Custom kitchens, closets and stairs for Naperville homes

Naper's settlement, the historic district and the Moser years

Joseph Naper founded the settlement in 1831. It was the DuPage County seat from 1839 to 1868, a village from 1857 and a city from 1890. The downtown is a historic district twice over: on the National Register since 1977, and a local district named by the City Council in 1986, with Greek Revival, Italianate and Prairie School buildings. The big growth came later. Harold Moser began the residential building boom with his first subdivision in 1956, and by 1995 he had subdivided 8,000 lots and built 3,500 homes. The city's own plan counts 54.8 percent of its housing as built between 1980 and 1999, and only 3.5 percent before 1950. A published study counted 349 teardowns in Naperville between 2008 and 2017, many near downtown.

Downtown, Moser-era or newer, the house sets the job:

• In an older house near downtown: a traditional kitchen with painted or stained wood doors, trim matched to the house, and stair work. We remake old profiles that are no longer sold.
• In a house from the 1980s or 1990s: replacing the builder's cabinets, in the layout you choose. A European-style frameless kitchen or a traditional one; we have built both in Naperville.
• In a new house on a downtown lot: built from the architect's or builder's drawings.

Naperville permits: trim, remodels and the historic district

Naperville's Guide to Residential Building Permits says "Cosmetic improvements, such as painting, wallpapering, carpeting, and trim work do not require permits," and lists "Remodeling of a building (i.e. kitchen, basement and bathrooms)" as work that does. The city's 2024 residential alteration form says "A Residential Alteration permit is required for any modifications to the house that impact the structure, the electrical or plumbing systems," and "Typical projects include kitchen and bath remodeling". Cabinets alone are not named in either. For a house in the historic district, the guide says to contact city staff, because additional requirements may apply; the city's review there is mostly about the street-facing front of the building, fences, driveways and attached garages. (City of Naperville permit guide and alteration form, as read 2026-10-28; confirm for your address.)

So trim work needs no permit. The guide lists kitchen remodeling as permit work, and the 2024 form ties the permit to changes to the structure, plumbing or wiring. For cabinets alone, ask the city. We take care of the permit when the job needs one.

Our Naperville jobs, and work nearby

• In Naperville: a European-style kitchen, a traditional kitchen, a couple of bathroom vanities, a big walk-in closet, and stairs and a railing.
• Campton Hills: a modern flat-panel kitchen.
• West Chicago: a knotty pine kitchen with log-style island legs we made, and a double vanity in the same house.
• Western Springs, one house: the kitchen and butler's pantry, the mudroom and laundry room, vanities for every bathroom, a closet and a built-in office.
• Hinsdale: a built-in library, and new treads and railing on the stair.

Kitchens, closets and stairs: planning a Naperville project

• European-style or traditional. Frameless flat-panel is our specialty and the more budget-friendly way to a full custom kitchen; painted or stained wood doors, framed or inset, suit an older house. We have built both in Naperville. See kitchens.
• The walk-in closet. Our Naperville walk-in is a big one. Measure what you hang and fold, long and short, and we lay out the rods, shelves and drawers to it.
• Stairs. From new treads and a railing up to a full rebuild. See finish carpentry.
• Permits. Trim needs none under the city's guide; kitchen remodeling is on its permit list. Ask the city about your plan.
• Trim. It is part of nearly every job we do.

Kitchens, vanities, closets and stairs for Naperville homes

In Naperville we have built two kitchens, vanities, a walk-in closet and stairs. Other work we take on, near downtown or in a newer subdivision:

• Built-ins: window benches, bookcases, libraries and media walls.
• Butler's pantries, mudrooms and laundry rooms.
• Bars and wine storage.
• Mantels and crown molding.
• Garage cabinets and storage.

A Naperville project, from the first visit to the last stair tread

1. The visit. It starts with a visit. We measure, we listen, and we give you a straight number. If it works for you, we design it with you, and only then do we build. Naperville is about an hour and twenty minutes from the shop. Your first visit and consultation are free.
2. Drawings. An architect's or builder's set, priced as given, or our design package, which ends with the final price after one major revision.
3. The permit, when the city's rules call for one, and a call to city staff first if your house is in the historic district.
4. The build. Roughly 6 to 8 weeks from signed drawings for an average kitchen; built-ins and closets usually 4 to 6.
5. Installation. A full kitchen usually takes 1 to 3 days to install; a vanity or a single built-in takes less, and stair work is fitted on site.

Downtown, the Moser subdivisions and nearby towns

Naperville spans DuPage and Will counties, about 30 miles west of Chicago, and is the fourth-largest city in Illinois. It runs from the historic downtown and the Riverwalk to Moser Highlands, one of Harold Moser's first subdivisions, and the newer subdivisions of the 1980s and 1990s. Naper Settlement, a 13-acre outdoor history museum, keeps the town's early buildings. We serve all of Naperville. Nearby, see our pages for Hinsdale and Campton Hills, or all the towns we serve. We also serve Western Springs, Lisle, Wheaton, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

Naperville questions

Does a cabinet replacement need a Naperville permit?

The city's guide says trim work needs no permit and kitchen remodeling does; its 2024 form ties the permit to changes that affect the structure, the plumbing or the wiring. Cabinets alone are not named, so ask the city about your plan. We file the permit ourselves when the city asks for one.

Do you build European-style and traditional kitchens?

Yes. In Naperville we have built one of each.

Can you build a big walk-in closet?

Yes. Our Naperville walk-in is a big one. Measure what you hang and fold, and we lay out the rods, shelves and drawers to it.

Can you redo the stair and railing?

Yes. In Naperville we built stairs and a railing. We do everything from new treads and railing up to a full rebuild.

What if my house is in the historic district?

Call city staff first; the city's guide says additional requirements may apply there, and its review is mostly about the street-facing front of the building.

How long is the drive to Naperville?

About 52 miles, roughly an hour and twenty minutes from Spring Grove.