What needs an answer before demolition.Start with the room. Then the building around it.

Cardea Development is a Chicago-based construction company focused on residential kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

Cardea’s published core services are kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling. The exact room, priorities, and scope are reviewed with each inquiry.

Cardea reviews the property location, room, proposed scope, desired timing, access constraints, known approvals, and existing conditions.

An inquiry is a request for review, not a guarantee that Cardea can accept the project.

Selected images are Cardea-directed digital design visualizations used to express material, proportion, and atmosphere.

They are not documentation of a specific completed client project. Verified project photography and case studies will be identified when published.

A kitchen inquiry can include layout changes, cabinetry, storage, counters, tile, fixtures, lighting, appliances, and the plumbing or electrical work tied to those decisions.

The final scope is defined for the individual home and project.

Start with how the household actually uses the room: where groceries land, who cooks, how appliance doors open, where people pass through, and whether seating blocks the work zone.

Then test the idea against the existing walls, windows, plumbing, ventilation, and electrical service. A finish selection cannot correct a layout that fights the house.

List what needs to live in the kitchen and where it is used. Cabinet dimensions, drawer depth, corners, appliance clearances, trash, pantry storage, and everyday dishes should be worked out together before the order is placed.

Compare maintenance, heat and stain exposure, seam locations, overhang support, edge profiles, and how the counter meets cabinets, tile, sinks, windows, and walls. The right material is the one that works for the room and household, not simply the most expensive sample.

The plan should put useful light on counters and work zones, provide comfortable general light, and use accent light only where it earns its place. Fixtures, cabinet lines, ceiling conditions, appliance doors, sight lines, and switches need to be coordinated before walls and ceilings are closed.

A bathroom inquiry can include a shower or tub, vanity and storage, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting, ventilation, heated floors, and changes to the room layout.

The final scope is defined for the individual home and project.

Resolve the entry, clearances, valve location, storage, spray direction, glass, curb or floor transition, lighting, ventilation, and drain before choosing a tile pattern.

The visible tile layout and the concealed water-management assembly should be planned as one system.

Moisture control affects finishes, enclosed cavities, comfort, and indoor air quality. The exhaust path, termination point, room conditions, and actual property requirements should be confirmed before the ceiling and wall work are closed.

A finished bathroom can hide transitions between the drain, waterproofing, penetrations, walls, curbs, floors, and adjoining materials. Those relationships should be defined and inspected as required before tile and finish work conceal them.

Start with what must be stored, who uses it, wet and dry zones, cleaning access, slip and touch conditions, maintenance, and the way finishes meet at edges and changes in plane.

Durability depends on the actual room conditions and assembly, not on a luxury label alone.

Cardea considers selected residential kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects across Chicagoland.

The Service Areas directory lists the Chicago, North Shore, and western suburban communities Cardea currently reviews.

It is a starting point, not a hard service boundary or a promise of availability.

No. Each inquiry is reviewed by property location, project scope, schedule, and site conditions. Inclusion in the directory does not guarantee availability or project acceptance.

Yes. Nearby communities may still be considered. Include the property location and proposed scope so Cardea can review regional fit individually.

It means the community is within Cardea’s current Chicagoland focus. It does not mean Cardea has an office there, guarantees schedule availability, or accepts every project at that location.

Begin with the project inquiry. Describe the property location, the room involved, what is not working today, and what you want the room to do better.

Cardea’s published path starts by reading the room and the property, then defining the scope, preparing the work, building, and closing out the project.

The purpose is to settle connected decisions before they reach the jobsite. Exact responsibilities and deliverables are confirmed for the individual project.

Cardea does not publish a one-size-fits-all price range before the project is defined. Room size alone does not establish cost.

Useful planning accounts for existing conditions, layout changes, plumbing and electrical work, cabinetry, fixtures, surfaces, access, and finish level. Share your planning context in the inquiry so it can be reviewed against the actual scope without implying an estimate or project acceptance.

There is no published standard duration or guaranteed completion date. The sequence can change with scope definition, approvals, existing conditions, material readiness, inspections, site access, and the work itself.

A project-specific schedule should be discussed only after those inputs are understood.

That decision depends on the room, utilities affected, dust and noise, safe circulation, children or pets, accessibility needs, and the household’s tolerance for disruption.

Describe occupancy in the inquiry so the site conditions and a realistic protection and access conversation can be reviewed before any plan is assumed.

Material decisions should be coordinated with the scope, dimensions, performance requirements, maintenance expectations, lead times, and the details where components meet.

Selection, purchasing, approval, storage, and delivery responsibilities must be confirmed for the individual project. The website does not imply a specific vendor relationship or procurement promise.

Yes. Describe both rooms so Cardea can review the combined scope, property location, desired timing, and site conditions together.

Whether the work is a fit is confirmed only after that review.

No. Submitting an inquiry begins a project review. It does not create a contract, reserve a construction date, confirm pricing, or guarantee acceptance.

Often, but the answer depends on the property address, building type, and exact scope. Moving walls, drains, supply lines, wiring, ventilation, or structural components commonly changes the permit path.

Confirm the applicable building department and required inspections before demolition or before work is concealed. This answer is general planning information, not permit or legal advice.

Not always. The public permit and the association’s written alteration rules are separate gates. Association documents can also affect building systems, access, insurance requirements, work hours, elevator use, shutoffs, and common elements.

For a Chicago-area condominium, confirm both the jurisdictional and building-specific paths before ordering materials or reserving dates.

Not automatically. Review depends on the property’s designation and the features affected by the proposed work.

Exterior vents, openings, windows, doors, additions, or designated features can bring preservation review into an otherwise interior project. Screen those conditions before the permit set is finalized.

No. Chicago and individual suburbs administer their own permit and inspection requirements. The property address, scope, and building type determine which authority and submittal path apply.

For example, Wilmette, Winnetka, Lake Forest, La Grange, and Oak Brook publish different remodeling guidance. Confirm the current property-specific requirements directly with the applicable municipality.

For work inside Chicago, use the City’s current general and trade contractor search and match the legal name and license information to the contract.

For suburban work, confirm the registration or licensing requirements with the municipality responsible for the property. A record check does not guarantee project quality.