Serving Lake County, IL & Kenosha County, WI • High-end design-build craftsmanship
Beautiful Homes That Actually Work For Real Life
Beautiful, lasting spaces with flawless flow, smart storage, and craftsmanship that elevates everyday living—delivered with a truly white-glove experience.
Warm, Inviting Space
Higher Home Value
Seamless, white glove process.
Your Current House Isn't Working
Poor Layout - Your current layout does not work and your space does not work for real life.
Looks Dated- Choices that were trendy a few years ago may already look dated or fail with use in real life.
It's Not You- Maybe your home just does not reflect you anymore.
Your Home Should Feel Effortless, But Right Now It Doesn't
Maybe the layout no longer fits your life, the finishes feel tired, or the space just isn’t working the way it should. You’ve invested in your home—but it’s not giving back the comfort, function, or pride you expect. Rooms feel cramped or outdated, storage never seems to be where you need it, and every small annoyance adds up. You’re ready for a home that supports the way you actually live—beautifully designed, thoughtfully built, and crafted to a standard you can trust. At The Great Lakes House Company, we understand the gap between the home you have and the home you want—and we’re here to close it with clarity, craftsmanship, and confidence.
With decades of experience in high-end residential construction, we’ve rebuilt, reimagined, and refined homes just like yours throughout Lake County and Kenosha County. Our clients come to us because they want more than a contractor—they want a partner who listens, anticipates issues before they happen, and executes with precision. We manage every detail with the level of care your home deserves, from architectural alignment to finish-level craftsmanship, ensuring the final result feels seamless, functional, and unmistakably elevated.
We’ve helped countless homeowners turn daily frustrations into spaces they love living in—and we can do the same for you.
The Stress-Free High-End Building Experience
From design to build, we handle your home with care.
Luxury Remodeling Designed for the Way You Actually Live
Beautiful, lasting spaces with flawless flow, smart storage, and craftsmanship that elevates everyday living—delivered with a truly white-glove experience.
High-End Remodeling Without the Stress, Surprises, or Chaos
Enjoy a seamless design-build process, transparent pricing, a spotless job site, and results that stand the test of time. We handle everything—start to finish.
Skip the trends and build a home that’s beautiful today—and still stunning a decade from now. Thoughtful design, durable materials, and craftsmanship built to last.
Timeless Design. Lasting Quality. Zero Remodeling Regrets.
Crafting luxury homes with care and precision
New Homes
Custom designed and built from the ground up.
Kitchens
Elegant, functional spaces tailored to you.
Basements
Transforming spaces into inviting retreats.
Bathrooms
Luxurious upgrades with meticulous detail.
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3 Simple Steps To A New Home
Step 1: Book your free initial consultation
We come out and help you explore what is possible for your home.
We design and build you the space of your dreams. From plans to permits to construction, we handle it all.
You, your family, and your friends get to enjoy the new space in your home
Step 2: We Handle Everything
Step 3: Enjoy Your Home!
Ten Reasons Why Clients Choose Us
1. One Vision, Perfectly Executed We work hand-in-hand with your interior designer — or help you find the right one — so the design vision and the build are never out of sync. No miscommunication between teams. No compromises in execution. Just a seamless process from first concept to final walkthrough.
2. You'll Never Wonder What It's Going to Cost We work on fixed-price contracts. That means the number we agree to is the number you pay. No surprise invoices, no change-order games, no budget creep. In luxury remodeling, financial clarity is as important as craftsmanship — and we deliver both.
3. See It Before We Build It Before a single wall comes down, you'll see your finished space in full 3D. Our pre-construction renderings let you refine finishes, adjust layouts, and make confident decisions — so what gets built is exactly what you envisioned, not an approximation of it.
4. One Person. Total Accountability. From your first consultation through the day we hand you the keys, you'll have a single point of contact who knows every detail of your project. No being passed around. No re-explaining yourself. Just one trusted professional who owns your outcome start to finish.
5. A Dedicated Project Manager on Every Job Your project isn't managed between other priorities — it has a dedicated project manager whose sole focus is keeping your job on schedule, on budget, and running smoothly. You'll always know exactly where things stand.
6. Seasoned Craftspeople, Not Rotating Crews Our team averages 10–20 years of experience in high-end residential construction. The people who walk into your home are skilled veterans who take pride in their work — not day laborers assembled for the lowest bid.
7. Built for the North Shore Standard We live and work in Lake County. We understand the architectural character of Lake Forest, the expectations of Barrington Hills homeowners, and the permit landscape across the municipalities we serve. Local knowledge isn't a bonus — it's built into everything we do.
8. Luxury Is Our Only Speed We don't do entry-level work on weekdays and high-end work on weekends. Every project we take — regardless of scope — receives the same level of material selection, attention to detail, and white-glove communication that luxury clients expect. We don't scale down.
9. Your Home Is Treated Like It's Ours Job sites are kept clean, crews are respectful of your space and your schedule, and we communicate proactively — not reactively. We know you're not just investing money in this project. You're investing trust.
10. Our Reputation Rides on Every Project As a design/build firm built on referrals, every finished project is our most important marketing. That means we're personally invested in your outcome in a way that larger, volume-driven contractors simply aren't. When you're thrilled, we grow. It's that simple.
Frequently asked questions
1. What exactly is a design/build firm, and why does it matter?
A design/build firm coordinates both the design and construction phases of your project under one roof — or in our case, one relationship. Rather than hiring an architect or designer separately and then searching for a contractor to execute their plans, we partner with your designer from the start, ensuring the vision and the build stay in perfect alignment throughout. The result is fewer miscommunications, faster decision-making, and a finished product that actually matches what was designed. For luxury projects especially, that continuity is the difference between a good outcome and an exceptional one.
4. Do I need to have a designer already, or can you help me find one?
Either works. If you already have a designer you love, we'll collaborate closely with them — we're experienced at supporting a designer's vision and making sure what gets drawn actually gets built beautifully. If you're starting from scratch, we have strong relationships with some of the finest interior designers in Lake County and the North Shore and are happy to make introductions based on your style, scope, and budget. Either way, you won't be navigating that relationship alone.
2. How does your fixed-price contract work? What if something unexpected comes up during construction?
Before we break ground, we conduct a thorough pre-construction assessment so we can price your project accurately — not speculatively. Our fixed-price contract means the number we agree to is what you pay, full stop. That said, if you choose to make a material change mid-project (a different countertop, an added feature, a layout adjustment), that change is documented and priced transparently before any work proceeds. What you'll never see from us is a surprise invoice at the end of a job.
5. What areas do you serve, and do you work outside Illinois?
Our primary service area covers Lake County and northern Cook County, including communities like Lake Forest, Barrington, Libertyville, Wilmette, and Highland Park. We also serve McHenry County and extend into southeastern Wisconsin — including Kenosha and Racine counties — for the right projects. If you're unsure whether your location falls within our range, just reach out. For exceptional projects slightly outside our typical footprint, we're always willing to have a conversation.
3. How long will my project take, and will you actually finish on time?
Project timelines vary based on scope — a luxury bathroom renovation typically runs 6–10 weeks, while a whole-home remodel or addition can span 6–12 months. Before work begins, you'll receive a detailed project schedule with clear milestones. Your dedicated project manager actively manages subcontractor sequencing, material lead times, and permit timelines to keep things on track. We won't promise the impossible, but we will promise transparency — if something affects your timeline, you'll hear it from us first, not discover it yourself.
6. How do we get started, and what does the initial process look like?
It starts with a consultation — a no-pressure conversation where we learn about your project, your goals, your timeline, and your budget range. From there, if it feels like a mutual fit, we move into a pre-construction assessment where we evaluate the scope in detail, develop 3D renderings so you can see the vision before committing, and put together your fixed-price proposal. There's no obligation at the consultation stage, and we'll always be straightforward with you about whether we're the right firm for your project. The best way to begin is simply to reach out — we respond to every inquiry within one business day.
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