Soffits above the cabinets
Soffits waste the top foot of the wall. We open them up, deal with any duct inside and run cabinets to the ceiling.
Serving Elgin & nearby St. Charles, Bartlett
Kitchen Remodeling in Elgin, IL
Get your kitchen remodel priced by a contractor who works in Elgin — and know what to expect before the estimate visit.
- Kitchen remodels across Elgin ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Kitchen problems we solve in Elgin
A kitchen remodel in Elgin usually starts with one complaint — no counter space, cabinets that are falling apart, or a room that is closed off from the rest of the house. We fix the cause, not just the look: layout, storage, lighting, wiring and plumbing, then the finishes you see every day.
Tile counters and fluorescent box lights
Tile counters with stained grout and a fluorescent box overhead are two quick wins: new stone and flush LED lights.
Kitchen cut off from the family room
If you can't see the family room or the backyard from the sink, we look at opening a wall or moving the sink to a window or an island.
Small kitchen that feels cramped
In a small kitchen every inch counts: cabinets to the ceiling, slim appliances and smart corner storage.
Not enough storage
Wall cabinets to the ceiling, a pantry pull-out, deep pot drawers and a corner solution that actually opens — storage is usually the first thing we fix in the plan.
Cabinets are falling apart
Particleboard that has swollen under the sink, loose face frames and drawers held together with glue — once the boxes go, paint won't save them. We replace them and fix the leak that caused it.
New appliances won't fit
Today's appliances are bigger and need more power and venting. We build the openings, circuits and ducts around the models you choose.
No counter space
When the coffee maker, toaster and mixer leave no room to work, we plan longer runs, a peninsula or an island and give small appliances their own home.
What's included
- Design and layoutWe measure, draw the layout and walk you through 3D views and material samples before work starts.
- CabinetsNew cabinet boxes and doors in the style you choose, leveled, anchored and adjusted.
- FlooringNew flooring under and around the kitchen — LVP, tile or hardwood — with clean transitions.
- Plumbing and gasSink, faucet, dishwasher and ice-maker lines, plus gas line changes by licensed trades.
- Electrical and lightingDedicated appliance circuits, GFCI outlets, recessed lights, pendants and under-cabinet LEDs.
- Drywall and paintWall repair after demolition, primer and paint on walls and ceiling.
- Project managementOne project manager, a written timeline and updates at every phase.
Choices you'll make
Granite and quartziteNatural stone slabs you choose in person; heat resistant, sealed once a year or so.
Quartz countersConsistent color, no sealing and easy cleaning; keep hot pans on a trivet.
Flat-panel (slab) cabinetsSeamless doors in wood veneer or matte laminate for a modern, minimal look.
Hardwood flooringRuns continuously from kitchen to living areas; can be sanded and refinished later.
Luxury vinyl plankA waterproof floor that handles spills and dogs and installs over most subfloors.
Kitchen Remodeling before and after — Elgin homes
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1990s two-story colonial, Elgin
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Gifford Park. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam, 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. The reason for the call: a kitchen that looked and worked like it was decades old. The result: cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included design and layout, cabinets, plus electrical and lighting.
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
A 1990s two-story colonial in St. Charles, a typical kitchen for St. Charles. What we started with: 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. The reason for the call: cabinets that were falling apart. The result: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. On site this meant flooring, electrical and lighting, plus drywall and paint.
Kitchen Remodeling in St. Charles →Before
AfterBartlett kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen remodeling
A 1990s two-story colonial in Bartlett, a typical kitchen for Bartlett. Before: 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. Finished kitchen: 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 design and layout, electrical and lighting, plus drywall and paint.
Kitchen Remodeling in Bartlett →
Before
AfterElgin kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen design & layout planning
What changed: a new layout with an island, cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers, warm walnut butcher block counters and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Elgin →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in a 1980s two-story, Elgin
What changed: new cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Elgin →From first visit to final walk-through
- In-home consultationA walk-through of your kitchen: measurements, a look behind the sink and at the panel, and your wish list.
- Design and written estimateLayout drawings, material choices and a line-item estimate you can compare.
- Ordering and permitsCabinets are ordered — lead times are often several weeks — and we file the permit.
- ConstructionTear-out, rough-ins, inspections, cabinet install, counter templating, tile and fixtures.
- Final walk-throughWe adjust every door and drawer, finish the punch list and walk the kitchen with you.
Kitchen Remodeling questions from Elgin homeowners
My home was built before 1978. Is lead paint an issue?
It can be, so we work lead-safe on older homes: containment, no dry sanding and HEPA cleanup.
Is it worth keeping my pre-1940 layout?
If the layout works, keeping it lets the budget go to cabinets and counters. We suggest changes only where they pay off.
Can we live at home during the remodel?
Most families do. We seal the work area with dust walls and help you set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge and a microwave in another room.
What does a kitchen remodel cost?
Cabinets, layout changes and materials drive the price. After measuring, we send a line-item estimate so you can adjust the scope.
Do you help with design and choosing materials?
Yes. Design is part of the job: layout, 3D views and help choosing cabinets, counters, tile and lighting.
Does Elgin require a licensed plumber for kitchen remodel?
Plumbing contractors need a current Illinois 055 license and notarized letter of intent; plumber must be present at inspection with 058 license. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Elgin contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
City requires a notarized letter of intent from all licensed contractors; general contractors submit one for each licensed subcontractor. We take care of that before work starts.
Which Elgin homes do you most often see for kitchen remodel?
In Elgin we see Cobblestone homes, Victorian and Sears catalog kit homes. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Do I need historic review for kitchen remodel in Elgin?
Elgin has locally reviewed areas, including Spring-Douglas Historic District and Elgin Heritage Commission. Exterior changes there can need review; interior-only work usually does not. We check before anything changes on the outside.
Does Elgin require a licensed electrician for kitchen remodel?
Electrical service upgrades must be done by a licensed electrician; electrical contractors need a license from an Illinois municipality that gives a written exam, plus notarized letter of intent. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a permit for kitchen remodel in Elgin?
It depends on the scope. Elgin's rule in short: No kitchen-specific rule; interior remodeling (including kitchens) uses the general Remodeling Permit Application. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court.
Do you work in my part of Elgin?
Yes. Our crews work across Elgin, including Gifford Park, West Side, Downtown — ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140 — and nearby St. Charles, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Elgin
- A lot of Elgin kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elgin homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Spring-Douglas Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Gifford ParkWest SideDowntown
ZIP 60123ZIP 60124ZIP 60120ZIP 60140
Kitchen Remodeling nearby
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Other kitchen services in Elgin
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.