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 Northbrook & nearby Glenview, Highland Park
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Northbrook, IL
Measured layouts, 3D views and an appliance plan for your Northbrook kitchen, drawn before anything is ordered.
- Kitchen remodels across Northbrook ZIP 60062
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Layout problems we solve in Northbrook kitchens
Good kitchen design in Northbrook starts with a tape measure and a list of what annoys you every day. We draw the layout, place the appliances, plan storage and lighting, and show you 3D views before a single cabinet is ordered.
Sink and range on the same wall
One long wall with everything on it leaves almost no prep space between the stations. We consider an island or peninsula that takes one station, or a longer run with a clear prep zone.
Lighting and outlets planned as an afterthought
Outlets that land behind the coffee maker and a single switch for the whole room come from skipping the electrical plan. Ours shows every light, switch and outlet.
The work triangle doesn't work
When the three main stations are spread out or blocked by an island, cooking turns into laps. We rearrange them so the steps between them are short and nothing cuts through the middle.
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.
No room for an island
Not every kitchen should have an island. When the clearances don't work, we look at a peninsula, a rolling cart or a narrower island that still leaves room to walk.
Doorways and traffic through the kitchen
Too many doors make a kitchen hard to lay out. Sometimes moving or closing one opening frees a full wall of cabinets.
You can't picture the finished room
Floor plans are hard to read. We show you 3D views from where you will actually stand, so you can see sight lines, island size and cabinet heights before ordering.
What the project covers
- Site measurementWe measure walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and the positions of plumbing, gas, vents and outlets.
- Layout optionsTwo or three layout concepts, such as an L with an island, a U or a galley, compared side by side.
- Lighting and electrical planAn electrical layout showing each light, switch, dimmer and outlet location.
- 3D viewsThree-dimensional views of the room so you can check heights, sight lines and finishes.
- 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.
Finishes and options
Shaker and slab cabinet stylesThe two door styles we draw most often, shown in 3D in your colors.
Two-tone and wood accentsA painted perimeter with a wood or darker island adds depth without busy finishes.
Peninsula instead of an islandA counter attached to one run, giving seating and prep space where a full island won't fit.
U-shaped layoutThree walls of cabinets give the most counter and storage, as long as the opening stays wide enough.
Galley layoutTwo parallel runs, efficient for one cook and very common in older homes and condos.
Kitchens like yours in Northbrook: before and after
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Design & Layout Planning in a 1950s ranch, Northbrook
A 1950s ranch near Techny, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. 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. What bothered the owners most: a cramped layout and storage that didn't work. After: a new layout with an island, cabinets in warm white shaker, light gray quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. On site this meant 3D views, material selections, plus drawings for permit and construction.
Before
AfterHighland Park kitchen, 1960s ranch: kitchen design & layout planning
This one is a 1960s ranch in Highland Park. What we started with: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate and a built-in wall oven and a cooktop in harvest gold. What bothered the owners most: a layout built around appliances from another era. Finished kitchen: a new layout with an island, cabinets in two-tone, white quartz counters and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. The job covered lighting and electrical plan, material selections, plus drawings for permit and construction.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Highland Park →
Before
AfterKitchen Design & Layout Planning in a 1960s ranch, Mount Prospect
This one is a 1960s ranch in Mount Prospect. What we started with: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and white appliances. The reason for the call: a cramped layout with nowhere to prep. Finished kitchen: 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. On site this meant layout options, lighting and electrical plan, plus 3D views.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a postwar bi-level, Northbrook
Finished: cabinets in forest green with matte black pulls, black honed granite counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Northbrook →
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1960s ranch: custom kitchen cabinets
What changed: built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in white uppers and deep green lowers with matte black pulls and light marble-look quartz counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Northbrook →How your kitchen design goes
- Measure and listenA walk-through with a tape measure and your wish list in hand.
- Layout optionsYou compare layout concepts and pick the one to develop.
- 3D views and selectionsThe chosen plan becomes 3D views, and we pick cabinets, counters and finishes together.
- Final drawings and estimateDetailed drawings and a line-item quote you can review before ordering.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning questions from Northbrook homeowners
Which layout suits my kitchen: galley, L, U or island?
It depends on the room's shape, the doorways and how many people cook. We usually draw two or three options so you can compare them on your own floor plan.
Do you build the kitchen you design?
We do. Design and construction under one roof means the drawings are checked by the people who will build them.
Do I choose appliances before the cabinets?
Pick them first, or at least their sizes. The cabinet plan depends on them.
Can I just use a free kitchen design app?
Bring your app sketches; they help us understand what you like. We then check them against real dimensions, appliance specs and what's inside the walls.
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.
Northbrook building permit for kitchen design: where do I apply?
Permits go through Development & Planning Services, phone 847-664-4050. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Northbrook-registered contractor for kitchen design?
Village contractor license required, good for one year: general contractors $100; electrical $70. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen design in Northbrook?
It depends on the scope. Northbrook's rule in short: Village lists separate permit types: Single Family Alterations - Interior, Electrical (new wiring/outlets), and Plumbing (new fixtures). We handle the permit when one is needed with Development & Planning Services.
Do you work in my part of Northbrook?
Yes. Our crews work across Northbrook, including Techny, Downtown Northbrook — ZIP 60062 — and nearby Glenview, Highland Park, Mount Prospect.
Working in Northbrook
- A lot of Northbrook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Northbrook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development & Planning Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
TechnyDowntown Northbrook
ZIP 60062
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning nearby
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Other kitchen services in Northbrook
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.