Chicago, IL Custom Home Builders – Remodeling, Design & Build

The third most populous city in the United States, more than 2.7 million people call Chicago home. And for good reason. Not only is Chicago known as an international hub for finance, technology, transportation, telecommunication, commerce and industry, but it’s known for so many other things: Our sports teams. Our universities. Our comedy. And of course our food. With more than 60 million travelers coming to Chicago in 2014 alone, one thing is clear—people love our amazing city.

But there’s one thing about Chicago that locals know that visitors may not realize, and that’s this: when you live here, there’s a sense of community that you won’t find anywhere else in the nation. Regardless of which Chicago neighborhood you call home—the Gold Coast, Lake Shore East, Lincoln Park, Streeterville, the Near North, Old Town —there’s a good chance that you know your neighbors and that you stop and chat a bit instead of simply waving when you pass by. That’s the Chicago spirit.

So if you’re thinking about making renovations to your Chicago home or you’ve purchased a lot and are pulling together ideas to build your luxury dream home, ask your neighbors which architects / design firm they suggest. We bet they’ll send you to us, the Orren Pickell Building Group. There’s a good chance that we helped your neighbor build their Chicago dream home, and we’d love the opportunity to earn your trust as your custom home builder.

Orren Pickell Builds Custom Chicago Homes to Fit Your Lifestyle

When you work with the custom design and architecture team at Orren Pickell, you are treated as our top priority. Every question we ask is aimed at getting closer to creating a home that suits the way you live and reflects your particular tastes. We’ll work one-on-one with you to brainstorm ideas, collect information and develop a vision of your style so that our design plan accurately captures your specific desires.

We’re proud to say that the Orren Pickell Building Group has served homeowners in Chicago and across the North Shore for more than four decades. Our services include:

Get in touch with us today for more info on how Orren Pickell can help transform your ideas for a Chicago home into a reality.

Building a European Style Farmhouse in Chicago, IL

When these homeowners purchased property on the Chicago River, they had strong ideas about the type of home they wanted to build there: a stone and stucco European style farmhouse that didn’t fall short when it came to color or style. Working hand-in-hand with the client, Orren Pickell architects designed a home that is perfect for their family, whether they’re enjoying a quiet evening to themselves or entertaining friends and family.

Combining a mix of stucco and stone for an eclectic look, the home’s exterior also includes stained shutters and headers to help impart the rustic farmhouse vibe. Iron railings and Grand Manor asphalt roofing shingles in Heirloom Silver complement the home without competing unnecessarily for attention, while numerous windows allow for ample natural light inside.

The unexpected mix of stucco and stone create an eclectic look for the home’s exterior.

Numerous windows allow for ample natural light to enter the home.

Inside the home, Orren Pickell’s designers and architects worked with the homeowners to continue the farmhouse styling without it becoming overbearing. The apron front sink is reminiscent of sinks one used to find in farmhouses across the US, though the hammered copper material brings an update to the classic shape. The armoire-style blue painted maple kitchen cabinet houses the refrigerator and freezer and brings a bold pop of color that compliments the similarly painted cabinets as well as the lighter color found on the double duty kitchen island/breakfast bar.

Red oak stained hardwood floors and Uba Tuba granite countertops pull together the look in the kitchen, creating a cohesive space that is warm and inviting. Ample storage and preparation space, as well as a dedicated home office workspace, means that that the kitchen can truly serve as the heart of the home—just like the homeowners intended it to be.

The hammered copper apron front sink brings the farm to the Windy City.

The blue painted maple armoire cabinet that houses the refrigerator adds a bold pop of color to the kitchen.

The home’s sunroom brings the outside in, using stone and timber to frame the room, effectively mirroring the stone and timber seen on the home’s exterior. A perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying the river view, the sunroom’s floor is comprised of a series of 8”x8” antique terra cotta pewter tiles, giving the room a sense of rustic beauty.

Meanwhile, the views from the home office aren’t too shabby either! A porch right outside the office makes it easy for the homeowner to quickly duck out for some fresh air or even take a call outside if the weather is nice. And the tile-surround fireplace with timber mantle keeps the farmhouse theme going in this cozy workspace where the homeowner can easily get work done or even meet with clients.

The stone and timbers in the home’s sunroom bring the outdoors in.

A cozy home office space is made even cozier with a fireplace.

Have you always dreamed of having your own farmhouse right here in the city of Chicago? The designers and architects at Orren Pickell can help you make that dream a reality. Get in touch with us for a no-obligation consultation; regardless of if you want a stone and stucco farmhouse, a modern mansion or something completely different, we’ll work together with you to create a design plan that reflects your lifestyle.

Gold Coast Mansion Renovation in Chicago

On another recent project, the owners of an elegant 8,000 square foot residence located on Chicago’s Gold Coast asked Orren Pickell to completely remodel their multi-level city estate. Elated at the challenge, our design team worked tirelessly with the owners to develop and execute on a design plan that suited their needs and showcased their exquisite taste from the moment you walk in the door.

The home’s foyer gives visitors a sense of the elegance that is to come, from the double-leaded glass front door and intricate wainscoting to the beautiful mill made staircase with wrought-iron railings. Limestone flooring in the entryway, fashioned in a herringbone pattern, is both beautiful and wear-resistant, able to withstand any harsh elements brought in from the outdoors. And the barrel vault ceiling and crown molding add architectural interest, making what is typically an overlooked design area in may homes feel intentional, open and inviting.

The barrel vault ceiling makes the foyer feel larger and more welcoming.

Wrought iron balusters complement the wrought iron used in the foyer’s lighting fixtures.

In the kitchen, the homeowners chose white recessed panel perimeter cabinets and opted to complete the look with a stained raised panel island to keep the kitchen from feeling too modern. Light stained hardwood floors help balance the darker granite countertop color and a brick mosaic backsplash ties the entire look together. A custom limestone range hood and simple yet attractive pendant lights add practical touches of elegance without being ostentatious and fit in nicely with the homeowner’s high-end stainless steel appliances and fixtures.

Given the home’s location, the homeowner wanted to take advantage of the views and the architects at Orren Pickell did everything possible to make it happen. In the home’s third-floor family room loft, Orren Pickell’s architects created industrial skylights to frame views of the Windy City’s magnificent skyscrapers, allowing the family to take in the view while enjoying some downtime.

White recessed panel cabinets offer ample, beautiful storage.

The industrial skylights showcase the amazing views from the home’s third floor.

Similarly, in the home’s master bedroom and adjoining sitting room, Orren Pickell architects maximized the amazing views by creating floor to ceiling picture windows. Other luxurious touches, including a large arched doorway, extensive crown and trim molding and a formal French limestone surround fireplace give the master bedroom a feeling of spa-like serenity and offer the homeowners a retreat from the stress of everyday life, a quiet place to relax and unwind.

Whether you’re looking to custom build your own Chicago farmhouse or have a multi-level Chicago mansion in desperate need of a remodel, the build / design team at the Orren Pickell Building Group have the real-world experience necessary to guide you through the process. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can make your luxury dream home a reality.