A 1970s layout with a peninsula and soffits
Many 1970s kitchens have a peninsula that blocks the dining area and soffits that eat the top of the wall. We check what's inside the soffits and whether the peninsula can open up or turn into an island.
Serving Itasca & nearby Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Itasca, IL
Measured layouts, 3D views and an appliance plan for your Itasca kitchen, drawn before anything is ordered.
- Local crews working in Itasca ZIP 60143
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Layout problems we solve in Itasca kitchens
We plan kitchens for Itasca homeowners who want the room to work better, not just look newer. You get measured drawings, an appliance plan, a cabinet layout and 3D views, and because we also build kitchens, the plan is one we know can be built.
Condo kitchen with fixed plumbing
Risers, shared walls and association rules set the limits in a condo. Our plan starts from what is fixed and makes the most of the rest.
Corners and dead storage
Blind corner cabinets swallow pots you never see again. We plan corner pull-outs, drawers that turn the corner, or simply move the run so the corner disappears.
No landing space next to appliances
Nowhere to set a hot pan beside the range or groceries beside the fridge is a planning mistake, not a size problem. We leave counter on the handle side of the refrigerator and on both sides of the cooktop.
Narrow galley kitchen
Narrow kitchens fail when appliances face each other and doors collide. We stagger them and pick drawer storage so two people can still pass.
Doorways and traffic through the kitchen
When the back door, the basement stairs and the dining room all open into the cook's path, everyone walks through the busiest spot. We shift the work zone out of that route.
No room for an island
We check the floor space first. A smaller island, a peninsula or a table at counter height can give the same seating and prep space without the squeeze.
The work triangle doesn't work
If you walk across the room every time you go from the fridge to the stove, the triangle is too stretched. We pull the sink, range and refrigerator into a tighter route without crowding them.
What's included
- Site measurementA full measure of the room, plus where the drain, gas line, duct and panel sit.
- Layout optionsTwo or three layout concepts, such as an L with an island, a U or a galley, compared side by side.
- Appliance planAppliance sizes, clearances, hood venting and hookups confirmed against the models you pick.
- 3D viewsRenderings from the angles you will see most, with your cabinet colors and counters.
- Material selectionsSamples of cabinets, counters and tile reviewed together in your own light.
- Drawings for permit and constructionPlan and elevation drawings our crew builds from, plus what the village needs when the work requires a permit.
- Written, itemized estimateA line-item estimate tied to the final drawings, so you see where the money goes.
Materials and options
Peninsula instead of an islandA counter attached to one run, giving seating and prep space where a full island won't fit.
U-shaped layoutCabinets on three sides, a good choice for a closed kitchen where one cook does most of the work.
Shaker and slab cabinet stylesThe two door styles we draw most often, shown in 3D in your colors.
L-shaped layout with an islandTwo perpendicular runs plus an island, which works well when the room is open on one side.
Two-tone and wood accentsContrasting island or lower cabinets, a look that tends to age better than one-season trends.
What the work looks like in Itasca homes
Before
In progress
AfterItasca kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen design & layout planning
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Nordic Park. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip and almond appliances. What bothered the owners most: a cramped layout and storage that didn't work. The result: 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. On site this meant layout options, appliance plan, plus drawings for permit and construction.
Before
AfterKitchen Design & Layout Planning in a postwar bi-level, Wood Dale
This one is a postwar bi-level in Wood Dale. What we started with: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and an older white range and a white refrigerator. The main complaint was cabinets and a layout that no longer fit how they cook. Finished kitchen: a new layout with an island, cabinets in warm white shaker, light gray quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. The job covered site measurement, layout options, plus material selections.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Wood Dale →
Before
AfterAn Elk Grove Village 1960s ranch: before and after
This one is a 1960s ranch in Elk Grove Village. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and white appliances. The main complaint was no place to sit and too little storage. After: a new layout with an island, cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers, black honed granite counters and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included site measurement, material selections, plus written, itemized estimate.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterAn Itasca 1980s two-story: before and 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.
Kitchen Remodeling in Itasca →
Before
AfterCustom Kitchen Cabinets in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Itasca
Built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in pale sage with brushed nickel bar pulls and warm walnut butcher block counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Itasca →The project, step by step
- Measure and listenA walk-through with a tape measure and your wish list in hand.
- Layout optionsWe present a few floor plans and talk through what each one gains and gives up.
- 3D views and selectionsRenderings, samples and revisions until the room looks right to you.
- Final drawings and estimateDetailed drawings and a line-item quote you can review before ordering.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning questions from Itasca homeowners
Can you design a condo kitchen?
We do. Condo plans start with the building's rules and fixed plumbing; we design around both.
Which kitchen trends will date quickly?
Bold finishes on surfaces that are hard to replace age fastest. We suggest timeless boxes and counters with personality in the details.
How much does kitchen design cost?
It depends on the size of the kitchen and how much changes: a same-layout refresh needs less design time than moving walls and plumbing. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
How long does the design take?
A simple refresh can be planned quickly; a full re-layout with permit drawings takes longer. We give you a timeline at the first meeting.
Do I need drawings for a permit in Itasca?
Cosmetic changes often need no permit; moving walls, adding circuits or relocating plumbing usually does. We check the village's requirements and draw what they ask for.
Do Itasca condo associations need to approve kitchen design?
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 Itasca-registered contractor for kitchen design?
Contractors must register with the Village and be bonded before a permit is issued; Certificate of Insurance naming the Village required. We take care of that before work starts.
What is the Itasca building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building Division), phone (630) 773-5568. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
What kind of Itasca homes do you work in?
In Itasca we see Pre-1900 and early 1900s homes in the historic district and Suburban growth after the 1940s. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Do you work in my part of Itasca?
Yes. Our crews work across Itasca, including North Side, South Side, Nordic Park, The Ranchettes — ZIP 60143 — and nearby Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Addison.
Working in Itasca
- A lot of Itasca kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in the Itasca Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
North SideSouth SideNordic ParkThe RanchettesItasca Historical DistrictWalnut Street downtown
ZIP 60143
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning nearby
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Other kitchen services in Itasca
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Custom Kitchen CabinetsBuilt-to-fit cabinetry up to the ceiling.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula InstallationNew islands and peninsulas with seating and storage.
Accessible Kitchen RemodelingKitchens that work for every age and ability.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.