Closed-off kitchen in an older home
Many Evanston homes have a kitchen walled off from the dining room. We check whether the wall is load-bearing, bring in an engineer for the beam and open the space up.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston, IL
Get your kitchen remodel priced by a contractor who works in Evanston — and know what to expect before the estimate visit.
- Kitchen remodels across Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Kitchen problems we solve in Evanston
A kitchen remodel in Evanston 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.
Old wiring and too few outlets
Extension cords and a breaker that trips with two appliances mean the wiring is behind. New dedicated circuits and GFCI outlets fix it.
Uneven floors and plaster walls
Floors that slope and walls that bow are part of an older house. We level, shim and scribe so the new cabinets look straight.
Condo rules and fixed risers
Condo remodels run on the association's rules. We take care of approvals, insurance and elevator bookings and design around fixed plumbing.
Small kitchen that feels cramped
We plan small kitchens around storage and light — the two things that make them feel bigger.
New appliances won't fit
We size cabinet openings for the appliances you actually want — counter-depth fridge, 30- or 36-inch range, built-in microwave drawer — and run the gas, power and venting they need.
Two people can't cook at once
When the sink, range and fridge sit in a line with no landing space, we rearrange the zones and widen the aisle to a comfortable 42 inches where the room allows.
Cabinets are falling apart
Sagging drawer bottoms, doors that won't close and a swollen sink base are signs the boxes have failed. New cabinets with plywood boxes and soft-close hardware are the real fix.
What the project covers
- Design and layoutMeasured drawings, 3D views and an appliance plan, so you see the kitchen before anything is ordered.
- Demolition and protectionDust barriers, covered floors and a clean site at the end of every day; we haul away everything we remove.
- CabinetsStock, semi-custom or custom cabinets, installed level and plumb with soft-close doors and drawers.
- CountertopsQuartz, granite, quartzite or butcher block, templated after the cabinets are set.
- Backsplash and tileSubway, zellige, slab or large-format tile with clean edges and outlets set flush with the tile.
- Electrical and lightingCircuits for the range, microwave and dishwasher, code-compliant outlets and layered lighting.
- Range hood ventingA hood ducted to the outside, sized for your range, with a proper exterior cap.
Choices you'll make
Inset cabinetsDoors set flush inside the face frame — the traditional look that suits older Evanston homes.
Luxury vinyl plankA waterproof floor that handles spills and dogs and installs over most subfloors.
Hardwood flooringTies the kitchen to the rest of the floor and can be refinished as it wears.
Granite and quartziteEach slab is unique — pick yours at the yard. Periodic sealing keeps it stain resistant.
Quartz countersConsistent color, no sealing and easy cleaning; keep hot pans on a trivet.
Before and after: kitchens near Evanston
Before
In progress
AfterBefore and after: a prewar foursquare in Evanston
A prewar foursquare in Evanston, a typical kitchen for Evanston. The kitchen as it was: 1960s birch cabinets painted cream over the years, chipped door edges, old brass hardware, worn beige laminate with a metal edge strip, cracked sheet linoleum and a single glass ceiling fixture. The main complaint was cabinets that were falling apart. After: 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. On site this meant demolition and protection, cabinets, plus backsplash and tile.
Before
AfterSkokie kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen remodeling
A 1950s ranch in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate, vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: tired laminate, old flooring and poor light. After: cabinets in light butter yellow with polished nickel pulls, black honed granite counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included demolition and protection, backsplash and tile, plus electrical and lighting.
Kitchen Remodeling in Skokie →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Glenview
This one is a 1960s ranch near The Glen. What we started with: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate, brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. The main complaint was a dated kitchen with worn surfaces everywhere. The result: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered demolition and protection, cabinets, plus countertops.
Kitchen Remodeling in Glenview →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston
Finished: a new layout with an island, cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Evanston →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in a prewar foursquare, Evanston
What changed: new cabinets in powder blue with polished nickel pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Evanston →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.
- ConstructionDemolition, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, then cabinets, counters, tile and lighting.
- Final walk-throughWe adjust every door and drawer, finish the punch list and walk the kitchen with you.
Kitchen Remodeling questions from Evanston homeowners
What if you find problems behind the walls?
We show you what we found and price the fix in writing before doing anything extra.
My home was built before 1978. Is lead paint an issue?
We assume older painted surfaces may contain lead and work lead-safe: containment, HEPA vacuums and careful cleanup.
Do you work with condo associations?
We handle association approvals, certificates of insurance, quiet hours and elevator reservations.
How long will a remodeled kitchen last?
With quality boxes and proper installation, 20 years or more is normal for the main components.
Do you also remodel bathrooms and basements?
We concentrate on kitchens and the rooms around them, like the dining area and mudroom.
Does Evanston require a licensed electrician for kitchen remodel?
Electrical contractors must register and submit a copy of an electrical license from a testing municipality (or state license if state-regulated). Electrician must be on site for electrical rough inspections. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Does an Evanston historic district affect kitchen remodel?
Evanston has locally reviewed areas, including Preservation Commission reviews exterior work in local districts, the city states it has four local historic districts (the city, s list names Lakeshore and Ridge. Exterior changes there can need review; interior-only work usually does not. We check before anything changes on the outside.
Do I need a Evanston-registered contractor for kitchen remodel?
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.
Evanston plumbing code: who can do the plumbing for kitchen remodel?
No separate plumbing license listing on the registration page; hired plumbing contractors must provide proof of licensure and attend inspections. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
What happens to the old cabinets and debris in Evanston?
Appliances and tires are not collected in regular bulk pickup; call 311 or 847-448-4311 to arrange free removal. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Do I need a permit for kitchen remodel 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 Remodeling nearby
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- All kitchen services in EvanstonRemodels, cabinets, counters, plumbing, appliances and repairs
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Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.