How much does a kitchen remodel cost in River North?

Kitchen remodeling in River North typically ranges from $15,000 to $80,000+ depending on scope and finishes. Cosmetic updates start around $15,000 to $22,000, mid-range remodels run $22,000 to $50,000+, and complete transformations with layout changes typically cost $50,000 to $80,000+.

How long does a River North kitchen or bathroom remodel take?

Most River North bathroom remodels run 4 to 6 weeks and kitchen remodels run 6 to 10 weeks. Full-unit loft and tower renovations generally need 8 to 14 weeks. Board or management review windows and downtown loading dock scheduling can push the start date, which is why we plan ahead.

Do I need a permit to remodel in River North?

Yes. Most River North kitchen and bathroom remodels that involve plumbing, electrical, or structural work require a Chicago building permit. As a licensed Chicago contractor, we tell you whether your specific project needs one and pull the permit through when it does. The city's review usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks.

Do you have experience in my River North building?

Very likely. We work in both the gallery-district loft conversions and the modern condo towers across River North. Tell us your building and we can usually share what we already know about its board or management office and freight elevator rules.

How much does a bathroom remodel cost in River North?

Bathroom remodels range from $12,000 for powder room updates to $55,000+ for luxury primary bathrooms. Half baths typically cost $12,000 to $20,000, full bathrooms run $20,000 to $32,000+, and primary bathrooms with custom features cost $32,000 to $55,000+

What do River North buildings require before a remodel?

Most loft-conversion HOAs and tower management offices want a detailed scope and finish schedule, a certificate of insurance at the building's limits, agreement to work-hour rules, reserved freight elevator and loading dock time, and a plan to protect shared spaces. We prepare that packet and carry the coverage.

What's the best time of year to start a River North renovation?

We work year-round, but starting in late fall through early spring often means easier downtown loading dock and freight elevator scheduling and quicker board or management turnaround. Since approvals drive the start date, it helps to begin the consultation a couple of months ahead.

River North Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

Your River North Craftsmen

Created:

January 13, 2026

Last Updated:

June 24, 2026

Wood Contracting has remodeled River North homes for more than 30 years, handling kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home projects. We remodel kitchens, bathrooms, and full units across the gallery-district loft conversions and historic warehouses and the modern high-rise towers along Chicago Avenue, Wells, and Kingsbury. Bathrooms generally take 4 to 6 weeks and kitchens 6 to 10, with cost ranges in the summary below. We hold Illinois GC license TGC105501, are EPA Lead-Safe certified, carry building-specific insurance, and handle condo board approval and freight elevator scheduling for you.

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River North Remodeling At a Glance

The quick version for River North homeowners weighing a project:

Kitchen remodels: $15,000 to $80,000+, depending on finishes and whether the layout or a building stack has to change.
Bathroom remodels: $12,000 to $55,000+, from a powder room update to a full primary bathroom.
Timelines: roughly 4 to 6 weeks for a bathroom, 6 to 10 for a kitchen, and 8 to 14 for a full-unit renovation.
Approvals: loft-conversion HOAs and tower management both review remodel plans before work starts, and sign-off can take 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the board or management calendar.
Building access: a certificate of insurance at the building's limits, freight elevator and loading dock reservations in a dense downtown grid, and set work hours. We file all of it.
Two building types: warehouse lofts bring fixed timber columns, concrete floors, and oversized windows; towers bring shared-stack plumbing and strict management rules. We plan for whichever you have.
Licensed and insured: Illinois GC license TGC105501, EPA Lead-Safe certified, fully insured.
Getting started: a free consultation with Dillon, usually within the same week.

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Why River North Homeowners Trust Wood Contracting

River North is really two neighborhoods under one name: the gallery-district loft conversions carved out of century-old warehouses, and the modern glass towers that went up around them. The contractor you hire needs to know how to work within each, because a timber-and-brick loft and a high-rise condo hide their challenges in completely different places. That is the work we have built our reputation on. Roughly 90% of our projects come from referrals and repeat clients, which means River North homeowners trust us with their homes.

Dillon Wood is present at every estimate, not a salesperson, so the person accountable for the result is with you from the first meeting. We know how River North condo boards and tower management offices operate, what they require, and how to move a remodel through approval so your start date holds.

That confidence comes from working both sides of the neighborhood. We have remodeled both the gallery-district lofts and the newer towers of River North, including full-unit condo renovation work. Kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling inside a converted warehouse with exposed brick and timber is a different job than a high-floor tower fit-out, and we plan each around the building it actually lives in.

Services We Provide in your neighborhood

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Kitchen Remodeling in River North

River North kitchens are either a converted warehouse loft or a modern tower, and the first call is which constraints apply: immovable timber and concrete on one side, shared cores and management rules on the other.

From that read our kitchen remodeling installs cabinetry, quartz or natural stone counters, tile and stone backsplashes, and integrated appliances tuned to the unit.

Bathroom Remodeling in River North

A River North bathroom turns on whether the plumbing was carved into an open loft floor or ties into a tower's shared stacks, and we confirm what can be rerouted before drawing a layout.

With occupied units beneath, we lead with waterproofing, and our bathroom remodeling builds pan and membrane to spec before adding curbless showers, double vanities, and heated floors where the footprint allows.

Condo and Loft Renovations

Full-unit renovation is common River North work: a single remodel of the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, and finishes, typically spanning 8 to 14 weeks.

A complete condo renovation here works as a whole home renovation of the unit, paired with custom carpentry and built-ins shaped to the structure. The rare lower level can add basement finishing.

What Renovating in a River North Building Actually Looks Like

A loft HOA or a tower management office reviews plans before anything starts, and sign-off can take two weeks to two months. We handle it, assembling what each building requires and booking insurance plus freight elevator and dock time in a tight downtown grid.

When the work touches plumbing, electrical, or structure, a Chicago permit applies. We tell you when yours does and pull it through, generally a 2 to 4 week review folded into the schedule.

What To Expect During Your Remodeling Journey

Our remodeling process is all about simplicity, transparency, and setting proper expectations. Remodeling projects can be stressful and we're here to make it as easy as possible.

1. Free Estimate

We'll do a site visit to see your space, take measurements, and walk you through your options with a free, no-commitment estimate.

2. Proposal

You'll get a clear, itemized proposal that breaks down the full scope of work, timeline, and costs to get a straightforward look at exactly what you're getting.

3. Design Selection

Work with our team or your designer to select materials, finishes, and fixtures. We'll handle permits, your HOA, and any building coordination.

4. Build

Our dedicated team completes your project with careful attention to detail. Dillon or your project manager communicates throughout and ensures quality at every stage.

5. Final Review

We review every detail together and address any items immediately. Your project is backed by our 1-year workmanship warranty.

Common Questions About River North Remodeling

We Serve Many Chicagoland Neighborhoods

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Service Areas Beyond River North

River North is one of our core downtown service areas, and we work the surrounding neighborhoods just as often. We regularly complete projects in Gold Coast, Streeterville, West Loop, Old Town, Lincoln Park, South Loop, and Printer's Row. Each one has its own building stock and approval realities, and we bring the same detailed read to every neighborhood we serve.

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Ready to Start Your River North Remodel?

The best first move is a conversation. Dillon meets you in your loft or tower unit, looks at the space with you, and gives you a clear sense of what your building will allow and what the work should cost. Straight answers, no sales routine.

Reach out by phone, email, or contact form to book your free consultation. We usually respond within one business day and can arrange a first visit around your building's access window.

River North Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling