In the northwest suburbs of Chicago, colonial-style homes built between the 1970s and early 2000s are a staple of many established neighborhoods, especially in towns like Arlington Heights, Palatine, and Barrington. These homes were part of a suburban building boom where traditional American architecture met the needs of growing families. While these homes have served families well over the years, they’re now naturally ready for updates—both to better support how we live today and reflect current interior and exterior design trends.
Colonial architecture has some standard features that pose both challenges and opportunities when it comes to renovation. How can you make the most of your colonial-style house remodel? Understanding common features and challenges and finding the right interior and exterior design choices for your colonial home.
Colonial-style homes are known for their balanced design and a strong sense of symmetry. Some of the most common features include:
Symmetrical Front Exterior
The front of the home is typically very balanced: a centered front door, evenly spaced windows on either side, and a pitched roof. It’s clean, timeless, and traditional—no flashy architectural statements here.
Traditional Materials & Pitched Roofs
Exteriors often include a combination of brick or stone along with wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding. Gable roofs with moderate slopes are typical and are sometimes enhanced with dormer windows that add light and character to the upper story.
Central Entry Hall (The "Center Hall")
One of the most distinctive features of a colonial-style home is the central staircase. The first floor is typically organized around this focal point. As you enter through the front door, you’re greeted by a staircase directly ahead and a hallway that runs from the front to the back of the home. This layout—known as the 'center hall design'—divides the home into left and right wings.
The first floor often includes a formal living room and dining room, which take up the majority of the space, and a smaller kitchen in the back. Downstairs, there is sometimes a small family room or den and a powder room.
Formal Rooms on Either Side
To the left and right of the center hall are typically formal living and dining rooms. These rooms are often used less frequently today.
Kitchen and Family Room Toward the Back
Moving through the hallway, you’ll reach the kitchen, which is usually tucked in the back of the house. Next to the kitchen, or just beyond, is a family room—sometimes with a fireplace and sliding doors leading to the backyard.
Two Stories with Bedrooms Upstairs
All the bedrooms (typically three or four) are located on the second floor, including the primary suite. In older versions of these homes, the primary suite may be smaller and not include a walk-in closet or en suite bathroom, which is something many homeowners are looking to renovate.
Along with the popularity of a colonial house come a few challenges when it comes to renovating the home because the traditional layout is typically not conducive to modern-day living. Today’s homeowners are looking for large kitchens, open spaces connecting the first floor's other common areas, and more storage.
An experienced design-build partner can help you look at your home in a new light, navigate these floorplan challenges, and make the right layout and design choices for your unique needs.
One of the main complaints about an older colonial-style layout is how boxy it is. The main staircase is typically located at the center of the home. Since it's often aligned on top of the basement stairs, most renovations need to work around this central architectural feature.
Colonial-style homes often have numerous interior walls, which can limit the amount of natural light reaching interior rooms. Modern homeowners often favor open floor plans with clear sightlines that allow natural light to flow freely throughout the home. Additionally, narrow doorways and tight hallways make it challenging to navigate and move furniture between rooms.
The image below shows a typical colonial-style floor plan, featuring closed-off rooms, a centrally located staircase, and a classic rectangular layout.
Colonial-style homes that have not been recently renovated often lack sufficient storage for seasonal items, extra clothing, linens, and bulk pantry goods. The entryway commonly has a small coat closet, while an unrenovated kitchen typically offers limited cabinet space and little to pantry space. Additionally, the first-floor laundry area is often compact, providing just enough room for essentials.
Regardless of architectural style, older homes that have not been renovated recently often have outdated HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems that may not meet modern safety standards or energy efficiency requirements. Aging components can lead to higher utility bills, inconsistent performance, and even significant hazards such as faulty wiring, leaks, or poor ventilation.
A home renovation is the ideal time to address these issues, as walls, floors, and ceilings may already be opened up for other improvements. Upgrading to energy-efficient HVAC systems can enhance comfort while reducing heating and cooling costs. Replacing outdated plumbing materials prevents leaks, corrosion, and health risks associated with lead or old piping. Modernizing the electrical system ensures it can safely handle today’s power demands, supporting modern appliances, smart home technology, and enhanced safety features like GFCI outlets and surge protection. The good news is that these challenges can be overcome with the right design-build partner.
Because of the boxy, compartmentalized layout of older colonial-style homes, improving flow throughout the living space is often a top priority for homeowners planning a renovation.
A common and effective solution is removing the wall between the kitchen and the formal dining room. This instantly improves sightlines, allows for better natural light distribution, and creates space for a larger, more functional kitchen. With this change, homeowners often opt to add a central island that serves multiple purposes: prep space, storage, seating, and even a casual dining area.
Depending on the layout, some choose a small island with a separate breakfast nook, while others install a single, oversized island that accommodates everything from family meals to entertaining guests.
Beyond the kitchen, redesigning the floor plan may also include consolidating multiple small living areas—like a formal living room, family room, and den—into one spacious, central gathering space. This modernizes the home's function while preserving its architectural character.
In many colonial homes, the central staircase remains a fixed feature. A thoughtful layout should work around it, enhancing flow without disrupting the structure. With the help of a design-build team, you can explore creative ways to open up your space—removing or repositioning non-load-bearing walls, expanding openings between rooms, and even reconfiguring underused areas for home offices, mudrooms, or expanded entryways.
In one renovation example (image below), we removed half of a wall between the formal dining room (now featuring a beautiful wet bar) and the kitchen to create a functional buffet counter and beverage station, enhancing function, natural light, and the flow between the two spaces.
Taking down walls to create a more functional layout may require removing a load-bearing wall, which is typically located at the center of the home and runs the length of the house. This wall often aligns with the top of the stairs and plays a crucial role in supporting the structure.
To safely remove a load-bearing wall, a steel beam can be recessed into the second-floor joists, allowing it to sit flush with the ceiling for a seamless look. However, additional structural support will be needed on the first floor. With thoughtful design and an experienced design-build partner, this additional support can be integrated into new or existing walls or even concealed within elements like corner cabinets, preventing them from becoming a visual distraction.
Structural support doesn't stop at the first floor—load points must be transferred to the basement foundation to ensure the home’s stability. Proper planning and engineering are essential to maintaining the structure's integrity.
A high-quality design-build team should help you determine how open you want the space to be. Eliminating every wall is not always necessary to create a feeling of openness.
Below is an example of a before and after floor plan of a renovated colonial-style home by Patrick A. Finn that was redesigned to create open sightlines, increase natural light, expand kitchen counter space, and add a large island.
Kitchens: One of the top storage upgrades we hear from homeowners is the desire for a larger pantry. In colonial-style homes, pantries are often undersized or nonexistent, making it tough to store everything from bulk groceries to small appliances. We often recommend reworking the kitchen footprint to carve out space for a walk-in or cabinet-style pantry, sometimes borrowing from adjacent rooms or outdated desk nook space. Custom cabinetry with pull-out drawers, vertical dividers, and hidden appliance garages can also maximize efficiency without adding square footage.
Mudrooms & Entryways: Colonial-style homes rarely have a modern mudroom, which is essential for busy families juggling kids, pets, and outdoor gear. Consider repurposing unused hallway space, borrowing space from adjacent rooms, or integrating built-ins near the back entry, where you can create a "drop zone" with cubbies, hooks, and bench seating—ideal for keeping clutter contained.
Basements: Many colonial-style homes have unfinished or underutilized basements. Finishing this space with intentional storage in mind—like built-in shelving, under-stair closets, or dedicated seasonal storage rooms—can go a long way in keeping the rest of your home organized. Refinishing the basement is especially popular among families who entertain, have children, or host overnight guests.
Built-ins & Nooks: Adding built-in bookshelves, window seats with hidden storage, or custom cabinetry as a family “command center,” living room, or dining room adds character while solving storage challenges. Working with the right designer can help you look at your space from a fresh perspective and maximize every inch of the home while either keeping the traditional aesthetic of colonial homes or modernizing it to a transitional design that will fit your unique look and feel.
When the existing footprint no longer works, building an addition is an excellent way to create more functional, open living spaces.
Expand the kitchen or build a great room. One of the most popular colonial home renovations is a rear addition, which extends the back of the house to enlarge the kitchen and create an open-concept great room. Many older colonials have small, closed-off kitchens that don’t accommodate modern entertaining or busy family life. A rear addition allows homeowners to expand counter space, add a large island, and integrate a dining area—all while seamlessly connecting to a spacious family room. These versatile great rooms also serve as a seamless bridge between indoor and outdoor living spaces. These changes will enhance natural light, improve traffic flow, and make the home feel significantly larger without compromising its traditional exterior.
Another often overlooked option? Build on top of a garage or another one-story space. Many colonial-style homes in the Northwest Chicago suburbs feature a one-story attached two-car garage. This unused space presents an opportunity for a second-floor addition. This underutilized area can be built out to create a home office, flex space for children, or a dream primary suite.
Note: You must bring in a professional design-build team to ensure the garage's foundation is strong enough to support an addition.
The image below features a colonial-style home with a second-story addition built over a previously single-story rear section. This added space allowed us to create a beautiful new primary suite with a bedroom and bathroom.
Because colonials often have tight hallways and closed-off spaces, travel paths can become chokepoints—especially during gatherings. Thoughtful layouts and wider openings between spaces help manage flow and make your home more enjoyable for hosting. Don’t forget the backyard connection—installing sliding or French doors from your kitchen or family room can bring in natural light and extend your entertaining space outside.
To maintain a cohesive look with the overall exterior architectural style, the interior design can stay traditional, use transitional elements, or be colonial farmhouse-style. Alternatively, you might choose to juxtapose the interior with the exterior and choose a very modern, contemporary interior. Most Northwest suburb homeowners opt for traditional, transitional, or colonial farmhouse-style interiors.
Colonial homes have several variations.
A traditional saltbox colonial front door traditionally does not have overhead protection, which is essential for the harsh Illinois weather. Adding a small portico or a larger front porch can add dimension to the exterior, become a nice relaxing spot during warm weather, and increase curb appeal.
Consider adding more color to the exterior, as original builders often only preferred white or beige tones. Colonial-style homes can look stunning in deeper, richer tones. You might also upgrade the trim to at least 3 inches wide and paint it in a contrasting color to add additional visual interest—an especially effective choice if you're aiming for a farmhouse-inspired look.
You can also add interest by varying the exterior building material between floors. To add curb appeal, add board-and-batten on the lower level and horizontal lap siding on the second floor. You could also install shake shingles on top and lap on the bottom.
Renovating a colonial-style home may seem straightforward—it’s just a big box, right? But in reality, these homes present unique design challenges. Central staircases, load-bearing walls, and tight traffic patterns can complicate even simple updates. A skilled design-build team brings the expertise needed to reimagine the layout while keeping the design cohesive inside and out.
While DIY renovations may be tempting, they often overlook creative solutions and space-maximizing opportunities. Experienced professionals can instantly spot untapped potential and craft a design that’s beautiful and highly functional—making the most of every square foot and investment.
Pro Tip: Ask the design-build firm for examples of colonial-style homes they’ve renovated in the past. Before-and-after photos and a description of the work will give you a sense of what the firm can accomplish in your home.
Are you wondering what key questions to ask a potential design-build contractor? Explore our comprehensive list of 25 essential questions to review before signing a contract.
Whether you’re a young family looking to open up the first floor or empty nesters upgrading your forever home, colonial-style houses offer a ton of potential. With thoughtful design and expert planning, you can transform a boxy layout into a bright, functional, and beautiful space tailored to your lifestyle.
Ready to start planning your renovation? Download our free eBook to discover expert tips, smart strategies, and best practices to help you remodel confidently: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Home Renovation Transformation Guide.