Layout
Many Wilmette homes from the 1930s-50s have small, compartmentalized kitchens separated from dining and living areas by load-bearing walls. Homeowners want open-concept layouts for modern entertaining.
Kitchen Remodeling in Wilmette, IL
Design-build kitchen remodel planned for Colonial Revival homes in 1920s-1950s
Local lens
Kitchen Remodeling planned for Wilmette homes
Delta - Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling is a Lake Forest-based design-build firm serving the North Shore and nearby Chicagoland. In Wilmette we remodel kitchens in Colonial Revival homes from the 1920s-1950s era, with kitchen investment from $55,000 to $130,000.
Wilmette kitchens that work over time are the ones designed around the actual house. Local projects often start with this condition: Original galley or L-shaped kitchens with dated cabinetry, often with breakfast nooks from the 1940s-50s era. We shape cabinetry, appliances, lighting, and stone around how the household cooks, hosts, and moves through the room.
Investment
Historical investment ranges for kitchen remodel in Wilmette
Pricing is shaped by cabinetry specification, finish level, structural work, and how much the layout moves. Every project is priced after an in-home visit.
| Tier | Range | What's typical |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Under $55,000 | Same footprint, refaced or stock cabinetry, new counters and tile, no plumbing relocation. Cosmetic refresh that respects the existing layout. |
| Standard remodel | $55,000–$130,000 | Custom cabinetry, stone counters, full appliance suite, layout improvements, lighting design. Most projects in this range. |
| Full gut renovation | $130,000 and up | Walls removed, premium appliances (Sub-Zero, Wolf, La Cornue), butler's pantry, custom millwork, structural changes. Estate-scale work. |
Planning lens
What a Wilmette kitchen remodel involves
Wilmette kitchen remodels typically run $55,000 to $130,000. Costs vary based on scope, materials, and structural work. Pre-war homes may require additional investment for plumbing and electrical upgrades.
Cabinetry
Colonial Revival and Tudor homes need cabinetry proportions, storage, and trim language specified to the house, not pulled from a catalog.
Appliances
Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, and Thermador integration planned with ventilation, paneling, electrical, and gas routing before cabinets are ordered.
Permits
Village of Wilmette Community Development Department, which issues roughly 3,000 permits a year and also operates an Appearance Review Commission for exterior-facing changes. We submit, schedule inspections, and close out the project.
When to remodel
Signs your Wilmette kitchen remodel is ready
The kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house
1920s-1950s Wilmette homes were built with kitchens separated from living and dining spaces by load-bearing walls. Opening the floor plan improves daily use but requires structural planning before cabinetry decisions begin.
Storage has stopped matching how the household cooks
Post-war kitchens in Wilmette were designed around appliances and storage habits that no longer match current family routines. A remodel resets the cabinetry plan around how the room is actually used today.
Finishes from a past decade dominate the room
Oak cabinetry, laminate counters, or brass fixtures from a previous update can be the most visible sign the kitchen is ready for a full remodel rather than another partial refresh.
Appliances do not fit the compact footprint
Getting full-size refrigeration, dishwashing, and cooking appliances to function without blocking circulation in a smaller kitchen is a layout problem first, and the appliance spec follows from it.
Wilmette Kitchen Remodel: Navy + Marble Waterfall
Wilmette kitchen renovation with a navy-blue painted shaker island, white marble waterfall counter, double stainless wall ovens, oversized brass cage linear chandelier over the island, white shaker perimeter cabinetry, gooseneck brass faucet, light oak hardwood floor, and a barn-door pantry detail.
See this project
On the map
Kitchen Remodeling projects in Wilmette
Every pin is a kitchen remodel Delta - Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling has designed and built in Wilmette. Click any project to read the case study.
Recent details
Detail moments from Wilmette projects
Small decisions that decide how a finished room reads. Cabinetry, stone, hardware, light, and proportion.
From the journal
Reading for Wilmette homeowners planning a kitchen remodel
New articles surface here automatically as we publish them.
How to Choose a Remodeling Contractor in Evanston?
How to choose a remodeling contractor in Evanston, IL: experience, licensing, reviews, permits, express vs. standard approval times, and visiting Morton City Hall for in-person permit help.
How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?
Realistic kitchen remodel timelines for Illinois homeowners: project scope by kitchen type, whether to stay in your home during construction, phase-by-phase schedules, and what causes delays on the North Shore.
Luxury Home Remodeling in Kenilworth, IL: Renovating America's Richest Town
Luxury home remodeling in Kenilworth, IL: Cook County permits, historic-home considerations, 2026 cost ranges, safety planning, and what to know before renovating on the North Shore.
Local difference
Why Wilmette kitchen and bathroom remodeling is different
Wilmette combines a pre-war Colonial and Tudor housing stock (common across 1920s-50s Linden Square and Harbor-area streets) with an Appearance Review Commission that evaluates exterior-facing modifications even on otherwise interior-focused remodels. Neighboring Glenview and Northbrook, which skew newer and post-war, rarely require the same design-review step. Working in Wilmette means planning load-bearing-wall changes, exterior fenestration tweaks, and any visible mechanical venting with the Appearance Review process in mind from the first walkthrough.
FAQ
Kitchen Remodeling in Wilmette: common questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Wilmette?
Most Wilmette kitchen remodels run six to twelve weeks from demolition through final walkthrough. Full gut renovations with structural changes or premium appliance suites trend toward the longer end. The schedule is locked at the end of the design phase, before any contract signature.
What does a kitchen remodel in Wilmette typically cost?
Wilmette kitchen remodels typically fall between $55,000 and $130,000. Costs vary based on scope, materials, and structural work. Pre-war homes may require additional investment for plumbing and electrical upgrades. Every project is priced after an in-home visit, not from a package.
Do you handle permits for kitchen work in Wilmette?
Yes. Village of Wilmette Community Development Department, which issues roughly 3,000 permits a year and also operates an Appearance Review Commission for exterior-facing changes. Delta - Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling submits the permit set, coordinates inspections, and closes out the project so homeowners never deal with the building department directly.
Can we stay in the house during a Wilmette kitchen remodel?
Often, yes. In a Wilmette Colonial Revival home, the kitchen is usually the main cooking and gathering space, so we map temporary access, utility downtime, and the rough-trades sequence before demolition. You decide whether to stay or plan around the busiest phases.
Kitchen and bathroom planning
Bathroom Remodeling in Wilmette
If the kitchen plan touches plumbing, electrical, tile, or finish direction, review the Wilmette bathroom plan before construction starts.
More in Wilmette
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Accessible Bathroom Design in Wilmette
Accessible Bathroom Design planned for Wilmette homes.
Accessible Kitchen Design in Wilmette
Accessible Kitchen Design planned for Wilmette homes.
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Kitchen Remodeling in nearby cities
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