A decade-long dream, delivered — $68,000, seven weeks
The Westgate Terrace townhouse our client imagined for ten years: a pop-art-inspired green sage kitchen, an opened first floor, a rebuilt hallway, and refinished hardwood — steps from Taylor Street.
Our client had carried this vision for a decade — and a folder of inspiration images to prove it. We spotted the pop-art thread in their decor and built the design around it: a bold green sage kitchen at the center of a cohesive first floor, delivered at $68,000 in seven weeks.
The green sage centerpiece
We noticed the client's love of pop art in their decor and made it the design engine: custom green sage doors on semi-custom cabinet boxes — the one-of-a-kind color without the full-custom price. The non-bearing wall came down for an open layout, soffits were eliminated, and MSI counters with a modern backsplash finished it. More of this lives in our custom cabinet work.
One non-bearing wall, one connected home
Removing the non-bearing wall made the space feel dramatically larger, with natural light flowing through the whole first level. Rough plumbing and electrical were completed to City of Chicago code, new drywall went up, and the entire level was painted.
Water damage out, paneling in
The hallway hid the project's challenge: outdated tile, a non-functional closet, and subflooring compromised by an old water leak. We replaced the subfloor completely, then our designer reimagined the space with elegant wall paneling — and brought the green sage back for a cohesive first floor.
A closet that finally works
The non-functional entry closet became a built-in drop zone: wood-tone cabinetry, slat-wall detail, and lighting. Existing hardwood elsewhere was in good shape, so we refinished it with a new stain to tie the level together.
The whole first floor, one number
Semi-custom cabinets with custom doors kept the signature color affordable — smart scoping, not thinner finishes.
The Westgate Terrace project, answered
Q1What did $68,000 cover in this Little Italy townhouse renovation?
The full first-floor transformation: non-bearing wall removal, kitchen soffit removal, rough plumbing and electrical to Chicago code, semi-custom cabinets with custom green sage doors, MSI countertops, backsplash, entire first-level painting, hallway subfloor replacement with wall paneling, hardwood floor refinishing with new stain, and entry porch ceiling repair with insulation.
Q2How did the custom green sage cabinets stay affordable?
With a smart cost strategy: semi-custom cabinet boxes paired with custom-made doors in the green sage color. The client got the one-of-a-kind look that anchors the whole first floor without paying full custom-cabinetry prices.
Q3Was the wall removal structural?
No — it was a non-bearing wall, which kept the open-concept conversion straightforward. All rough plumbing and electrical work was completed in compliance with City of Chicago code requirements, and kitchen soffits and electrical conduit were safely removed at the same time.
Q4How long did the renovation take?
Seven weeks for the complete first-floor scope — kitchen, hallway, floors, paint, and porch ceiling. The design-build system handled everything from the collaborative design phase through final walkthrough on one schedule.
Carrying a renovation dream of your own?
Bring your inspiration folder. Free consultation at your home or our Lincoln Park design studio — collaborative design, honest numbers, one contract.
1250 W Westgate Terrace · Little Italy · Chicago, IL 60607 · (312) 544-9150