Plaster walls in an older home
We work with original plaster rather than tearing it out, repairing cracks and soft spots so the paint looks smooth.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Kitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper in Evanston, IL
Kitchen walls and ceilings in Evanston degreased, patched and painted in a washable finish, or papered with a scrubbable wallcovering.
- Crews working in Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen wall problems we fix in Evanston
Kitchen walls get grease, steam and fingerprints that bedroom walls never see, so the prep and the paint have to be different. In Evanston we degrease, patch and prime, then finish walls and ceilings in a washable satin or semi-gloss, or hang a scrubbable wallcovering.
Old paint in a home built before 1978
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint under newer coats. We follow EPA lead-safe practices: containment, no dry sanding and HEPA cleanup.
Dated or peeling wallpaper
Old wallpaper with curling seams or a pattern from decades ago is scored, steamed and removed, then the wall is cleaned of paste.
Steam and moisture over the stove and sink
Moist areas need a paint that resists mildew and tolerates frequent cleaning. Semi-gloss or a kitchen-and-bath paint works well there.
A wallpaper border along the ceiling
A border at the top of the wall dates a kitchen fast. We remove it and blend the wall so no outline shows.
Colors that clash after new cabinets or counters
We paint the walls last in a kitchen update, so the color is chosen against the finished cabinets and tops.
Uneven texture or old patches
Bumpy walls from past repairs are smoothed with a thin skim coat before priming.
Grease film on the walls
Paint rolled over kitchen grease peels and stays tacky. Degreasing is the first and most important step of our prep.
What's included
- Color and finish selectionWe help pick colors and the right sheen for each surface: walls, ceiling and trim.
- Wallpaper removalWallcoverings and borders removed with the drywall face kept intact.
- DegreasingWalls and ceilings washed with a degreaser and rinsed, especially near the range.
- Patching and skim coatingHoles, cracks and dents filled; rough areas skimmed and sanded smooth.
- Ceiling paintingCeilings painted first, with stain-blocking primer over any water marks.
- Wall paintingWalls rolled and brushed with straight lines at every edge.
- Wallpaper hangingScrubbable paper installed level, pattern matched and smoothed out.
Options to choose from
Semi-gloss paintTougher and easier to scrub; good for trim and areas near the stove and sink.
Stain-blocking primerUsed over stains and patches before the finish coats.
Vinyl and scrubbable wallpaperWashable papers that stand up to daily cleaning.
Paint or wallpaperPaint is easiest to touch up; wallpaper adds pattern and works best away from the range.
Satin paintThe usual choice for kitchen walls: washable without being shiny.
Before and after: kitchens near Evanston
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar foursquare in Evanston
The site: a prewar foursquare in Evanston. Before: 1940s black-and-yellow ceramic tile. What bothered the owners most: faded paint and old patches. After: the walls skim-coated and painted a warm white, crisp lines at the trim. On site this meant wallpaper removal, patching and skim coating, plus ceiling painting.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Skokie
A 1950s ranch in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. Before: yellow 4-inch tile. What bothered the owners most: grease-stained walls that wouldn't wipe clean. Finished kitchen: the walls skim-coated and painted a warm white, crisp lines at the trim. The job covered wallpaper removal, degreasing, plus patching and skim coating.
Kitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper in a 1950s ranch, Park Ridge
This one is a 1950s ranch in Park Ridge. Before: mint-green 4-inch ceramic tile. What bothered the owners most: faded paint and old patches. Finished kitchen: the walls skim-coated and painted a warm white, crisp lines at the trim. The job covered color and finish selection, ceiling painting, plus wall painting.
Kitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar foursquare: before and after
Finished: soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →
Before
AfterEvanston kitchen, prewar brick bungalow: kitchen cabinet painting
What changed: the same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Evanston →How the job goes
- Tell us what you wantDescribe the change you want and share pictures of the walls.
- Walkthrough and estimateWe check the walls, any old paper and paint age, then give you a written estimate.
- PrepProtection, paper removal, degreasing, patching and primer.
- Paint or paperCeiling, walls and trim painted, or wallpaper hung, often within a few days.
Kitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper questions from Evanston homeowners
What paint finish is best for kitchen walls?
A washable satin suits most kitchen walls. Behind the stove and sink, semi-gloss holds up better.
Do you hang wallpaper I've already bought?
Yes. We check the paper for kitchen suitability and quantity before hanging.
Which colors work well in a kitchen?
We recommend testing large swatches near the cabinets and windows before choosing.
What does it cost to paint a kitchen?
Prep, repairs and the number of colors drive the price. You get it in writing after we see the walls.
Do you paint ceilings too?
We do, and it usually brightens the whole room. Stains get a primer first.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Do Evanston condo associations need to approve kitchen painting job?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for kitchen painting job in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Kitchen Wall Painting & Wallpaper nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.