15 TIME TOP SHELF DESIGN WINNER by CLOSETS MAGAZINE/WOODWORKING NETWORK. Offering custom-designed closet and cabinetry systems, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality workmanship, superior materials, and personalized service on every project.
"Mary offered great advice on how to make our garage more functional, and was extremely receptive to our feedback. The guys who installed the cabinets did a great job! Overall we are very happy."
Amanda S on November 2023
15 TIME TOP SHELF DESIGN WINNER by CLOSETS MAGAZINE/WOODWORKING NETWORK. Offering custom-designed closet and cabinetry systems, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality workmanship, superior materials, and personalized service on every project.
"Mary offered great advice on how to make our garage more functional, and was extremely receptive to our feedback. The guys who installed the cabinets did a great job! Overall we are very happy."
Amanda S on November 2023
Design First Builders is a premier Chicago home remodeling company and all-inclusive design/build firm located in Itasca. We specialize in kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling and basement finishing as well as home additions, room additions and design. Serving all of Chicagoland we have over 100 years combined experience and are dedicated to simplifying the renovation process and building sophisticated spaces that add value to your home or business. We will also build your custom home on the lot of your choice. When DESIGNfirst was founded in 2006, we had a staff of three people managing all design, development and construction for projects throughout Chicagoland. Today we have a large team of Designers, Architects, Managers, Contractors and more to assist you in defining, expanding and building your dream space. We also offer financing options, client referral rewards, excellent customer service and have various industry partners offering discounts exclusive to our clients. We do everything with the client in mind to ensure a smooth process in creating every dream space!
"We hired Design First to redo our downstairs including a kitchen and bathroom. I would never recommend this company to anyone based on our experience with them. The company should be renamed Disappointment First. We used this company due to the recommendation of a friend but did not realize the ownership had changed. There are several other reviews that discuss how the company’s performance degraded with the new ownership. If you do use Design First, please learn from our mistakes in dealing with them and insist upon a firm completion date with a penalty per day for missing it. Several of their competitors offer this, and in our naivete we did not request a penalty for missing the completion date. We had a signed change order with a guaranteed 12/25/23 completion date, that they missed by several months. When we brought this up in discussions with them, they were dismissive and stated no penalty so nothing we can do."
SAIF R on July 2024
Design First Builders is a premier Chicago home remodeling company and all-inclusive design/build firm located in Itasca. We specialize in kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling and basement finishing as well as home additions, room additions and design. Serving all of Chicagoland we have over 100 years combined experience and are dedicated to simplifying the renovation process and building sophisticated spaces that add value to your home or business. We will also build your custom home on the lot of your choice. When DESIGNfirst was founded in 2006, we had a staff of three people managing all design, development and construction for projects throughout Chicagoland. Today we have a large team of Designers, Architects, Managers, Contractors and more to assist you in defining, expanding and building your dream space. We also offer financing options, client referral rewards, excellent customer service and have various industry partners offering discounts exclusive to our clients. We do everything with the client in mind to ensure a smooth process in creating every dream space!
"We hired Design First to redo our downstairs including a kitchen and bathroom. I would never recommend this company to anyone based on our experience with them. The company should be renamed Disappointment First. We used this company due to the recommendation of a friend but did not realize the ownership had changed. There are several other reviews that discuss how the company’s performance degraded with the new ownership. If you do use Design First, please learn from our mistakes in dealing with them and insist upon a firm completion date with a penalty per day for missing it. Several of their competitors offer this, and in our naivete we did not request a penalty for missing the completion date. We had a signed change order with a guaranteed 12/25/23 completion date, that they missed by several months. When we brought this up in discussions with them, they were dismissive and stated no penalty so nothing we can do."
SAIF R on July 2024
We are a family owned and operated company; with every phase of design, building and community development under the skilled guidance of a family member. At A.P. Builder & General Contractor, our business is more than building. Our business is building a better quality of life for our residents, respecting the communities in which we build and demonstrating a concern for the landscape we change. These qualities combine to comprise a thirty-year tradition of family commitment to excellence in building. Our clients receive impeccable attention to detail and premium service from a financially stable and sound company. We are dedicated to customer satisfaction with every aspect of the project from concept to completion. This is who we are and what we are at A.P. Builder & General Contractor; people who build, enjoy it and want to extend our expertise to you. Let us know how we may be of service to you.
"Our experience with AP Builder was great. Angelo was very knowledgeable and professional, keeping us informed every step of the way. This was a big important project for our home and I am extremely happy with how it came out! The cost was very reasonable and there were no surprises, everything was open and honest. I would definitely use them again and recommend to friends and family. Thank you AP!"
David A on March 2025
We are a family owned and operated company; with every phase of design, building and community development under the skilled guidance of a family member. At A.P. Builder & General Contractor, our business is more than building. Our business is building a better quality of life for our residents, respecting the communities in which we build and demonstrating a concern for the landscape we change. These qualities combine to comprise a thirty-year tradition of family commitment to excellence in building. Our clients receive impeccable attention to detail and premium service from a financially stable and sound company. We are dedicated to customer satisfaction with every aspect of the project from concept to completion. This is who we are and what we are at A.P. Builder & General Contractor; people who build, enjoy it and want to extend our expertise to you. Let us know how we may be of service to you.
"Our experience with AP Builder was great. Angelo was very knowledgeable and professional, keeping us informed every step of the way. This was a big important project for our home and I am extremely happy with how it came out! The cost was very reasonable and there were no surprises, everything was open and honest. I would definitely use them again and recommend to friends and family. Thank you AP!"
David A on March 2025
The Surface Doctors is a Bathtub, Tile and Countertop Refinishing and Repair company. We serve all of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. All work is performed by our experienced and certified refinishing technicians.
"Great service..the installer showed care for my house and cleaned the work area better than it was. Had my counter tops done and they turned out great!"
Jim C on April 2025
The Surface Doctors is a Bathtub, Tile and Countertop Refinishing and Repair company. We serve all of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. All work is performed by our experienced and certified refinishing technicians.
"Great service..the installer showed care for my house and cleaned the work area better than it was. Had my counter tops done and they turned out great!"
Jim C on April 2025
We sustain our business on quality and integrity. We are experts in our trade and our commitment to quality from beginning to end of your project. We look forward to earning your business. Call us anytime with any questions you may have. Thanks for your time and have a great day.
We sustain our business on quality and integrity. We are experts in our trade and our commitment to quality from beginning to end of your project. We look forward to earning your business. Call us anytime with any questions you may have. Thanks for your time and have a great day.
Horton Family Group is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty and responsibility in all of our jobs. We are a locally owned and operated business with more than 20 years of experience serving Chicago, IL and surrounding areas. There is no job too big, or too small for our team. Call today and let us put our experience to work for you!
"Mr. Horton and his worker Alex were extremely professional, prompt, reasonably priced. Iâ m looking forward to completing more projects with this company."
Arma A on February 2021
Horton Family Group is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty and responsibility in all of our jobs. We are a locally owned and operated business with more than 20 years of experience serving Chicago, IL and surrounding areas. There is no job too big, or too small for our team. Call today and let us put our experience to work for you!
"Mr. Horton and his worker Alex were extremely professional, prompt, reasonably priced. Iâ m looking forward to completing more projects with this company."
Arma A on February 2021
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumers needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
"He is very reasonable, service is excellent, and he is fair."
Joe . on August 2020
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumers needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
"He is very reasonable, service is excellent, and he is fair."
Joe . on August 2020
M&K Contractors is a Chicago area company providing commercial general contracting construction, project management and design build services to both private and public clients. We have maintained a solid record of quality, reliability and customer service in a very competitive and complex marketplace. We specialize in commercial build-outs & remodel projects and focus on meeting client expectations and bringing in projects on time and within budget. Our sweet spot is a small or medium-sized interior commercial project from a few thousand square feet to several floors. We do not build the building we finish the inside to meet demanding customer requirements.
"My best experience with any contractor"
TJ S on May 2022
M&K Contractors is a Chicago area company providing commercial general contracting construction, project management and design build services to both private and public clients. We have maintained a solid record of quality, reliability and customer service in a very competitive and complex marketplace. We specialize in commercial build-outs & remodel projects and focus on meeting client expectations and bringing in projects on time and within budget. Our sweet spot is a small or medium-sized interior commercial project from a few thousand square feet to several floors. We do not build the building we finish the inside to meet demanding customer requirements.
"My best experience with any contractor"
TJ S on May 2022
Are you a visual person? Would you like to see your project visually before investing your money and signing a contract? We have the solution! BRICK LOGIK is not your ordinary brick paving company. We're innovators, trendsetters, creators, and fun people who have a passion for designing and building unique outdoor living areas. BRICK LOGIK uses the latest advances in 3D technology to help our clients visualize even the most demanding landscape design projects. The installation results achieved through our 3D designs are extremely accurate and reliable giving you the perfect patio or landscape. 2D blueprints are great for the construction process of the project, but designing the project in 3D guarantees that you know what your getting before we break ground. Let BRICK LOGIK design your patio using our 3D CAD software. There's no obligation and you can schedule a consultation today by visiting our website at http://www.bricklogik.com
"We worked with Adolfo and his team now on multiple projects. He was professional and great to work with. We have a pool in our backyard where our pool equipment had to be visible and not hidden on the side of the house. We wanted to put a wall of some sort to hide the equipment. We had several contractors look and none of them could figure out how to do that since you couldnâ t go deep like you would with a normal fence because of the pool equipment line were. We had lost hope that there was any solution. We told Adolfo and he took it as a challenge and figured out a solution that worked great. We have hired lots of people through the years and highly recommend his company."
Patrick E on April 2023
Are you a visual person? Would you like to see your project visually before investing your money and signing a contract? We have the solution! BRICK LOGIK is not your ordinary brick paving company. We're innovators, trendsetters, creators, and fun people who have a passion for designing and building unique outdoor living areas. BRICK LOGIK uses the latest advances in 3D technology to help our clients visualize even the most demanding landscape design projects. The installation results achieved through our 3D designs are extremely accurate and reliable giving you the perfect patio or landscape. 2D blueprints are great for the construction process of the project, but designing the project in 3D guarantees that you know what your getting before we break ground. Let BRICK LOGIK design your patio using our 3D CAD software. There's no obligation and you can schedule a consultation today by visiting our website at http://www.bricklogik.com
"We worked with Adolfo and his team now on multiple projects. He was professional and great to work with. We have a pool in our backyard where our pool equipment had to be visible and not hidden on the side of the house. We wanted to put a wall of some sort to hide the equipment. We had several contractors look and none of them could figure out how to do that since you couldnâ t go deep like you would with a normal fence because of the pool equipment line were. We had lost hope that there was any solution. We told Adolfo and he took it as a challenge and figured out a solution that worked great. We have hired lots of people through the years and highly recommend his company."
Patrick E on April 2023
Installing a marble backsplash costs about $2,200 on average, ranging from $600 to $6,000, depending on the variety of marble and the labor costs to prep and install. Common types of marble used for backsplashes include:
Makrana: $12 per square foot
Pink: $25 per square foot
Carrara: $40 per square foot
Statuatrio: $50 per square foot
Cultured: $65 per square foot
Travertine: $75 per square foot
Danby: $80 per square foot
Calacatta: $180 per square foot
Marble countertops cost $3,000 on average, ranging from about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the type of marble, square footage, location, and whether you use tiles or slabs. Another major cost factor to consider is the grading of the marble, which determines its quality level.
Use this grading system when selecting marble for countertops:
Grade A: Nearly perfect with subtle veining
Grade B: Minor flaws such as pits, fissures, or blotches
Grade C: Minor and major flaws like chipping and cracks requiring repair
Grade D: Significant damage needing repair, with dark veining and pronounced colors
Installing granite kitchen countertops costs about $3,250, ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the quantity and quality of the granite, use of granite tile or granite slabs, the type of granite, and its color and texture. Varieties of granite include:
Alaska white: $35 per square foot
Ubatuba: $30–$60 per square foot
Silver cloud: $35–$40 per square foot
Absolute black: $45–$60 per square foot
Black galaxy: $50–$70 per square foot
Blue Louise: $70–$100 per square foot
Crema Bordeaux: $80 per square foot
Solarius: $60 per square foot
There are several countertop options available to fit your lifestyle and needs.
Granite countertops are durable and come in a variety of colors.
Soapstone countertops are prone to scratches and best in smaller kitchens.
Marble countertops are less durable than granite but a good option for busy kitchens.
Slate countertops are stain-resistant, making them easy to clean.
Limestone countertops must be sealed often to prevent scratches.
Acrylic countertops cost less than granite while still providing durability.
Laminate countertops are the most affordable but chip and fade faster.
Wood countertops need monthly sealing to maintain.
The cost to install countertops is $3,105 on average. This project cost can range from $400 to $8,500, depending on the material, edging, and countertop size.
Laminate countertops are generally the most cost-efficient, ranging from $8 to $27 per square foot. On the other hand, slate countertops are considered more luxurious and range from $30 to $90 per square foot. There are also countertop materials priced between those two, including stainless steel, granite, Corian, and wood.