Hassle-Free Home Building, ADUs, Kitchens and Bathrooms
Whole-Home Remodel and Garage Conversion in Lake Holiday, Somonauk
- 3,954 square feet, ran in phases across two years
- The attached garage became a first-floor primary suite
- A deck rebuilt on TimberTech Landmark decking
Location: Lake Holiday, Somonauk, IL
Investment: $1,170,140
Part One: Initial Consultation
The Dixons bought this house on Lake Holiday to retire in, and called Silhouette Builders to make it fit that plan.
The first walkthrough set the scope. The primary bedroom was upstairs, the kitchen and bathrooms were original to the house, and the windows were leaking air through their original frames.
They had already worked out most of what they wanted, and had an interior designer on the selections. That took a lot of the guesswork out of the design phase.
What was left was a sequencing problem. The work ran in phases over two years, each one planned with the homeowners before it started.
Some issues with their old house were...
Windows leaking air
The original wood-framed units were letting air through, including the whole run facing the lake.
Patio door put in wrong
The last owner installed it incorrectly and then patched it, which made it worse.
No main floor bedroom
Outdated kitchen
Bathrooms never touched
Oak vanities, a corner shower surround and brass fittings, the way they went in when the house was built.
No basement egress
The lower level was finished and in daily use, and it needed an egress window put in.
Part Two: The Design And Build Plan
Close to the complexity of building new, on a house the Dixons were living with between phases.
Windows first
Marvin Ultimate units went in throughout the house, with new exterior trim run to match. Pulling the old ones is what exposed the patio door.
Move the garage
The attached garage was framed out into a first-floor primary suite, and a new garage was built alongside the house.
Kitchen and dining
New cabinetry, quartz counters and a stained island with seating, opened to the dining bay facing the lake.
Laundry and pantry
The laundry room was rebuilt with its own sink and counter, and the walk-in pantry was sized to hold a second refrigerator.
Baths, trim and doors
The lower level
The walkout was refinished and the egress window was cut into the basement.
Part Three: The Time Schedule
Two years, run as separate phases so the Dixons could keep living in the house.
| Phase | What happened |
|---|---|
| Planning | Design meetings with the Dixons and their interior designer. Scope and selections settled before demo. |
| Windows phase | Marvin Ultimate windows and new exterior trim throughout. The patio door problem surfaced during this work. |
| Deck phase | Retaining wall and deck structure rebuilt, then redecked in TimberTech Landmark, Crosscut Hardwoods. |
| Garage phase | Garage converted to the first-floor primary suite, and a new garage built to replace the parking and shop space. |
| Kitchen phase | Kitchen, dining room and laundry room remodeled, including the walk-in pantry. |
| Bath and trim phase | Bathroom remodels, interior trim and doors, painting and drywall patching, basement egress window. |
| Exterior phase | Siding corrections, exterior painting, concrete jacking, power washing and light fixture cleaning. |
A quick breakdown of how it went
- The Dixons knew what they wanted going in, which cut the selection cycles short and sped up every phase.
- Their interior designer sat in on the design decisions, so the finishes were settled early.
- Replacing the windows is what turned up the patio door, and the patio door is what turned up the deck.
- The new garage now holds a golf simulator, with a separate area set up for pottery and a kiln.
- The walk-in pantry was sized to take a second refrigerator inside it.
- The Dixons have another project booked with Silhouette Builders.
Check Out Their Whole-Home Remodel
A tour of the finished house, room by room.
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Swipe to see the transformation
Whole-Home Remodel and Garage Conversion in Lake Holiday, Somonauk
Everything in this two-year remodel:
- Demo, prep, and framing
- Foundation work, concrete repair and jacking, retaining wall installation
- Exterior roofing, windows, doors, trimming and painting
- Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and lighting installation
- Cabinetry and countertops
- Tiling and wood flooring
- Interior trimming, painting and staining
- New deck install installation
- Existing garage conversion and new garage addition
- Basement finishing and egress window
Marvin Ultimate windows
Replaced throughout the house, with new exterior trim run to match. The old wood frames were the source of the air leaks.
Strictly Carpet & Flooring
White oak through the main floor, with a contrasting border inlaid around the dining room. Carpet in the bedrooms and on the stairs.
Cabinetry and MSI quartz
Cream perimeter cabinets with a furniture-style hood and built-in wall ovens, topped in quartz, with a stained island as the one point of contrast.
The Tile Shop tile and Grohe fittings
Blue scallop tile on the bathroom floor, patterned tile in the other baths, and Grohe fittings at the showers and tubs.
Materials And Finishes Used
This Whole-Home Remodel Was $1,170,140
Two years of phased work on a 3,954 square foot house, including the first-floor primary suite, a new garage, the deck and retaining wall rebuild, and every window in the house.
I'm Josh Harvey, owner of Silhouette Builders.
Building is in my blood. My grandfather was a union carpenter, and I grew up watching what it means to create something with your hands that a family calls home.
Today, I lead a team that builds the way I was taught: with care, precision, and real investment in the people we serve.
Whether it’s a single room or a million-dollar whole home remodel, we bring the same heart to every project, taking the silhouette of your vision and building it into something real.
50+
bathroom remodels completed
40+
kitchen remodels completed
25+
5-year
Here's What Your Neighbors Say About Us
From a single room to a full home transformation, our team builds with skill and heart, so your dream home comes together exactly as you pictured.
Deanna Brown
Silhouette Builders remodeled my master bathroom.
The crew and professional plumbers, electricians and other craftsmen were very professional and organized when working and cleaning up each day. They completely gutted and rebuilt the bathroom.
Josh and his crew’s work ethic was outstanding. They asked questions to ensure they were doing what was needed to accomplish the end result.
c
C J
I bought a home in Naperville and had Josh and team remodel the entire house. This was a big move for me and everything needed to be just right.
Josh’s communication and collaboration were excellent. In the many months that they worked on the house, I don’t think there was one day where something was not getting done.
He is a great project manager with high-standards and I really enjoyed partnering with him.
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Eva Yokosawa
We had a great experience working with Josh and his team. The quality of their work was excellent and every detail was handled with care.
Josh was easy to communicate with and always quick to answer our questions.
We truly appreciated the smooth process from start to finish and would definitely recommend him and his team!
