Chicago Kitchen Remodeling Guide: Step-by-Step to Your Dream Kitchen

Chicago Kitchen Remodeling Guide: Step-by-Step to Your Dream Kitchen

A Chicago kitchen remodel works best in ten steps: define goals, set a budget, plan the layout, choose cabinets and finishes, hire licensed trades, pull any required permits, prepare the home, build, pass final inspection, then maintain the kitchen. The order matters most in the middle: plumbing and electrical rough-ins are inspected before walls close, and countertops are templated only after base cabinets are set and level.

Key takeaways

• Follow the step order below: goals and budget first, then design, selections, hiring and permits, and only then demolition, rough-ins, cabinets, countertops and finishes.
• In Chicago, installing cabinets or countertops without plumbing or electrical connections does not need a building permit, but moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing walls does. Check the rules for your exact address before demo.
• Cabinets set the pace for countertop templating and the rest of the install, so lock the cabinet order early. All 15 CCC door styles are stocked in Des Plaines, and in-stock orders placed before early afternoon are usually ready for same-day pickup.
• Working with a contractor? Wholesale trade pricing goes through a CCC trade account; the best kitchen cabinets in Chicago guide compares the market.

This guide is written for Chicago-area homeowners planning a kitchen remodel and for the contractors, remodelers and designers who run those jobs. Each step lists the decisions that have to be made before the next step can start, because most remodel delays come from a decision made out of order: a cabinet order placed before appliances are chosen, a countertop templated before cabinets are level, or a plumbing change discovered after the permit was scoped.

The Chicago kitchen remodel at a glance

Use this table as the project map. The right-hand column is the decision that should be final before you move on.

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Before diving into a remodeling project, define what you want the new kitchen to do. Start with the questions that change the scope:

• Are you looking for more space or more storage in the same space?
• Do you want to modernize the design, or fix a layout that does not work?
• Are you focusing on energy efficiency, lighting or ventilation?
• Is this remodel for your own use, or are you preparing to sell or rent the home?

Then put the project into one of three scope levels. The level decides the budget range, the trades involved and whether a permit is likely.

Understanding your objectives and scope level will guide every decision that follows.

Step 2: Set a Budget

Establish the budget before design, not after. For a reality check, Remodeling magazine’s 2025 Cost vs Value report for Chicago lists these average job costs for its standardized kitchen projects:

The national averages in the same report are close: $28,458, $82,793 and $164,104. These are model projects priced for comparison, not quotes. Your number depends on size, scope level, the age of the house and the finishes you choose, so ask for itemized bids. For a deeper breakdown, see the full cost of a kitchen remodel in Cook County and how much kitchen cabinets cost in Illinois. Your budget should include:

• Cabinetry, including fillers, panels, crown and toe kick
• Countertops, including fabrication, sink cutouts and edge profile
• Appliances and ventilation
• Flooring and backsplash
• Labor for each trade, plus demolition and disposal
• Permit fees and any required drawings
• A contingency line for what is found behind the walls; older Chicago homes deserve a larger one

Be realistic about your spending and rank priorities. If money runs short, keep the parts that are hard to change later (layout, plumbing location, cabinet boxes) and defer the easy swaps (hardware, light fixtures, paint).

Step 3: Plan Your Design

Designing your kitchen involves more than aesthetics. Consider the layout, functionality and flow:

• Layout: Common kitchen layouts include L-shape, U-shape, galley and layouts with an island or peninsula. Choose the one that fits the room and the way you cook. Our U-shaped kitchen layout guide covers corner storage and clearances in detail.
• Style: Decide on a style that suits the home. Options range from modern to traditional, and even farmhouse.
• Functionality: Think about the work triangle (the travel distance between the sink, cooktop and refrigerator) and how you cook and entertain.

Clearances to check on the drawing

The NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines are the planning benchmarks most designers use. They are recommendations, not code, but they catch most layout mistakes before the cabinets are ordered.

Standard cabinet dimensions make the rest of the plan predictable: base cabinets are typically 34-1/2 inches tall and 24 inches deep, which puts the finished countertop at about 36 inches, and wall cabinets are typically 12 inches deep. Our cabinet depth and width standards guide lists the common widths. Get the appliance model numbers before the cabinet plan is final; a range, refrigerator or panel-ready dishwasher that does not match the planned opening is one of the most common reasons a cabinet order changes.

Step 4: Choose Materials and Finishes

Once you have a design, select materials in this order: cabinets first, then countertops, then backsplash and paint. Each choice narrows the next one.

• Cabinets: Look for cabinets with a birch face frame, a plywood box and an MDF door center panel, and confirm availability for the door style you choose. Use the checklist below.
• Countertops: Popular choices include granite, quartz and marble. Each has different care needs and price points; confirm the fabricator’s templating requirements before cabinets go in.
• Flooring: Choose flooring that is durable and easy to clean. Options include tile, hardwood and vinyl. Decide early whether it runs under the cabinets or stops at them (see the FAQ below).
• Backsplashes: A backsplash ties the countertop to the walls. Consider ceramic tile, glass or stone, and pick it after the countertop sample is in hand.

Cabinet checklist before you order

• Box material: plywood or particleboard sides, back and shelves (ask for thicknesses).
• Face frame and door construction: what the frame is made of and what the center panel is made of. Our cabinet materials guide explains the trade-offs.
• Drawer boxes: joinery (dovetail or stapled) and drawer bottom material.
• Hardware: soft-close hinges and full-extension, soft-close drawer glides.
• Finish: painted or stained, and the warranty that covers the finish.
• Availability: in stock or built to order, and whether it ships assembled or ready-to-assemble.
• Matching later: can you buy the same door style and finish again for a later fix or add-on?

Before committing to a color, look at a full door sample in your own light; our post on choosing colors with full door samples explains why small chips mislead.

Step 5: Hire Professionals

While DIY work can save money, a remodel that touches plumbing, electrical or walls needs licensed professionals. Look for:

• Contractors: Research local contractors with good reviews, and confirm they hold the licenses your city requires for permitted work, plus liability insurance.
• Designers: A kitchen designer can refine the layout, check clearances and produce the cabinet plan.
• Specialists: For plumbing and electrical work, hire licensed professionals.
• Lead-safe certification: Many Chicago homes were built before 1978. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, firms disturbing paint in pre-1978 homes must be EPA- or state-certified and follow lead-safe work practices.

How to compare bids

1. Ask every bidder to price the same drawing and the same cabinet and countertop selections.
2. Check that each bid is itemized: demolition, each trade, cabinets, countertops, permits, disposal and cleanup.
3. Look for allowances. A low bid with small allowances often costs more by the end.
4. Confirm who orders the cabinets, who receives and inspects the delivery, and who installs them.
5. Get the schedule, the change-order process and a payment schedule tied to completed milestones in writing.

Step 6: Obtain Permits

In Chicago, some kitchen work needs a building permit and some does not. According to the City of Chicago’s list of interior work that does not require a building permit, painting, tiling, and installing cabinets or countertops without plumbing or electrical connections are exempt. That work must still comply with the Chicago Construction Codes.

• Needs a permit: plumbing and electrical work, mechanical (HVAC) work and any change to walls.
• Express Permit Program: nonstructural interior alterations up to 2,000 square feet within a single residential unit can use the city’s streamlined Express Permit Program, including electrical, mechanical and limited plumbing work.
• Walls and doorways: adding, removing or reconfiguring walls needs drawings from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer; structural work is not eligible for the express route.
• Landmarks: the exemptions may not apply to a designated or proposed Chicago Landmark or a property in a landmark district.
• Lead and asbestos: work must follow lead-safe and asbestos-safe practices, and some projects require a notification to the Chicago Department of Public Health before work begins.

Suburbs such as Des Plaines, Evanston or Schaumburg run their own building departments with their own rules, so check with the village or city where the house is. Our Cook County kitchen permit and inspection guide covers the process in more detail.

Step 7: Prepare for the Remodel

Before work begins, prepare the home and the building:

• Set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, a small refrigerator and a place to wash dishes.
• Clear the work area of personal items and protect the floors and doorways on the path in and out.
• In a condo or co-op, read the association’s renovation rules early: work hours, elevator reservations, insurance certificates and any approval the board requires.
• Plan where cabinets will be staged. Cartons need a dry, protected space close to the kitchen, not a damp garage or basement.
• Communicate with your contractor about timelines, working hours and who the delivery contact is.

If cabinets are coming from CCC Cabinets, standard delivery is curbside on CCC trucks; the delivery coordinator calls the business day before, and the site must be able to accommodate a truck of up to 24,000 lbs. Moving cabinets to a specific spot can be arranged with a sales representative.

Step 8: Execute the Remodel

As the remodel progresses, stay involved. Regular check-ins with your contractor keep the project on track. A typical sequence looks like this:

1. Protection, demolition and disposal (our cabinet demolition guide covers safe removal).
2. Framing changes, if any.
3. Rough plumbing, electrical and ventilation.
4. Rough inspections, where a permit was issued.
5. Insulation, drywall and primer.
6. Flooring, if it runs under the cabinets.
7. Cabinet installation: wall cabinets or base cabinets first per the installer’s method, then leveling, shimming and fastening.
8. Countertop templating once base cabinets are set and level, followed by fabrication and installation.
9. Backsplash, then plumbing and electrical trim-out and appliance installation.
10. Hardware, touch-up and paint.

Be prepared for surprises, especially in older homes: out-of-level floors, out-of-plumb walls and outdated wiring are common. Inspect cabinet cartons on delivery and before installation, and report any damage right away, before the piece is installed.

Step 9: Final Inspection and Cleanup

Once the remodel is complete, complete any final permit inspection and walk the kitchen with your contractor. Check that all work meets your expectations and local codes, then use this punch list:

• Doors are aligned with even gaps; concealed hinges can be adjusted rather than replaced.
• Drawers open fully and close softly; doors do not slam.
• Cabinets are level, fillers and panels are tight, and the toe kick is finished.
• Countertop seams are tight and the sink is sealed.
• Every appliance, outlet and light works.
• Caulk and paint touch-ups are done and the space is clean.

Before the crew leaves, collect the documents you will need later: the cabinet order or invoice, door style and finish names, appliance manuals and the permit sign-off. Our guide on documenting cabinet installations for warranty claims lists what to photograph and keep.

Step 10: Enjoy Your New Kitchen

Your kitchen remodel is complete. A few habits keep it looking new:

• Keep cabinet surfaces dry and wipe up spills, especially around the sink and dishwasher.
• Clean with a soft cloth, mild detergent and warm water; avoid silicone or wax products.
• Re-check door alignment after the first few months of use; concealed hinges adjust with a screwdriver.
• Keep your order details, so a future add-on can match the same door style and finish.

How CCC Cabinets fits a Chicago kitchen remodel

CCC Cabinets is a wholesale kitchen and bathroom cabinet supplier in Des Plaines, near O’Hare, serving contractors, builders, remodelers, designers and dealers across Chicagoland. What that means for a remodel schedule and spec:

• 15 door styles, all in stock: from shaker styles such as Pure White, Light Grey, Espresso Shaker and Shaker Blue to the new 2026 Black Roast and Matcha Latte. See every style on the cabinets page.
• Construction: 1/2-inch A-grade plywood box sides with a 1/2-inch plywood back, 3/4-inch plywood shelves, 3/4-inch birch face frames, MDF door center panels, 17 mm solid wood dovetail drawer boxes, 6-way adjustable soft-close hinges and full-extension soft-close glides.
• Ordering: orders go in on the official order form and are confirmed in writing within 3 hours. Ready-to-assemble orders are generally ready sooner than assembled ones, so confirm timing when you order; see the order process.
• Pickup and delivery: in-stock orders placed before early afternoon are usually ready for same-day pickup, or CCC delivers to the jobsite on its own trucks.
• Warranty: a 5-year limited warranty on defects in material and workmanship and a 2-year limited warranty on painted finishes.
• What CCC does not do: CCC supplies cabinets only. It does not install and it is not a custom shop, so your contractor handles installation.

CCC sells to the trade, so homeowners buy through their contractor or designer. Contractors can open a trade account, and see how CCC works with the trade on the contractors page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Chicago?

Remodeling magazine’s 2025 Cost vs Value report lists Chicago average job costs of $27,187 for a midrange minor kitchen remodel, $84,237 for a midrange major remodel and $161,499 for an upscale major remodel. Those are standardized model projects, so treat them as a range check. Size, scope, the age of the house and your selections set the real number, so compare itemized bids.

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

It depends on scope. A same-footprint cabinet and countertop replacement moves fastest because no permit or rough-in inspections are needed. A full remodel adds design time, permit review, rough-in inspections and drywall before cabinets go in. The usual critical path runs through permits, cabinet availability, and countertop fabrication after templating, so ask your contractor for a written schedule.

Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Chicago?

It depends on the work. The City of Chicago does not require a building permit for painting, tiling or installing cabinets and countertops without plumbing or electrical connections. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and wall changes do need a permit; many nonstructural projects in a single home qualify for the Express Permit Program. Suburbs set their own rules, so check with the local building department.

What is the correct order of steps in a kitchen remodel?

Plan first: goals, budget, design, selections, hiring and permits. Then build: demolition, framing, rough plumbing and electrical, rough inspections, drywall, flooring if it runs under cabinets, cabinet installation, countertop templating and installation, backsplash, fixture and appliance trim-out, and finally the punch list and final inspection.

What is the difference between a kitchen remodel and a kitchen renovation?

The terms are often used interchangeably. When people separate them, a renovation usually means refreshing what is there, such as new cabinets, countertops and finishes in the same footprint, while a remodel changes the layout, moves plumbing or electrical, or alters walls. The difference matters for planning because layout changes usually bring permits, more trades and a longer schedule.

Should flooring go in before or after kitchen cabinets?

Both methods are used. Running flooring under the cabinets gives a continuous floor and makes a future layout change easier, but it uses more material. Installing flooring after the cabinets saves material, but the base cabinets must sit at the correct height for the finished floor so the countertop, dishwasher and appliances still fit. Decide this with your installer before the cabinet plan is final.

Can homeowners buy cabinets directly from CCC Cabinets?

CCC Cabinets is a wholesale supplier and does not sell retail, so homeowners buy through their contractor or designer, who orders on a trade account. Homeowners are welcome to book a showroom visit in Des Plaines to see all 15 door styles in person before choosing a style with their contractor.

Conclusion

A Chicago kitchen remodel stays predictable when each decision is made in order and each inspection happens before the next trade starts. Settle scope, budget, layout and appliances first, and the cabinet order, countertops and finishes fall into place.

For wholesale kitchen cabinets, visit the CCC Cabinets showroom and warehouse at 2180 S Wolf Rd, Des Plaines, near O’Hare, or call (872) 241-5525. Contractors can open a trade account, and anyone with questions can reach us through the contact page.