Kitchen Additions in Highland Park, IL

When a Highland Park kitchen needs more room, not just new cabinets

We build kitchen additions and bump-outs for Highland Park homes where the kitchen has run out of room. One contractor coordinates the drawings, permit, excavation, framing, roofing, mechanical work and the new kitchen inside it.

Single-family homes with yard to spare

Homes with a deep backyard can often take a larger addition, with the kitchen expanding into it and a mudroom or eating area alongside.

A pre-1940 kitchen on a slab or crawlspace

We match the new foundation to the old one, whether a basement wall, crawlspace or slab, so floors line up and plumbing can reach.

Worried about living through construction

We build the shell first and break through the old wall late in the project, which keeps the time without a kitchen as short as possible.

A back door or deck in the way

We handle what's already outside the kitchen wall: the door, stairs, deck, downspouts and anything buried near the footing.

Remodeling alone won't solve it

Sometimes the answer is cheaper than an addition: a wall removal or a new layout. We tell you honestly whether you need more square footage before drawing one.

Second cook, second sink, no space

A bigger island with a prep sink, a beverage area or a second dishwasher all need floor space the original room lacks. An addition supplies it.

The addition has to match the house

We plan the exterior as carefully as the kitchen: matching brick or siding, a roof pitch that ties in and windows that fit the existing style.

Dark kitchen with one small window

Bump-outs bring in light: a row of windows, a glass door to the yard or a skylight over the new section changes how the whole kitchen feels.

See your problem here?Call us (708) 400-7049 Request a callback

What the project covers

Permits and plan reviewPermit filing, any corrections the village asks for and inspections through final.
Excavation and foundationDigging, footings and foundation walls or a slab, depending on how the existing house is built.
Framing and roof tie-inNew framing connected to the house, a roof that ties into the existing one and a weather-tight shell.
Windows, doors and exterior finishExterior cladding, windows and an entry door that blend with the original home.
Plumbing, electrical and HVACSupply and drain lines, new circuits and ductwork extended into the addition.
Grading, gutters and drainageSoil regraded away from the new walls, gutters and downspouts extended so water stays clear of the foundation.
The new kitchenCabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring and lighting installed across the old and new space.

Choices you'll make

Full foundation vs. slab vs. piersFoundation choice depends on the existing house and whether you want basement space under the addition.

Cantilevered bump-outFor a small projection, framing that hangs off the existing floor can avoid digging, if the structure supports it.

Skylights and vaulted ceilingsThe new roof can allow a vaulted ceiling or roof windows that the old kitchen never had.

Rear kitchen additionA larger addition behind the house that can hold the kitchen, a dining area or a family room.

Windows and patio doorsGlass is often the reason to build out: windows on the new walls and a door to the yard.

Kitchens like yours in Highland Park: before and after

Kitchen Additions in a postwar ranch / cape cod / bi-level — before — A Highland Park postwar bi-level: before and after

A postwar bi-level near Downtown Highland Park, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. The kitchen as it was: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. The reason for the call: no space to eat together and too little daylight. Finished kitchen: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in deep olive with polished nickel pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, light oak hardwood flooring through the old and new space and two glass pendants and recessed lights. The job covered permits and plan review, excavation and foundation, plus the new kitchen.

Kitchen Additions in a postwar ranch / cape cod / bi-level — in progress — A Highland Park postwar bi-level: before and after

A postwar bi-level near Downtown Highland Park, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. The kitchen as it was: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. The reason for the call: no space to eat together and too little daylight. Finished kitchen: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in deep olive with polished nickel pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, light oak hardwood flooring through the old and new space and two glass pendants and recessed lights. The job covered permits and plan review, excavation and foundation, plus the new kitchen.

Kitchen Additions project in Northbrook, before — Before and after: a 1950s ranch in Northbrook

This one is a 1950s ranch near Downtown Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate and a fluorescent box light. The reason for the call: no space to eat together and too little daylight. After: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in two-tone with brass hardware, white quartz counters, light oak LVP floor through the old and new space and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included permits and plan review, excavation and foundation, plus grading, gutters and drainage.
Kitchen Additions in Northbrook →

Kitchen Additions project in Northbrook, after — Before and after: a 1950s ranch in Northbrook

This one is a 1950s ranch near Downtown Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate and a fluorescent box light. The reason for the call: no space to eat together and too little daylight. After: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in two-tone with brass hardware, white quartz counters, light oak LVP floor through the old and new space and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included permits and plan review, excavation and foundation, plus grading, gutters and drainage.
Kitchen Additions in Northbrook →

Kitchen Additions project in Buffalo Grove, before — Buffalo Grove kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen additions

The site: a 1980s two-story near The Highlands. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: a kitchen too small for the family to eat in. Finished kitchen: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in light gray uppers and dusty rose lowers with brushed nickel bar pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring through the old and new space and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included permits and plan review, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, plus grading, gutters and drainage.
Kitchen Additions in Buffalo Grove →

Kitchen Additions project in Buffalo Grove, after — Buffalo Grove kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen additions

The site: a 1980s two-story near The Highlands. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: a kitchen too small for the family to eat in. Finished kitchen: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in light gray uppers and dusty rose lowers with brushed nickel bar pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring through the old and new space and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included permits and plan review, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, plus grading, gutters and drainage.
Kitchen Additions in Buffalo Grove →

Kitchen Design & Layout Planning project near Highland Park, before — Before and after: a postwar bi-level in Highland Park

Finished: a new layout with an island, cabinets in two-tone, white quartz counters and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Highland Park →

Kitchen Design & Layout Planning project near Highland Park, after — Before and after: a postwar bi-level in Highland Park

Finished: a new layout with an island, cabinets in two-tone, white quartz counters and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Highland Park →

Accessible Kitchen Remodeling project near Highland Park, before — A Highland Park 1960s ranch: before and after

A lowered black honed granite counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy with polished nickel pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →

Accessible Kitchen Remodeling project near Highland Park, after — A Highland Park 1960s ranch: before and after

A lowered black honed granite counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy with polished nickel pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →

From first visit to final walk-through

Site visit and feasibilityA visit to measure the house and lot and confirm an addition is possible.
Design and estimateDrawings for the addition and kitchen, plus a written, itemized estimate.
Permit and plan reviewWe submit to the village and respond to plan review until the permit is issued.
Building the shellFoundation, framing, roof, windows and exterior, with inspections at each stage.
Connecting and finishingThe final stretch: break-through, drywall, cabinets, counters and a walk-through with you.

Book an estimate (708) 400-7049 Request a callback

Kitchen Additions questions from Highland Park homeowners

Is a bump-out enough, or do I need a full addition?

A bump-out solves a depth problem; a full addition solves a size problem. We'll show you which one your kitchen has.

Does a bump-out need a foundation?

Most do. A small cantilevered bump-out can sometimes be supported by the floor framing, depending on joist direction, size and code. We'll tell you which applies.

Are bump-out kitchen additions allowed in Highland Park?

Generally, if the lot has room under the zoning rules. We confirm it for your property early.

How long does plan review take?

Often several weeks, sometimes longer. We file complete drawings to avoid avoidable back-and-forth.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen addition in Highland Park?

Yes, a building permit and zoning compliance are required. We file the permit and meet the inspectors.

Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?

The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.

Which Highland Park homes do you most often see for kitchen addition?

In Highland Park we see Ravinia District retains early artists' colony character and architecture. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.

Do you work in my part of Highland Park?

Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.

Working in Highland Park

A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.

Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's

ZIP 60035