Located in the northern part of Chicago, Evanston is famous for its architecture and beautiful homes on the lake. It is known as an educational city with a low crime rate, making it a preferred location to settle and raise a family. There is a multitude of activities to enjoy in the area, including visiting museums and trying out local food from great restaurants. If you live in the area and want to enhance the beauty and functionality of your home, below are the 12 best general contractors in Evanston, Illinois.


Benvenuti and Stein

899 1/2 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, IL 60093

Headquartered in Winnetka, Illinois, Benvenuti and Stein is a luxury and custom home builder serving discerning homeowners in Chicago and the North Shore since 1977. It offers design-build and handcrafted cabinetry services and specializes in kitchen remodels, bath remodels, home additions, exterior remodeling, and new home construction. For 45 years, the firm has served as a one-stop-shop for clients’ home-building needs, providing them with the peace of mind of knowing that the team handles everything from concept to completion.

Architectural Photography by Norman Sizemore & Mary Beth Price

Geno Benvenuti is the company’s managing principal and has been designing new spaces for Chicago homes since 1977. He began creating small additions, progressed to building entire homes, and eventually purchased his cabinet shop. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse and is a member of TAB and Remodelers Advantage Business Roundtable Groups.


Orren Pickell Building Group

444 Skokie Blvd. Suite 200, Wilmette, IL 60091

Orren Pickell Building Group is a luxury custom home builder with offices in Wilmette and Chicago, Three Oaks in Michigan, and Twin Lakes in Wisconsin. It opened its doors in 1975 and has focused on providing design-build, remodeling, architecture, custom homes, carpentry, and home maintenance services. As a family owned-and-operated business, the firm ensures every element in clients’ spaces meet its standards. It takes pride in setting the bar high for homeowners’ luxury custom home-building experience and constantly making the journey exciting, stress-free, and enjoyable.

Orren Pickell formed the company nearly five decades ago and has been passionate about delivering unparalleled luxury and attention to detail. He has become synonymous with outstanding design and quality construction and has overseen multiple award-winning projects, including the 2019 Crystal Key award from the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago.

To find out more, you can visit their website here.


Michael Menn

709 Carlyle Ct., Northbrook, IL 60062

Established in 1983, Michael Menn is one of North Shore’s best remodeling companies. It offers luxury design-build services, including kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, aging-in-place, and whole-home remodeling. Since its inception, the firm has been devoted to building excellence and exceeding clients’ goals through knowledge, creativity, attention to detail, and teamwork. Each project the team undertakes starts with understanding customers’ objectives. Doing so enables it to create thoughtfully-designed plans that align with their goals and personal preferences. 

The company began as a small firm specializing in custom residential and commercial projects and has evolved into a diverse architectural, planning, interior design, and construction firm. Michael Menn leads the crew as the principal architect. He is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Graduate Remodeler, and Green Professional through the NAHB.


Rosalie Remodeling

2027 Noyes St., Evanston, IL 60201

Established 18 years ago, Rosalie Remodeling has been passionate about crafting efficient and appealing solutions to meet customers’ construction and remodeling needs. It provides home remodeling services including kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, aging-in-place, carpentry, and built-ins. The firm serves the North Shore communities and is licensed to do both commercial and residential work. As a family owned-and-operated general contracting company, Rosalie Remodeling commits itself to superior craftsmanship and customer service. It takes pride in custom-tailoring each experience to ensure clients’ expectations are met, if not exceeded.

Nate Rosalie and Melissa Rosalie direct the company. They have been business partners since childhood and started the company in 2004 as a husband and wife team. Over the years, Rosalie Remodeling has amassed multiple awards, like the Silver award in the category of Whole House Less Than $300,000 in Qualified Remodeler‘s Master Design Awards.


MG Bros Construction

1295 Jarvis Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

For 18 years in the industry, MG Bros Construction has set the bar high in general contracting and has been clients’ best choice for delivering quality projects on time and within budget. It specializes in commercial and residential construction, with an emphasis on kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, home additions, model homes, and new construction. Since its establishment in 2004, the firm has developed and enhanced many homes in the Chicagoland area, bringing expertise, skill, and resources to every project. 

Greg Kawula founded the company. Shortly after finishing high school, he started working in the construction industry when he was only 16. After learning the ins and outs of the home improvement field, he established MG Bros Construction. At 23, the company was awarded its first million-dollar project and has completed thousands of jobs in Chicago.


New Concept 180

3801 Greenacre Dr., Northbrook, IL 60062

For the past 25 years, New Concept 180 has established itself as one of Chicago’s North Shore area’s leading design and build services providers. It specializes in a wide range of services, including design-build, whole-house remodels, additions, remodeling, and maintenance. Since its inception, it has mastered an efficient method, enabling it to handle projects smoothly and efficiently. The firm understands that every home is unique and has a story; thus, it strives to make clients’ dream visions come true and build spaces that cater to their needs and wants.

Gideon Lipnickas is a certified remodeler and owns New Concept 180. He is also an EPA-certified lead renovator, licensed electrical contractor, and general contractor. He directs the company in every aspect and has been at the forefront of the firm’s decades of success.


123 Remodeling

550 Frontage Rd. Suite 2705, Northfield, IL 60093

Formed in 2008, 123 Remodeling is an Illinois award-winning home improvement company. It serves discerning homeowners in Illinois and Arizona, providing general contracting, full-service home renovation, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, complete condo remodeling, basement remodeling, home additions and improvements, and interior design services. For 14 years, the firm has delivered homeowners with unmatched craftsmanship and customer service. It takes pride in making clients’ design and renovating experiences easy and keeping it strictly on budget and schedule.

Sharone Lavi is the founder and CEO of 123 Remodeling. He is a seasoned leader and a businessman who has managed multiple multi-million-dollar companies throughout his construction career. The firm is affiliated with many organizations, like the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the Home Builders Association (HBA) Greater Chicago, the NARI of Greater Chicagoland, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).


The ABL Group

2665 Waukegan Ave., Highland Park, IL 60035

The ABL Group is an award-winning home improvement company enhancing the lives and homes of families up and down the North Shore and throughout its surrounding communities. Since its founding 48 years ago, The ABL Group has provided clients with a single source for all their decorating and remodeling needs. It offers painting, cabinetry, remodeling, handyman, and window treatment services and has taken on multiple diverse projects, including kitchen and bath remodels and interior and exterior painting. The team comprises dedicated professionals, artists, and craftspeople, handling each project with the utmost care and dedication.

The company runs under the direction of George Markoutsas. He is the firm’s CEO and directs the company’s daily functions. Besides providing leadership to the team, he actively oversees every project to ensure quality and customer satisfaction.


JAR Corp

1574 Old Deerfield Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035

Headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois, JAR Corp is a premier general contracting firm serving Chicago’s Gold Coast and the northern suburbs. It has been in the industry for 25 years and specializes in various services, including complete renovations, interior and exterior painting, custom finishes, ground-up new homes, and maintenance. Since its inception, the firm has been committed to forging lasting client relationships built on respect, trust, and integrity. It strives for quality construction and excellence’ thus, its devotion to supporting customers at every step.

Jonathan Rubenstein built the firm in 1997 and is passionate about green construction, eco-friendly remodeling, and environmentally sustainable painting. Before establishing his company, he spent nearly a decade as a project manager at a different firm. In 2015, the firm was featured in Kitchen Crashers, a show on DIY Network.


Hammell Homes

1820 Laurel Ave., Evanston, IL 60201

Operating out of its office in Evanston, Illinois, Hammell Homes is one of the most reliable contractors in the area. It specializes in a multitude of services, including bathroom improvements, utility rooms, home exteriors, living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, garages, basements, and maintenance. For 36 years in the industry, it has personalized every project and worked closely with homeowners to establish a relationship that’s like family. As a result, the firm has received many notable reviews, displaying its skill, efficiency, and professionalism.

The firm runs under the administration of Rick Hammell. He leads the team as the president and is a home improvement expert and design professional with over 35 years of experience in the building trades. The company is affiliated with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the NKBA, and Habitat for Humanity.


Freise Builders

308 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60202

Freise Builders is a general contracting firm that has been building and remodeling homes in Evanston and the surrounding areas for 11 years. It provides home additions, renovations, remodels, repairs, outdoor spaces, cabinets, and exterior services. Since its founding, the firm has grown a solid and loyal client base and has earned a well-respected reputation in its community by offering fair services and executing each project with unmatched professionalism. 

Joel Freise directs the company as the president and brings over 30 years of professional construction experience. He is a fourth-generation carpenter and construction expert and has a knack for understanding a project and its challenges. Over the years, numerous media outlets have featured the company, including Daily Northwestern in 2019 and Evanston Woman Magazine in 2018.


Hatcher Family Construction

2738 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

Established in 1976, Hatcher Family Construction is a premier building contractor in Evanston, Illinois. It specializes in carpentry, new homes, additions, remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, repairs, service work, and consulting services. The firm extends its services throughout Chicago’s North Shore and is devoted to providing the highest quality construction for any size job. Each project the firm undertakes begins with a discussion to review clients’ plans and ideas, construction budget, and schedule. Doing so ensures a successful project and customer satisfaction.

Al Hatcher has been in the construction industry for nearly five decades and has overseen several projects ranging in size. Under his oversight, Hatcher Family Construction has received many awards, like six Evanston Preservation Awards and two Marjorie B. Perkins Awards.