Your Whole Home, Transformed.

Owner-led design-build for the North Shore — one point of contact from first consult to final walk-through.

★★★★★
5.0
Google Rating
40+
Kitchens Completed
100%
Owner on Every Project
North Shore
Wilmette · Winnetka · Highland Park · Barrington
Sound familiar?

A whole-home renovation needs a team that holds the full vision. Most can’t.

You hired a contractor to take work off your plate. Instead, you’re coordinating subs, chasing unanswered texts, and managing surprises that keep blowing the budget. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Too many contractors, no one in charge

You’re the de facto project manager — coordinating the GC, the architect, the cabinet shop, the tile installer, and the plumber who keeps disappearing. You hired a contractor to run the job, not to hand you the radio.

The scope keeps growing

What started as a kitchen and two bathrooms has now expanded into electrical, structural, exterior work, and everything that was ‘behind the walls.’ Each one shows up as a change order that should’ve been scoped upfront.

The vision gets lost in execution

The mood board you approved looks nothing like what’s being built. Design decisions made early don’t survive contact with the build. By the time you notice, it’s too late and too expensive to fix.

Why Ultimate Development

One team. One point of contact. Zero finger-pointing.

Gary is your contact

Not a project manager you’ve never met. The owner picks up the phone, shows up on site, and is accountable to you directly — from the first call to the final walk-through.

No blindside change orders

During design and pre-construction we scope for what’s behind the walls. When surprises come up, we explain options and costs before touching anything. You decide.

Design support included

We don’t just sell you the job and hand you a tile catalog. We guide every material and layout decision — so you feel confident, not overwhelmed.

Milestone-based payments

You only pay as work is completed and inspections pass. We never ask for 70% upfront. Your money is protected at every stage of the project.

The Process

Here’s exactly what working with us looks like.

Leave the hard decisions and heavy lifting to us. No surprises, no disappearing acts — just a clear, predictable process from first call to final walk-through.

1
Week 1

Free Consultation

Gary walks your space, listens to what you want, and tells you what’s realistic. No pressure, no salesperson. Just an honest conversation.

2
Weeks 2–4

Design & Materials

We guide every decision — layout, cabinetry, countertops, fixtures. Leave the hard choices to us. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting before a wall opens.

3
Weeks 4–6

Permits & Scoping

We pull every permit and scope what’s behind the walls. Surprises stay off your invoice. Leave the red tape and planning to us.

4
Weeks 6–14

Build

Our crew shows up when we say. Daily cleanup. Weekly updates from Gary directly. You always know what’s happening — without having to ask.

5
Final Week

Walk-Through & Sign-Off

Nothing is done until you say it’s done. We walk every inch together. Final payment only after you’ve signed off on every last detail.

FAQ

Questions we get asked every day

How long does a whole-home renovation take?
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A full home renovation typically takes 6–18 months depending on scope, square footage, and structural work. We give you a detailed, phased project schedule before you sign — and we build it to hold.

Do we need to move out during a whole-home renovation?
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For a full gut renovation, yes — we recommend relocating temporarily. For phased or partial renovations, many clients stay home. We’ll walk you through the realistic picture in your consultation.

How do you manage all the decisions in a full renovation?
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We guide every decision — materials, layout, finishes, fixtures — as part of the project. Nothing gets handed to you cold. We sequence decisions to match the build so you’re never overwhelmed.

What does a full home renovation cost?
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Full home renovations on the North Shore typically range from $200K–$800K+ depending on size, scope, and finish level. We provide a detailed, itemized estimate after a thorough walkthrough and design consultation.

Can you handle structural and addition work as part of the renovation?
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Yes. We regularly incorporate structural changes, room additions, and exterior renovations as part of whole-home projects — all under one contract with one point of contact.

How do you keep a renovation on budget across so many moving parts?
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Upfront scoping is everything. We identify structural conditions, mechanical requirements, and finish costs before you sign. Change orders happen when scope is vague — ours isn’t.