKitchen Remodel Cost in Chicago: Budget Breakdown, Cost per Square Foot and LaborKitchen remodel cost is driven by scope more than size. National cost guides put a typical project between about $14,600 and $41,600, with an average…3 min read
Running the projectKitchen Remodel Timeline & Checklist: How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?How long does a kitchen remodel take? For a same-layout kitchen, construction usually runs about four to eight weeks once cabinets and materials are…3 min read
Running the projectKitchen Remodel Permits: Do I Need a Permit to Remodel My Kitchen?Usually yes. Kitchen work that touches plumbing, electrical wiring, gas lines, ventilation or the structure almost always needs a permit and…3 min read
Running the projectHow to Choose a Kitchen Remodeling Contractor: Questions, Paperwork and Contract ChecklistTo choose a kitchen remodeling contractor in the Chicago area, confirm local licensing or registration and insurance, ask specific questions about…3 min read
Kitchen Design & Layout PlanningLayouts, 3D plans and material picks before work starts.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & ReplacementNew cabinets installed, leveled and ready for counters.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Call us — we'll check your ZIP, answer your questions and book an in-home estimate.