A Single-Family Gut Rehab in Rogers Park

A down-to-the-studs renovation that reorganized the home for the needs of a growing family

This Rogers Park renovation near Loyola University was a complete gut, reworking the layout and updating every area of the home, including the kitchen, primary bathroom, powder room, and primary bedroom.

As with many Chicago homes (especially 110+ year old homes like this one), the existing layout was build for another era, but there was significant room for improvement. Storage was limited in the kitchen, lighting was uneven, and the material palette had accumulated through years of incremental updates.

From warm wood accents and custom cabinetry to striking geometric patterns and high-contrast finishes, every detail is designed with both beauty and practicality in mind. Light-filled spaces, layered neutrals, and playful touches reflect the homeowners’ personality while maintaining a polished, elevated feel. This project exemplifies sophisticated, custom residential design at its best.

Kitchen Renovation with Waterfall Island

The kitchen renovation began with a straightforward question: how should the room actually function day to day?
We started with removing a large column that ran from counter to the ceiling, creating a more open space.

A large island was added to provide ample space for food storage, arts & crafts projects, and parties. The island incorporates a waterfall quartz countertop and seating for four, allowing it to serve as a workspace, casual dining area, and natural focal point for the room. In addition, the counter was widened, allowing for a massive amount of extra storage underneath the counters on the dining room side of the kitchen.

We also extended the cabinets up to the ceiling, providing even more storage. Finally, a coffee bar and open shelving in the sunroom was added, where there had previously been an old sliding door, leading to nowhere.

As with many renovation projects, the most important decisions happened before construction started—refining the layout, determining where storage should live, and making sure appliances and lighting aligned with how the space would actually be used.

Contemporary kitchen with marble island, minimalist white cabinets, elegant backsplash, and modern stainless steel stove.
Clean Chicago coffee bar with sleek metallic fridge, floating wood shelves, dark cabinetry, and minimalist decor. Bright, airy space with stylish accents.
Modern bar with sleek lines, open shelving, elegant marble countertop, warm wood flooring, minimalist decor, and recessed lighting features.
Contemporary bar with marble countertop, sleek black cabinets, open wooden shelves, and modern metallic accents, showcasing minimalist design.
Contemporary kitchen with marble countertop, stainless steel appliances, and elegant black accents complementing refined wooden flooring.

Primary Bathroom Renovation

The primary bathroom was moved from hallway access, to be contained within the master suite.

A new double vanity was introduced to give each user dedicated sink space and additional storage. Mirrored cabinetry above the vanity increases storage capacity while keeping the visual footprint relatively light.

Quartz countertops and medium-tone cabinetry provide contrast against lighter tile finishes, allowing the layout and fixtures to remain the focus of the space. In addition, chevron patterned tile was extended on the wall above the double vanity, for a subtle, elegant effect.

Mid-century modern primary bathroom with wooden cabinetry, geometric tile flooring, and minimalist fixtures, showcasing sleek, elegant architectural design.
Transitional primary bathroom with minimalist lighting, marble accents, modern faucet, natural wood cabinetry, and sleek glass shower.
Minimalist primary bathroom with gold fixtures, integrated shelving, and sleek white tiles. Features a modern shower design and natural stone bench.
Minimalist primary bathroom with sleek floating tub, chic built-in shelf, glass partition, and elegant marble floor. Modern door completes the aesthetic.
Minimalist primary bathroom with sleek fixtures, built-in shelving, smooth bench, and large window. Elegant design features modern brass accents.
Minimalist primary bathroom with sleek fixtures, geometric shower design, abundant natural light, and subtle modern accents.

Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom was completed reconfigured, taking down walls, moving the closet, and establishing a dedicated home office space in the giant bedroom suite.

On the ceiling, a faux-wood beam was added to visually separate the sleep and work spaces, while keeping the floorplan open.

Beside the bed, a large wall of custom cabinets were installed, perfect for a hamper pullout, extra closet space, and in this client’s case, space to store wrapping paper and other household items.

Transitional primary bedroom with modern wall art, textured headboard, elegant arch mirror, and sleek bedside lamps. Bright, cozy, and stylish interiors.
Scandinavian primary bedroom with exposed wooden beam, soft lighting, muted décor, large window, contemporary light fixture, and minimalist furnishings.
Scandinavian primary bedroom with modern grey headboard, abstract wall art, plush pillows, and wooden floors. Cozy textures and minimalist decor.
Scandinavian primary bedroom with a textured gray headboard, sleek wooden nightstand, and minimalist lighting, showcasing modern, understated elegance.

Powder Room

The powder room, like many we design, features bold wallpaper that pops. The wallpaper introduces contrast and pattern while the rest of the fixtures remain relatively simple.

A floating vanity paired with a wall-mounted faucet keeps the footprint compact and maintains usable floor area within the small room. With fewer materials competing for attention, the wallpaper becomes the defining feature of the space.

Contemporary powder room with bold geometric walls, sleek oval mirror, elegant marble sink, and modern lighting. Stylish and distinctive design.
Contemporary powder room featuring geometric wallpaper, marble sink, modern fixtures, and elegant pendant lighting.
Contemporary powder room with geometric black wallpaper, oval mirror, marble sink with sleek black fixtures, and dual globe pendant lights.
Contemporary powder room featuring intricate geometric wallpaper, minimalist shelving with art, and soft natural lighting through a sleek window.

Coordinating the Interior

Although the renovation addressed several different spaces, our design process treated the project as a single interior update, ensuring cohesion across all rooms in the home. Cabinet finishes, hardware, lighting, and countertop materials were selected so the kitchen and bathrooms feel connected without repeating the same elements everywhere.

This type of coordination becomes particularly important when multiple rooms are renovated at the same time. Establishing a consistent palette early in the process helps ensure the finished spaces feel intentional rather than pieced together over time.

Scandinavian kids' bedroom with vaulted ceiling, white doors, and geometric decor; featuring a cozy rocking chair and a plush pouf on a patterned rug.
Scandinavian kids bedroom with modern crib, angled windows, geometric rug, and minimalist decor. Bright space with airy curtains and wooden accents.
Transitional kitchen with marble island, black bar stools, contemporary pendant lighting, and white cabinetry. Stainless steel appliances add contrast.

Renovation in Rogers Park

Lugbill Designs works with homeowners throughout Rogers Park and Chicago’s North Side + the Northshore, on kitchen renovations, bathroom remodels, and full interior updates. Many projects involve older homes where layouts, plumbing locations, and storage solutions benefit from careful rethinking before construction begins.

By resolving layout decisions and material selections during the design phase, the renovation process tends to move more smoothly once construction starts.