By Abdullah M. Ghabayen, founder and president of AMG Proline, engineer, licensed general contractor and interior designer, building kitchens and baths in Chicagoland since 1996. Updated September 18, 2026.
Quick answer: Before your kitchen remodeling consultation, write down what frustrates you about the kitchen you have, separate must-haves from wish-list items, gather five to ten inspiration photos, think through appliances and a budget range, and note any condo or association rules. You don’t need a finished design. The first meeting exists to understand how the kitchen works today, what has to change, and what happens next. Our consultation is free, includes in-home measurements, and carries no obligation. Call (708) 979-3298 or book your free consultation.
Kitchen Remodeling Consultation in Chicago: What to Prepare, What Happens During the Free In-Home Visit, Budget Ranges to Bring, the Questions Worth Asking Every Contractor, and How to Compare the Quotes You Collect
Free consultation, free measurements, no obligation. We come to your home anywhere within 30 miles of our Crestwood showroom, measure properly, and follow up with a fixed written price itemized by trade.
📞 (708) 979-3298 · 💻 Book your free consultation · 📍 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL, Mon–Sat
Start With the Kitchen You Have, Not the One You Want
Before opening Pinterest, before choosing quartz, and before deciding whether you need an island, spend a few days paying attention to the room you already own. Notice where the frustration happens: two people who can’t open the refrigerator and the dishwasher at the same time, a trash cabinet across the room from the prep zone, nowhere to set groceries when you come through the door, upper cabinets that are full while half the storage is out of reach, or everyone gathering around the island while you’re trying to cook.
Those observations are worth more in a consultation than a folder of beautiful kitchens, because they tell us what the new layout has to solve. A remodel should not just replace old materials with new ones. It should fix the way the room works.
Make a One-Page “What Isn’t Working” List
You don’t need a twenty-page brief. Write down the five or six things you most want changed, and be specific. “The kitchen feels outdated” is useful stylistically. “Four people use this kitchen every morning and there’s nowhere to set breakfast dishes” is useful functionally, and it shapes the layout.
Common items on that list: not enough drawer storage, poor lighting over the counters, a refrigerator disconnected from the prep area, an island too small for family seating, no pantry, a microwave eating the countertop, awkward traffic between kitchen and family room, a sink that blocks the best window, outdated outlets, or too little space beside the range.
Separate Must-Haves From the Wish List
One of the most productive things you can do before we meet is sort your wants into three groups. It makes every later budget decision easier, because we already know what to protect.
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Must have | More usable storage, larger refrigerator, dishwasher beside the sink, seating for four, better lighting, an accessible pantry, improved ventilation, safer electrical |
| Strong preference | Large island, double ovens, beverage refrigerator, full-height backsplash, walnut cabinetry, workstation sink |
| Nice to have | Toe-kick lighting, appliance garage, second sink, glass cabinet doors, pot filler, waterfall island edge |
Photograph the Kitchen Before We Arrive
Take photos even though we’ll see the room in person. They capture details that come up later during design, and they help when we’re comparing options after the visit. Shoot each wall straight on, the room from every entrance, the adjoining dining or family room, the pantry, windows, existing appliances, the ceiling, flooring transitions, any visible damage, the electrical panel if it’s accessible, and the basement ceiling below the kitchen if you can get to it safely.
You Don’t Need Professional Measurements
We measure during the visit, and those are the numbers the design is built from. Rough homeowner measurements still help you think, though. Measure the kitchen width and length, the island, door openings and major appliances, because scale is what makes inspiration useful. A 12-foot island looks perfect online and makes no sense in a room that’s 11 feet wide.
Bring Inspiration, But Edit It First
Five to ten photos beat fifty near-identical ones. Choose examples that each demonstrate something specific: one for cabinet color, one for island shape, one for lighting, one for backsplash, one for storage, one for overall mood. Then tell us what you actually like in each image, not just “I want this kitchen.” Say “I like the warm wood on the island,” “I like that the uppers go to the ceiling,” “I like how the hood is integrated,” “I like deep drawers instead of lower cabinet doors.” That separates the ideas you want from the architecture of somebody else’s house.
It’s just as useful to bring examples of what you dislike: high-gloss cabinetry, busy granite, open shelving, farmhouse sinks, cool grays, ornate doors, visible appliances, oversized pendants. You don’t need design vocabulary, only a clear reaction.
Talk About Appliances Earlier Than You Think
Appliances influence cabinet dimensions, electrical requirements, plumbing, ventilation, island planning, countertop cutouts and aisle clearance. You don’t need model numbers at the first meeting, but tell us whether you’re imagining a standard package or something that changes the cabinetry and utilities: a 36- or 48-inch range, wall ovens, a counter-depth or built-in refrigerator, a microwave drawer, an induction cooktop, a beverage refrigerator, or panel-ready fronts. More detail is in our kitchen appliance planning guide.
Think About Storage by Category
“I need more storage” is hard to design around. Walk through what actually needs a home: pots, pans, lids and baking sheets; spices and oils; dry goods, canned goods and bulk purchases; the mixer, blender, toaster, coffee maker and air fryer; everyday plates, bowls, glasses and flatware; and the holiday platters that only come out once a year. Once storage is discussed by category, cabinetry gets planned around your belongings instead of a generic number of doors and drawers. See custom kitchen cabinets.
Walk Through One Normal Day
This uncovers layout requirements faster than any style question. In the morning, who comes in first, where does coffee happen, who packs lunches, how many people need the refrigerator, where do bags land? At dinner, does one person cook or two, do kids sit at the island, do guests gather nearby, does someone need the refrigerator while another person is at the range? At cleanup, where do dirty dishes pile up, where’s the trash, and where do clean dishes live relative to the dishwasher? A layout should answer those routines. That’s more useful than deciding between an L-shape and a U-shape in the abstract.
Budget Is a Planning Tool, Not a Secret
Homeowners sometimes hold the number back, worried that naming it guarantees the project will cost exactly that. It doesn’t. It tells us where to concentrate the money so you get the kitchen you actually want. Cabinetry alone swings dramatically with construction, customization, door style, finish and interior accessories. Countertops move with material, slab, edge, thickness and waterfall panels. Layout changes add electrical, plumbing, framing, structural work and permits.
| Scope | Typical Chicagoland range | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $15,000–$30,000 | Same layout: countertops, backsplash, hardware, paint, refacing or new doors |
| Full remodel, same footprint | $35,000–$70,000 | New cabinets, counters, flooring, sink, lighting, appliances |
| Gut with a layout change | $70,000–$150,000+ | Moving plumbing or the range, opening a wall, electrical upgrades, permit drawings |
Full detail is in our kitchen remodel cost guide for Chicago. Don’t treat national averages as a quote for your home; the consultation exists partly to establish the real scope.
Decide Where You’re Willing to Spend More
You don’t need premium everything. You need the budget concentrated where it improves daily life. For one household that’s cabinetry; for another it’s professional appliances, natural stone, lighting, a large island, custom storage or a structural opening into the family room. Someone who cooks constantly values prep space and appliances. Someone who entertains prioritizes the island and the connection to the living area. Someone staying for twenty years invests differently than someone selling in three. Tell us how you actually live.
Countertops: Bring a Direction, Not a Final Slab
You don’t need the stone chosen before we meet, but a general direction helps: quartz, granite, marble or quartzite; light surfaces or dark; dramatic veining or subtle pattern. Countertops set the visual direction of the whole kitchen and have to coordinate with cabinetry, backsplash, flooring, sink and edge profile. A four-inch sample also doesn’t show how a full slab moves, which is why we recommend choosing your own slab. See countertop installation.
Be Ready to Discuss the Layout You Have
Some changes are straightforward; others involve several trades. Moving a sink is plumbing. Moving a gas range affects gas and ventilation. Removing a wall can be structural. Changing an island affects electrical. Expanding into another room affects flooring and ceilings. None of that means the change shouldn’t happen. It means the consultation needs to uncover what it involves.
When you raise an idea, tell us why. Instead of “I want to move the sink,” try “I want the island to be the main prep area so I can face the family room.” The goal explains the problem, and there’s often more than one way to solve it.
Chicago Condo Owners: Bring the Building Rules
Condo projects carry requirements detached homes don’t. If you have them, bring the association’s renovation rules, contractor insurance requirements, approved work hours, elevator reservations, alteration agreements, delivery procedures, plumbing restrictions and flooring requirements. You don’t need to delay the meeting until every document is collected, but mentioning the rules early keeps the design from developing around something the building won’t permit. Exterior venting is the most common one: many buildings restrict it, which changes the hood and sometimes the range location.
Older Chicago Homes: Expect More Questions
Bungalows, greystones, two-flats and mid-century suburban homes hide conditions you can’t see from the finished kitchen. We’ll ask about the age of the home, previous renovations, the electrical panel, the plumbing, basement access, walls you want removed, unusual floor conditions, old soffits and prior additions. Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. “I don’t know” is a better answer than a guess, and part of the consultation is identifying what needs a closer look.
Decide Whether You’ll Live in the House During Construction
Most of our clients stay. Think about where food will be prepared, whether there’s a second refrigerator or another sink, whether a temporary kitchen can be set up, whether children or pets are home during the day, whether you work from home, which entrance crews should use, and where materials can be staged. You don’t need a logistics plan at the first meeting, but household constraints belong in the conversation, because a kitchen remodel affects daily life for weeks.
Bring Your Timeline, Even If It’s Flexible
Tell us if a date is driving the project: a new baby, a wedding, a graduation, family visiting, a closing, a lease ending or planned travel. A preferred completion date isn’t the same as a guaranteed construction date, but there’s a real difference between “I’d love it finished by Thanksgiving” and “my parents move in November 1.” One is a preference, the other is a constraint, and they get scheduled differently.
What Happens During Our Consultation, Step by Step
Here’s exactly how the visit runs, so none of it is a surprise.
| Step | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Walkthrough | We look at the kitchen with you and talk through what frustrates you, how you cook and who uses the room | 20–30 min |
| 2. Measurements | We measure the room at multiple points and note windows, doors, soffits, appliance locations, the electrical panel and what’s under the floor where we can see it | 15–30 min |
| 3. Scope | We tell you which ideas are straightforward, which involve plumbing, electrical or structure, and what needs further investigation | 15–20 min |
| 4. Materials | We bring samples, or you compare slabs, door styles and hardware at the Crestwood showroom under real light | As long as you like |
| 5. Design | We produce 3D mapped-out designs for your approval. Nothing is ordered until you sign off | After the visit |
| 6. Written price | A fixed price itemized by trade and material, with permit fees inside the scope rather than added later | After the design |
Who shows up: I do. I’m an engineer, a licensed general contractor and an interior designer, and I’m on your job site after you sign, not just at the estimate. Most companies hand you to a salesperson at the estimate and to a subcontractor after the contract. That’s worth asking every bidder about.
What you get afterward: a 3D design, a fixed written price by trade, a realistic schedule, and an honest list of anything that can’t be known until a wall is open, along with the range if we find it. If something unexpected does appear behind the drywall, you hear it from us in writing with a price before we proceed, never from the invoice.
Questions Worth Asking Every Contractor You Meet
- Who will be on my job site day to day, and who do I call with a problem?
- Is the price fixed and itemized, or an allowance-based estimate?
- Are permits and permit fees included in the scope?
- Are your crews employees or subcontractors, and are they insured?
- What happens, in writing, if you find a problem behind the walls?
- Who handles design, and is it included?
- What’s the realistic schedule, and what could delay it?
- Can I see finished projects like mine, and talk to those homeowners?
- How do you protect the rest of the house during demolition?
- What is the payment schedule tied to?
Any contractor worth hiring answers all ten without hesitating.
How Many Quotes Should You Get, and How Do You Compare Them?
Three is the number most homeowners land on, and it’s a good one. One gives you no reference point; five turns into a part-time job. But three quotes only help if you’re comparing the same things, and in remodeling the totals differ mostly because the scopes differ, not because one company is cheaper.
| Compare this, not the bottom line | Why it changes the number |
|---|---|
| Is design and 3D layout included? | Hiring a designer separately adds cost and time |
| Are permits and permit fees in the scope? | Often excluded, then billed later |
| Fixed price or allowances? | Allowance-based estimates almost always rise |
| Cabinet grade and construction | “New cabinets” can mean stock or custom, a difference of tens of thousands |
| Countertop material and slab selection | Ordering by name is not the same as choosing your slab |
| Electrical and plumbing scope | Panel work and moving services are frequently left out |
| Venting the hood to the exterior | Commonly omitted, then quoted as an extra |
| Who does the work | Employees and a site supervisor vs. rotating subcontractors |
| What happens behind the walls | A change-order policy in writing, or a surprise later |
| Cleanup, protection and the punch list | Small line items that reveal how the job will actually run |
The honest rule: if one bid comes in far below the others, something was left out. Ask which of those rows it excludes, and the gap usually explains itself.
What Our Written Price Includes
So you can hold every bidder to the same standard, a full AMG kitchen quote covers: design and 3D layout; permit drawings, filing and fees; demolition and disposal; framing and structural work; licensed electrical and plumbing; range hood venting; insulation and drywall; flooring, tile and backsplash; custom cabinetry and trim; countertop template and installation; and painting, fixtures, final cleaning and the punch-list walkthrough.
One crew, one contract, one point of accountability. Appliances are the single item you can supply yourself; just send us the specification sheets early, because cabinet openings are built to appliance dimensions.
Red Flags While You’re Collecting Quotes
- A price quoted without measuring the room
- No written scope, or a one-page total with no breakdown
- A large deposit demanded up front
- Pressure to sign at the first visit, or a discount that expires that day
- No license, no certificate of insurance, or reluctance to provide either
- Skipping permits “to save you money”
- Cash-only terms
- No local address or showroom you can visit
- Reviews that all arrived the same week
- Vague answers about who will actually be on your job
When to Book, and What the Schedule Looks Like
Design, selections and cabinetry lead times mean the calendar runs further ahead than most homeowners expect. A kitchen you want finished before the holidays generally needs to be in design well before fall, and spring projects fill up over the winter. Booking the consultation early costs nothing and keeps your options open. Waiting usually means choosing from whatever dates are left.
Get a written price you can actually compare. Free in-home visit, real measurements, 3D design, then a fixed price itemized by trade with permits in the scope.
Book your free consultation · (708) 979-3298 · Showroom: 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, Mon–Sat
Free Estimates and Measurements Within 30 Miles of Crestwood
We cover Chicago and every suburb within 30 miles of our showroom, and the visit is free with no obligation: Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Oak Forest, Evergreen Park, Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Burbank, Beverly and Mount Greenwood; Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, Lemont, New Lenox, Lockport, Matteson, Flossmoor and Homewood; Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, La Grange, Western Springs, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Darien, Lisle, Naperville and Bolingbrook; and the city, including the Loop, West Loop, South Loop, Hyde Park, Bridgeport, Pilsen, Lincoln Park, Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero. More detail on the free estimate page.
Avoid Designing the Whole Kitchen Around One Photograph
It happens often: a homeowner finds a kitchen online and loves it. The photographed room may have 11-foot ceilings, 18 feet of width, multiple windows, a hidden pantry and a different appliance configuration. Yours may not. Use photos to communicate ideas, not as construction drawings, and take the elements that make sense for your room. The best kitchen looks like it belongs in your home.
Think About the Rooms Around the Kitchen
The kitchen doesn’t stop at the cabinet line. Is it open to the dining room, family room, hallway or breakfast area? Are you keeping the existing flooring? Will a new island change circulation into the next room? Will new cabinetry be visible from the living room? Do the colors need to work with furniture or flooring that’s staying? A kitchen can be beautiful on its own and still feel disconnected from the rest of the house.
Planning a Bathroom Too?
Most homeowners remodeling a kitchen are thinking about a bathroom next, and both rooms share a rule: the decisions that cost the most money are the ones made too late. In bathrooms it’s the glass. Tempered glass can’t be cut, drilled or trimmed once it’s made, so a shower enclosure is templated after the tile is finished, and heavy frameless panels need blocking behind the wall before it’s closed up, which is a framing-stage decision, not a finish-stage one.
We handle that in house. Our glass division, AMG Glass & Shower Doors, is owned and managed by AMG Proline and works out of the same Crestwood showroom, fabricating and installing frameless, semi-frameless and sliding enclosures, glass walls and vanity mirrors with our own team. Bring both rooms to one consultation. See bathroom remodeling and walk-in shower installation.
A Simple Night-Before Checklist
- Your one-page problem list
- Must-haves, strong preferences and nice-to-haves
- Five to ten edited inspiration photos, and a few examples of what you dislike
- Appliance preferences, with specification sheets if you have them
- A rough budget range
- Timeline considerations
- Condo or association rules, if they apply
- Photographs of the kitchen and adjoining rooms
- Your questions
Then stop. You don’t need to spend the night designing the kitchen yourself. That’s what the planning process is for.
Why Homeowners Choose AMG Proline
- The owner runs your project: engineer, licensed general contractor and interior designer in one person, on site through construction
- 2025 Marquis Who’s Who inductee and Millennium Magazine cover feature in Architecture, Construction and Real Estate
- Best of Burbank (2019 and 2020), Business Hall of Fame and a Complaint-Free award
- BBB accredited, Houzz Pro, licensed and bonded in Illinois
- Custom cabinetry built in house, sized to walls that are rarely square in older Chicago homes
- Glass and shower doors in house through our own division
- Crestwood showroom with real slabs, door styles and hardware, Monday through Saturday
- Fixed written pricing, itemized by trade, permits included in the scope
“If you are searching for a quality and detailed oriented GC to rehab your personal home, then Abdallah and his AMG team are one of the best. They have the entire team from interior design to all the trades. They will rehab your project based on budget and preferences. Highly recommended.”
— Saleh A., read the review on Google
Frequently Asked Questions About a Kitchen Remodeling Consultation
Is the kitchen remodeling consultation free?
Yes. The in-home consultation, measurements and estimate are free, with no obligation.
How long does a kitchen consultation take?
Usually about an hour: a walkthrough, measurements and a scope discussion. Material selection can take longer if you want to go through samples.
What should I bring to a kitchen remodeling consultation?
A short list of what isn’t working, your must-haves, five to ten inspiration photos, appliance preferences, a budget range, timeline notes and any condo or association rules.
Do I need exact measurements before the consultation?
No. We measure during the visit. Rough numbers only help you understand the space beforehand.
Who comes to the consultation?
Abdullah, the owner, who designs the project, prices it and is on the job site during construction.
How soon will I get a price after the consultation?
The design comes first, then a fixed written price itemized by trade and material. We tell you at the visit what to expect.
Do you charge for the design?
Design and 3D layout are part of our process rather than a separate hire. If you already have a designer or architect, we build from their drawings.
Should I know my exact budget?
No, but a realistic range helps guide decisions about cabinetry, appliances, layout changes and countertops.
Should I choose appliances before meeting the remodeler?
Exact models aren’t required, but mention major preferences such as a wider range, built-in refrigerator, wall ovens, induction cooktop or microwave drawer, because they affect cabinetry and utilities.
Can I request layout changes during the first meeting?
Yes. Explain the change and the problem you hope it solves, and we’ll tell you whether that idea or another solution fits the space better.
How many quotes should I get for a kitchen remodel?
Three is usually enough, as long as you compare scopes rather than totals: design, permits, electrical, plumbing, venting and cabinet grade.
Why are kitchen remodel quotes so different?
Almost always because the scopes differ: design excluded, permits left out, allowances instead of fixed selections, or a different cabinet grade presented as the same thing.
Is the price fixed?
Yes. You get a fixed written price before work begins, and anything unexpected behind a wall comes to you in writing with a price before we proceed.
Do you require a large deposit?
Payments follow a schedule in the contract rather than a large up-front demand, and we walk through it before you sign.
How far do you travel for a free consultation?
Chicago and the suburbs within 30 miles of our Crestwood showroom.
Can you look at my kitchen and bathroom in the same visit?
Yes, and it’s usually more efficient. We remodel both, and our own glass division handles shower enclosures and mirrors.
How far ahead should I book a kitchen remodel?
Earlier than most people expect. Design, selections and cabinetry lead times mean holiday completions are planned months ahead, and spring fills over the winter.
What happens after the consultation?
Design and layout, then material selections, then a fixed written price, then scheduling and construction, finishing with a punch-list walkthrough.
About the Author
Abdullah M. Ghabayen is the founder and president of AMG Proline, a kitchen and bath remodeling company with a showroom in Crestwood, Illinois, serving Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. He is an engineer by training, a licensed general contractor by trade and an interior designer by practice, with a career that began in his family’s glass shop in 1996. In 2025 he was inducted into Marquis Who’s Who and featured on the cover of Millennium Magazine in the Architecture, Construction and Real Estate section. Read more about Abdullah and AMG Proline.
A Better Remodel Starts With a Better First Conversation
A good consultation isn’t about proving you already know everything about remodeling. You shouldn’t have to. It’s about communicating your home, your routines, your frustrations, your priorities and the investment you’re prepared to make. Bring the problems, the priorities, a few ideas and your questions. We’ll turn that into a plan, a design and a price you can hold us to.
Book Your Free In-Home Consultation
Book your free consultation · (708) 979-3298 · Showroom: 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418, Mon–Sat 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Related: kitchen remodel cost in Chicago · kitchen appliance planning · custom kitchen cabinets · countertop installation · kitchen remodeling · our projects
