Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park, IL

J & M Elite Renovations is a licensed, owner-led general contractor that remodels kitchens in Highland Park, IL, from early-1900s homes near downtown to mid-century moderns and newer houses. A full custom kitchen here typically runs $135,000 to $240,000, with about 10 to 16 weeks of construction after design and City permits. We handle design coordination, engineering, permits and inspections, and Juan is on site throughout.

Highland Park houses and their kitchens

Highland Park has one of the most varied housing stocks on the North Shore, and the right kitchen plan depends on which kind of house you own. Near downtown, Ravinia and the lakefront, many homes date to the early 1900s through the 1930s and share the closed-kitchen and pantry layout of that era. The city is also known for its mid-century modern homes: post-and-beam houses, flat or low-slope roofs, walls of glass and slab-on-grade floors, often with radiant heat. West Highland Park adds 1950s to 1970s ranches and split-levels, plus newer custom homes.

Each type needs a different approach. In a mid-century house, moving a sink or range can mean cutting and trenching the slab, and working around radiant heating loops. Venting a range hood through a flat roof takes careful detailing to avoid leaks, and the design should respect the home's clean lines instead of fighting them. In a split-level, the kitchen often sits against the stair, so opening it up is mostly a structural question. In the older homes, we deal with plaster, older wiring and piping, and radiators, the same as in Lake Forest or Winnetka.

Permits, landmarks and ravine lots

Highland Park kitchen permits are submitted through the City's Civic Access Portal, and we prepare and track that package for you. The city has about 136 regulated historic structures, including roughly 80 individually landmarked properties. For those homes, most exterior changes require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission, while interior alterations don't. That matters if your kitchen plan adds windows, a door or a bump-out. Properties on a ravine or the lake bluff fall under the city's Steep Slope Zone rules, which add engineering and review requirements for any exterior construction near the slope. Homeowners associations in some subdivisions have their own rules for exterior changes and work hours. We confirm all of this early.

Our process

Consultation at the house with Juan, then design and engineering with your architect or designer (or ours), then a fixed-scope written proposal, then permits, then clean, protected construction with weekly updates, and finally a walkthrough and punch list. The same person who quotes the job runs it.

What does a kitchen remodel cost in Highland Park?

Typical market ranges for high-end North Shore kitchens in 2026, not a quote:

• Refined remodel, same footprint: about $85,000 to $135,000
• Full custom remodel with a new layout: about $135,000 to $240,000
• Structural, slab or exterior work (wall removal, slab trenching, a bump-out, or work needing historic or steep-slope review): about $240,000 to $425,000 and up

How long does it take?

Typically 6 to 10 weeks of design and selections, 3 to 6 weeks of permit review, and 10 to 16 weeks of construction. A Certificate of Appropriateness or steep-slope review adds time before construction. These are typical ranges, not a guaranteed schedule.

Planning a Highland Park kitchen?

Call Juan at (224) 480-3019 or request a consultation. We're available Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM.