Kitchen Remodeling
Full Kitchen Remodel with Custom Cabinetry & Island
Chicago, IL
About This Project
Project Overview
This Chicago kitchen had tired cabinetry, insufficient counter space, no island, and a design out of step with the rest of the home. Everything came out: cabinetry, countertops, flooring, backsplash, fixtures, and lighting. In their place, Fairway installed custom semi-custom cabinetry running floor to ceiling, a quartz countertop with a waterfall-edge island, engineered hardwood flooring, a full tile backsplash, a complete appliance package, and a layered lighting system. Throughout the project, the team worked closely with the homeowners on every design decision.
Project Details
Project Type
Kitchen Remodeling
Location
Chicago, IL
BEFORE  | AFTER  |
The Challenge
What We Were Up Against
The original kitchen was closed off from the dining and living areas, leaving almost no room for a second person during meal preparation. Cabinet storage was insufficient and poorly configured — upper cabinets too shallow for modern needs, lower cabinets without the drawer depth that makes a kitchen genuinely efficient. The countertop was permanently damaged, the backsplash outdated, and a single ceiling fixture left most work surfaces in deep shadow.
Our Solution
How We Solved It
Removing a non-structural wall section between the kitchen and dining area created a visual and spatial connection that transformed both rooms. The island became the central organizing element — additional quartz countertop surface, base cabinet storage, and seating for three. Custom semi-custom cabinetry runs to the ceiling, maximizing vertical storage. Drawer configuration was designed for the homeowners’ specific habits: deep drawers for pots and pans, pullouts for spices, soft-close hardware throughout.
Lighting was designed as a layered system: recessed ceiling fixtures, under-cabinet LED strips at every work surface, and pendants above the island — all on dimmers.
Scope of Work
What We Did
The full renovation touched every surface and system, completed in correct trade sequence:
- Complete demolition — cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, flooring, plumbing, and lighting
- Non-structural wall section removed to open kitchen to dining area
- Structural header installation and electrical/plumbing rough-in
- Custom cabinetry — all perimeter upper and lower runs, pantry tower, and island base cabinets
- Quartz countertop with waterfall-edge island fabrication and installation
- Full tile backsplash, engineered hardwood flooring, and appliance package
- All lighting (recessed, under-cabinet, pendants), cabinet hardware, paint, and trim
Materials & Finishes
What We Used
- Custom semi-custom cabinetry — full-overlay shaker profile, soft-close hardware throughout
- Full-height pantry tower with adjustable shelving
- Custom kitchen island — quartz waterfall-edge top, base cabinets, three-seat overhang
- Quartz countertops — full perimeter and island surface
- Large-format porcelain tile backsplash — vertical stack
- Engineered hardwood flooring — wide-plank warm oak with flush threshold
- Stainless steel appliance package — range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave
- Recessed LED ceiling fixtures and under-cabinet LED strip lighting — all dimmable
- Matte black island pendant lights and brushed nickel bar pull hardware
The Result
Delivered
The finished kitchen is a complete transformation — spatially, aesthetically, and in how the home functions daily. Where there was a closed, cramped, dated room, there is now an open, luminous kitchen that flows naturally into the dining and living areas.
The island has become the heart of the new kitchen — a wide quartz prep surface by day, a natural gathering point in the evening. The layered lighting system gives the homeowners complete control over the kitchen’s function and atmosphere at any time of day.
BEFORE
Before Gallery
PROCESS
During the Remodel
AFTER
After Gallery
Ready to Transform Your Home?
Whether you're planning a full renovation or need a targeted repair, Fairway Home Remodeling delivers premium craftsmanship and clean results — on time, every time.
Or call us at (224) 333-1883