Kitchen planning guides
Straight answers from the crews who do the work: what things cost on the market, which materials hold up, what needs a permit and how to plan a kitchen that works for years.
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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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CabinetsCabinet Refacing vs Painting vs Replacement: How to ChooseIn cabinet refacing vs painting vs replacement, start with the boxes. Sound boxes and only a color complaint: paint. Sound boxes but a dated or…4 min read
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Countertops, tile and floorsQuartz vs Granite Countertops: Durability, Care, Heat, Looks and Why Quartz Is in DeclineIn the quartz vs granite countertops choice, granite is natural stone that handles heat well and has one-of-a-kind patterns but needs periodic…3 min read
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Planning and designKitchen Layout Ideas: How to Design a Kitchen Layout That WorksMost kitchen layout ideas come from six types: one-wall, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island and peninsula. To design a kitchen layout that works…4 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
Costs and budgeting
Market price ranges with sources, and what moves a kitchen budget up or down.
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Kitchen 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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Kitchen Cabinet Replacement Cost: New Cabinets, Installation and LaborKitchen cabinet replacement cost usually starts around $150 and runs to $500 per linear foot installed, or about $4,500 to $15,000 for an average…3 min read
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Countertop Replacement Cost: What Kitchen Countertops Cost to Replace and InstallKitchen countertop replacement cost usually runs about $50 to $150 per square foot installed, or roughly $1,500 to $6,000 for an average kitchen with…3 min read
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Cabinet Refacing Cost: What Refacing Kitchen Cabinets Costs and WhyPublished national cost guides put kitchen cabinet refacing at roughly $4,000 to $13,500 for most kitchens, or about $150 to $450 per linear foot of…3 min read
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Cabinet Painting Cost: What It Costs to Have Kitchen Cabinets PaintedCabinet painting cost for an average kitchen usually runs about $2,000 to $6,500, or about $30 to $70 per linear foot and $70 to $125 per door…3 min read
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Backsplash Installation Cost: Tile, Glass and Slab Options ComparedBacksplash installation cost usually starts around $10 and runs up to $50 per square foot installed, or roughly $500 to $1,700 for a typical kitchen…3 min read
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Kitchen Appliance Installation Cost: Dishwasher Installation Cost, Ranges, Cooktops and MoreDishwasher installation cost usually runs about $200 to $500 in labor to replace a unit in the same spot and $300 to $1,300 where there was no…3 min read
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Kitchen Remodel Return on Investment: Should You Remodel Before Selling?A kitchen remodel usually helps a house sell and supports its value, but it rarely returns everything it costs. Return on investment is strongest…3 min read
Planning and design
Layouts, islands, storage and the decisions to make before anything is ordered.
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Kitchen Layout Ideas: How to Design a Kitchen Layout That WorksMost kitchen layout ideas come from six types: one-wall, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island and peninsula. To design a kitchen layout that works…4 min read
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Kitchen Remodel Ideas: Practical Kitchen Design Ideas Grouped by GoalThe best kitchen remodel ideas start with a problem, not a photo. Pick the goal first: more storage, more counter space, better light, a modern look…4 min read
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Small Kitchen Ideas: Layouts, Remodel Ideas and 10x10 Floor PlansThe best small kitchen ideas start with the layout, not the finishes. A galley or L-shaped small kitchen layout usually works best, keeping the sink…3 min read
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Island Kitchen Layout Design: Kitchen Island vs Peninsula and Ideas for Small KitchensAn island kitchen layout works when you can keep about 42 inches of walkway on every side, or about 48 inches with two cooks. In narrower rooms a…3 min read
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Kitchen Island Dimensions: Island Kitchen Layout Dimensions, Seating and ClearancesMost kitchen islands are about 36 inches (91 cm) high, 24 to 42 inches (61 to 107 cm) deep and 4 to 10 feet (1.2 to 3 m) long. Plan about 42 inches…3 min read
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Kitchen Storage and Pantry Planning: Islands With Seating and Storage, Pantries and Small-Kitchen FixesTo add storage to a small kitchen, make the cabinets you have work harder first: pull-out shelves and drawers in deep base cabinets, a fixed blind…4 min read
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Wheelchair Accessible Kitchen Layout: Dimensions, Storage and Cabinets That Are Easier to ReachA wheelchair accessible kitchen layout needs a 60-inch turning space, about 30 by 48 inches of clear floor in front of each work area, at least one…3 min read
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Kitchen Layout Planner Tools: Free Kitchen Design Apps and How to Use ThemYou can design a kitchen layout free online with three kinds of tools: retailer kitchen planners tied to one cabinet line, general room planner apps…4 min read
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Kitchen Paint Ideas: Cabinet Colors, Paint Types, Sheens and FinishesGood kitchen paint ideas pair a color that suits your light and fixed finishes with a paint made for cabinets. For most kitchens that means a…3 min read
Running the project
Scope, permits, contractors, timelines and living with a kitchen under construction.
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Kitchen Refresh vs Full Remodel: How to Choose the Right ScopeChoose a kitchen refresh when the cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works: paint or reface cabinets, replace counters, add a backsplash and…3 min read
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Kitchen 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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Kitchen 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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How 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
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Living Through a Kitchen Remodel: Setting Up a Temporary KitchenYes, you can live in a house during a kitchen renovation, and most Chicago-area families do. Set up a temporary kitchen during the remodel in a room…4 min read
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Kitchen Wall Removal Planning: Can I Remove a Wall Between the Kitchen and Living Room?Can you remove a wall between the kitchen and living room? Often yes. A non-load-bearing wall with nothing inside is a modest job. A load-bearing…3 min read
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Kitchen Wallpaper vs Paint, and Why Kitchen Paint Is PeelingKitchen wallpaper vs paint: for most kitchen walls, washable paint in a satin or eggshell sheen is the more practical choice, because it wipes clean…3 min read
Cabinets
Painting, refacing, replacing and repairing cabinets, and what the big-box programs include.
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Cabinet Refacing vs Painting vs Replacement: How to ChooseIn cabinet refacing vs painting vs replacement, start with the boxes. Sound boxes and only a color complaint: paint. Sound boxes but a dated or…4 min read
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Kitchen Cabinet Design Ideas: Refacing Before and After, Makeovers and Modern UpdatesMost kitchen cabinet makeovers succeed or fail on three decisions: door style, color and the details around the boxes, such as hardware, crown…4 min read
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Kitchen Cabinet Materials, Doors and Hardware: What to Know Before You BuyYes, you can usually resurface kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them, as long as the boxes are dry and solid. How long the result lasts depends…3 min read
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Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Options, Preparation and When to Hire a ProThe best way to paint kitchen cabinets is mostly preparation: remove the doors, degrease every surface, scuff-sand, apply a bonding primer, then two…3 min read
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Cabinet Paint Cracking, Chipping and Peeling: Causes and FixesCabinet paint cracking at door joints is usually wood moving with seasonal humidity, not a failed finish. Cabinet paint chipping and peeling almost…3 min read
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Kitchen Cabinet Repair: Doors, Drawers, Veneer and Water DamageMost kitchen cabinets can be repaired rather than replaced. Cabinet doors not closing properly usually need a hinge adjustment or a new hinge…3 min read
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IKEA Kitchen Cabinets: Planning, Installation, Islands and Can You Paint IKEA Cabinets?IKEA kitchen cabinets in the US are the SEKTION system: modular frameless boxes with separate doors, drawers and panels, planned in IKEA's free…3 min read
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Home Depot Cabinet Refacing and Quartz Countertop Installation: What to Know Before You ChooseHow much does Home Depot charge to reface cabinets or install quartz countertops? There is no fixed number; the price comes from a written quote…3 min read
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Range Hood Installation at Lowe's and Other Lowe's Kitchen Remodeling QuestionsLowe's sells range hood installation performed by independent third-party installers, purchased separately and scheduled by appointment. It is built…3 min read
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Kitchen Product and Installation Options: Which Company Is Best for Quartz, and Costco Cabinet RefacingThere is no single best quartz company: the major brands make similar engineered stone, so choose by color, slab size, warranty and a good local…3 min read
Countertops, tile and floors
Choosing, caring for and repairing the surfaces that take the most wear.
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Quartz vs Granite Countertops: Durability, Care, Heat, Looks and Why Quartz Is in DeclineIn the quartz vs granite countertops choice, granite is natural stone that handles heat well and has one-of-a-kind patterns but needs periodic…3 min read
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Countertop Care and Finish Options: Stone Restoration, Butcher Block Finishes and Laminate EdgesEach countertop material needs one thing done right. Granite and marble need a pH-neutral cleaner and resealing when water soaks in. Quartz needs…3 min read
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Countertop Repair, Refinishing or Replacement: Quartz, Granite, Laminate, Corian and WoodYes, a quartz countertop can usually be repaired: chips are filled with color-matched resin and polished, and hairline cracks can be stabilized.…4 min read
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Kitchen Flooring Replacement: LVP, Porcelain or Hardwood, and Whether to Remove the CabinetsKitchen flooring replacement is usually done without removing cabinets: the new floor runs to the toe kicks and into the appliance openings. Luxury…3 min read
Plumbing, appliances and electrical
Sinks, water filters, disposals, hoods, appliances and the circuits behind them.
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Kitchen Sink Replacement and Plumbing: What Drives the Cost and Can You Move a Sink?Kitchen sink replacement cost stays modest when the new sink fits the same countertop opening and the drain stays put. It rises when the sink changes…4 min read
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Under Sink Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis: Choosing and Installing a Kitchen SystemUnder sink water filter vs reverse osmosis: a carbon filter mainly improves taste and odor and, when certified for it, reduces specific contaminants…3 min read
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Garbage Disposal Repair vs Replacement: How to DecideIn the garbage disposal repair vs replacement decision, repair a unit that is jammed, tripped or leaking at the sink flange, dishwasher hose or…3 min read
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Ducted vs Ductless Range Hood: Installation Height, Venting and What Shapes the CostDucted vs ductless range hood: a ducted hood sends smoke, grease, heat and moisture outside and performs better whenever a duct path exists; a…4 min read
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Refrigerator Not Cooling? Safe Checks to Try and When to Call a TechnicianA refrigerator not cooling is often caused by something you can check yourself: a bumped temperature setting or demo mode, dirty condenser coils…3 min read
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Kitchen Appliance Repair vs Replacement, from Dishwashers to OvensRepair a kitchen appliance when a single part has failed, the body is sound and parts are available: pumps, valves, latches, elements, igniters and…3 min read
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Kitchen Lighting and Electrical Planning: Dedicated Circuits and Under Cabinet LightingDoes a kitchen appliance need a dedicated circuit? Often, yes. Electric ranges and wall ovens, built-in microwaves, dishwashers and disposals usually…3 min read
Repairs, cleaning and damage
Water damage, mold, pests and deep cleaning: what to check and when to call.
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Mold Under the Kitchen Sink and Water Damage Under Kitchen Cabinets: What to DoMold under the kitchen sink means moisture first. Stop the water source, dry the cabinet within 24 to 48 hours, then clean hard surfaces with…3 min read
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How to Remove Grease From Kitchen Cabinets, Plus a Post-Renovation Kitchen Cleaning ChecklistTo remove grease from kitchen cabinets, wipe them with warm water and a few drops of grease-cutting dish soap on a damp microfiber cloth, rinse with…3 min read
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Ants in the Kitchen and Cockroaches in the Kitchen: Causes, Fixes and PreventionAnts in the kitchen are usually foragers from outside following a scent trail to food or water; baits along the trail and sealing the entry point…3 min read
Bars, outdoor and commercial
Home bars, outdoor kitchens for Chicago winters and restaurant kitchen requirements.
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Wet Bar vs Dry Bar: Which Home Bar Fits Your Space?In the wet bar vs dry bar choice, the difference is the sink. A wet bar has running water and a drain, so it needs supply lines, a vent, a licensed…3 min read
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Outdoor Kitchen Installation Cost and Planning for Chicago WintersOutdoor kitchen installation cost usually runs about $7,000 to $35,000 according to HomeGuide (2025): built-in grill islands start around $3,000…3 min read
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Commercial Kitchen Hood Installation Requirements and Grease Trap Cleaning FrequencyEquipment that produces grease-laden vapors generally needs a listed Type I hood with a welded grease duct, fire suppression and makeup air…3 min read
