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 Woodridge & nearby Downers Grove, Lisle
Get your kitchen remodel priced by a contractor who works in Woodridge — and know what to expect before the estimate visit.
Most Woodridge homeowners call us about one thing that bothers them every day: a cramped layout, worn-out cabinets or a dark, closed kitchen. We plan the whole room around how you cook, then handle cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting and the trades behind the walls.
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.
Tile counters with stained grout and a fluorescent box overhead are two quick wins: new stone and flush LED lights.
Condo remodels run on the association's rules. We take care of approvals, insurance and elevator bookings and design around fixed plumbing.
When the coffee maker, toaster and mixer leave no room to work, we plan longer runs, a peninsula or an island and give small appliances their own home.
Counters covered with things that have nowhere else to go? Taller uppers, a pantry wall, deep drawers and corner pull-outs give everything a place.
Taller cabinets, a counter-depth fridge, lighter colors and a peninsula instead of an island make a small kitchen work harder.
A 36-inch refrigerator, a panel-ready dishwasher or a range hood that vents outside often needs new cabinet openings, a new circuit or a duct run. We plan for them from day one.
Good kitchen light comes in layers: recessed cans for the room, pendants over the island and under-cabinet LEDs on the counters. We wire all three on their own controls.
Before
AfterA two-story colonial from the 1990s near The Ridge, a typical kitchen for Woodridge. 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 soft white with brushed nickel bar pulls, black honed granite counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered countertops, electrical and lighting, plus project management.
Before
AfterThe site: a postwar bi-level near E.H. Prince Subdivision. What we started with: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate, brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: tired laminate, old flooring and poor light. The result: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. The job covered plumbing and gas, electrical and lighting, plus project management.
Kitchen Remodeling in Downers Grove →
Before
AfterThis one is a 1980s two-story near Oakview. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam, 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: a kitchen that looked and worked like it was decades old. Finished kitchen: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included design and layout, plumbing and gas, plus electrical and lighting.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lisle →
Before
AfterA 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 Woodridge →
Before
AfterWhat changed: new cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers with satin brass pulls, installed level and ready for charcoal concrete-look quartz counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Woodridge →Seven BridgesThe Ridge
ZIP 60517ZIP 60439
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
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
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
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
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.
Call us — we'll check your ZIP, answer your questions and book an in-home estimate.