Soffits above the cabinets
Many 1970s kitchens have a boxed soffit over the wall cabinets. We find out what is inside, reroute ducts where possible and take the cabinets to the ceiling.
Serving Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine, IL
Get your kitchen remodel priced by a contractor who works in Palatine — and know what to expect before the estimate visit.
- Kitchen remodels across Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Kitchen problems we solve in Palatine
A kitchen remodel in Palatine 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.
Tile counters and fluorescent box lights
Grout lines that never come clean and a buzzing light box are typical in 1970s kitchens. Stone counters and flush LED lighting change the whole room.
Condo rules and fixed risers
In a condo, work hours, elevator reservations and plumbing risers that can't move shape the plan. We work with the association and design around what is fixed.
Dated look
If the kitchen still says 1990, we change what dates it: cabinet doors, counters, backsplash, lighting and hardware, plus flooring that ties into the rest of the floor.
Cabinets are falling apart
Particleboard that has swollen under the sink, loose face frames and drawers held together with glue — once the boxes go, paint won't save them. We replace them and fix the leak that caused it.
Small kitchen that feels cramped
Taller cabinets, a counter-depth fridge, lighter colors and a peninsula instead of an island make a small kitchen work harder.
The kitchen is dark
One ceiling fixture leaves you working in your own shadow. We plan recessed lights, pendants over the island and LED under-cabinet strips on separate switches and dimmers.
No counter space
Groceries end up on the stove and there is nowhere to roll out dough. We add working surface by extending a cabinet run, adding a peninsula or reclaiming a blind corner.
Everything in a kitchen remodel
- Design and layoutWe measure, draw the layout and walk you through 3D views and material samples before work starts.
- CountertopsQuartz, granite, quartzite or butcher block, templated after the cabinets are set.
- Backsplash and tileTile backsplash with straight grout lines, finished edges and outlets brought out to the tile surface.
- Plumbing and gasNew supply and drain lines where the sink moves, dishwasher hookup and gas for the range.
- Drywall and paintWall repair after demolition, primer and paint on walls and ceiling.
- Permits and inspectionsWe pull the permit when the work needs one and meet the inspector at each stage.
- Project managementOne project manager, a written timeline and updates at every phase.
Finishes and options
Hardwood flooringTies the kitchen to the rest of the floor and can be refinished as it wears.
Flat-panel (slab) cabinetsSlab doors with no frame — easy to wipe down and a natural fit for modern kitchens.
Quartz countersEngineered stone that never needs sealing and resists stains — the everyday workhorse.
Granite and quartziteEach slab is unique — pick yours at the yard. Periodic sealing keeps it stain resistant.
Luxury vinyl plankA waterproof floor that handles spills and dogs and installs over most subfloors.
Kitchen Remodeling before and after — Palatine homes
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen remodeling
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine, a typical kitchen for Palatine. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip, beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The main complaint was tired laminate, old flooring and poor light. Finished kitchen: cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with polished nickel pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, a white herringbone tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. The job covered plumbing and gas, drywall and paint, plus permits and inspections.
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights postwar bi-level: before and after
A postwar bi-level in Arlington Heights, a typical kitchen for Arlington Heights. What we started with: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band, 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: worn-out cabinets and a kitchen that no longer worked. The result: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered design and layout, countertops, plus project management.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Buffalo Grove
A two-story colonial from the 1990s near Windfield, a typical kitchen for Buffalo Grove. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip, beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: tired laminate, old flooring and poor light. The result: cabinets in pale sage with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. On site this meant plumbing and gas, permits and inspections, plus project management.
Kitchen Remodeling in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine
What changed: a new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Palatine →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in a 1990s two-story colonial, Palatine
New cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Palatine →From first visit to final walk-through
- In-home consultationWe measure the room, look at the walls, wiring and plumbing and listen to what isn't working.
- 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.
- ConstructionTear-out, rough-ins, inspections, cabinet install, counter templating, tile and fixtures.
- Final walk-throughWe adjust every door and drawer, finish the punch list and walk the kitchen with you.
Kitchen Remodeling questions from Palatine homeowners
My home was built before 1978. Is lead paint an issue?
It can be, so we work lead-safe on older homes: containment, no dry sanding and HEPA cleanup.
Do you work with condo associations?
Yes. Insurance certificates, work hours, elevator bookings and approvals are part of how we work in condos.
Is it worth keeping my 1970s layout?
Often yes — keeping plumbing and gas where they are saves time and money. We change the layout only where it fixes a real problem.
Do you help with design and choosing materials?
Yes. Design is part of the job: layout, 3D views and help choosing cabinets, counters, tile and lighting.
Can we live at home during the remodel?
Usually. We close off the kitchen with dust barriers and set up a temporary kitchen corner so daily life keeps going.
Do Palatine condo associations need to approve kitchen remodel?
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.
Palatine contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must be registered and bonded with the Village before a permit is issued. Registration is online and expires Dec 31 each year. We take care of that before work starts.
What happens to the old cabinets and debris in Palatine?
Bulk items go to the curb weekly at no charge (Groot). Large appliances/white goods are collected Wednesdays for $20. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Palatine building permit for kitchen remodel: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections, phone (847) 359-9042. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Palatine plumbing code: who can do the plumbing for kitchen remodel?
Plumbing permit applications must include a letter of intent from the Illinois-licensed plumber of record (225 ILCS 320/37); plumbing registration requires the state license. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Do I need a permit for kitchen remodel in Palatine?
It depends on the scope. Palatine's rule in short: A permit is required to remodel a kitchen or to add/alter the electrical system. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Palatine?
Yes. Our crews work across Palatine — ZIP 60067, 60074 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich.
Working in Palatine
- A lot of Palatine 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.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60067ZIP 60074
Kitchen Remodeling nearby
More for Palatine homeowners
- All kitchen services in PalatineRemodels, cabinets, counters, plumbing, appliances and repairs
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Costs and budgetingKitchen Remodel Cost in Chicago: Budget Breakdown, Cost per Square Foot and LaborKitchen remodel cost is driven by scope more than size. National cost guides put a typical project between about $14,600 and $41,600, with an average…3 min read
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Running the projectKitchen Remodel Timeline & Checklist: How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?How long does a kitchen remodel take? For a same-layout kitchen, construction usually runs about four to eight weeks once cabinets and materials are…3 min read
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Running the projectKitchen Remodel Permits: Do I Need a Permit to Remodel My Kitchen?Usually yes. Kitchen work that touches plumbing, electrical wiring, gas lines, ventilation or the structure almost always needs a permit and…3 min read
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Running the projectHow to Choose a Kitchen Remodeling Contractor: Questions, Paperwork and Contract ChecklistTo choose a kitchen remodeling contractor in the Chicago area, confirm local licensing or registration and insurance, ask specific questions about…3 min read
Other kitchen services in Palatine
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.