Lake Forest Shingle Style Home
Set amid more than an acre of green space in Lake Forest, this stunning custom home achieves a level of warmth and intimacy one might…
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Founded by Orren Pickell nearly five decades ago, the Orren Pickell Building Group is a custom home builder known throughout Chicago and the North Shore for our unparalleled luxury and attention to detail. We thoughtfully design and build each high end custom home to suit the homeowners’ unique preferences and lifestyle.
A family-owned and operated business, the Orren Pickell Building Group works to ensure that every element in your new home meets our exacting quality standards—from your front door to your chef’s kitchen and your custom closet. At Orren Pickell, we pride ourselves on raising the bar for what the luxury custom home building experience should be—exciting, stress-free and enjoyable.
How We’re Different
Unlike other firms that may design a luxury home on paper, then hand it off to another firm to build, Orren Pickell handles the entire design/build process. This means that our designers and architects will work together with you to create the vision for your dream home, then our skilled building team will execute on that vision, ensuring that all of the features and functionality come to life beautifully.
Orren Pickell has built hundreds of homes throughout the North Shore, Chicago, Winnetka and beyond, and no two homes are alike. Each house has been meticulously designed and crafted to meet not only the highest quality standards but the unique needs and tastes of the people who call it home.
Featured Projects
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Kenilworth Attic Renovation
As her daughters outgrew their toys, Kat knew she wanted to upgrade her Kenilworth home’s third floor to give them a space of their own.…
Winnetka Illinois Master Suite
In spite of its amazing lakefront location, this Winnetka home had been on the market for some time. Most people found the layout too quirky,…
Northfield Home Built for Entertaining
Gracious Spaces for Friends and Family Stately yet warm, expansive yet welcoming, this 7,000 s.f. home on a large corner lot is designed for hospitality.…
New Custom Home Construction in Glenview Illinois
Long-distance design leads to one-of-a-kind Glenview home While living as expats in Hong Kong, this couple purchased an older home in Glenview. They planned to…
Chicago Kitchen Goes from Good to Great
Homeowners Upgrade the Kitchen Island, Add Built-in Banquette Plus add a Fabulous Wine Wall in the Basement This northside home, built in 2017, had everything…
Luxury Chicago Rooftop Design/Build with Outdoor Kitchen
City Rooftop Shines, Thanks to What You Can’t See The first thing guests notice about this stunning roof deck, designed and built by the Orren…
First Floor Remodel in Lake Forest
Crafting a Sunny, Open First Floor without Moving Walls It all began with the grout in their 30-year-old ceramic tile countertops. “We went from replacing…
Exterior Remodel in Riverwoods
Great Lines Call for a New Look In spite of its pleasing, contemporary design, this home was looking tired. Shiplap siding, installed at an angle…
Modern Farmhouse in Lake Forest
Kelmscott Park Home Ticks All the Boxes Myretta and Glenn were driving through Lake Forest one Sunday when they saw a sales trailer for a…
Lake Geneva Condo Remodel
Condo’s Interior Views Rival Geneva Lake Close to the water and a short walk to Lake Geneva’s restaurants and shopping, Claudia and Steve found the…
Wilmette Family Home
Wilmette family’s perfect custom home makes it easy to stay in. After years spent obtaining the perfect Wilmette property, this family wasn’t willing to trust…
Kenilworth Contemporary Farmhouse
Inside a Contemporary Farmhouse Modern Amenities and Family-Focused Comfort A teardown on a small corner lot has given way to a stunning contemporary farmhouse on…
Suburban Contemporary
Downsizing into the Perfect Ranch Home With their four kids grown and married, the timing was right when this couple was approached by someone who…
Lake Geneva Family Cottage
The cottage purchased by Al’s grandfather in 1953 had seen generations of family gatherings and summers in Lake Geneva. But as the family grew, the…
Gold Coast Condo Whole-Home Remodel
Jill and Steve were looking for a condo, but simply couldn’t find what they wanted. However, when Jill talked to her longtime friend Orren Pickell…
Lincoln Park Loft
Downsizing into a Perfectly Personal Lincoln Park Loft As a real estate agent, Helen had a good idea what she wanted in a city condo.…
Magnificient Manor in Southeast Wisconsin
Magnificent Manor in Southeast Wisconsin When building a 10,000 s.f.-plus dream home, the importance of confidence and trust between homeowner, designer and builder cannot be…
Chesterton Indiana Gentleman’s Farm
Nantucket style complements a gentleman’s farm in northwest Indiana Honoring their East Coast roots and incorporating a cozy farmhouse feel guided the design of this…
Harbor Country Lakefront Home
Designed to bring multiple generations together, this couple’s dream home offers something for everyone. With a long wish list and a clear vision for their…
Traditional Custom Home in Mundelein Illinois
This homeowner first reached out to Pickell for advice on choosing a parcel of land. Orren and the team visited the two contenders and shared…
Mettawa IL French Country Home
Maison Mettawa This 4,300 sq. ft. French country home is set on an exquisite, 5 acre, partially wooded lot backing up to the Old School…
Lake Geneva WI Wine Cellar and Tasting Room
Inspirational Photos & Story While considering Lake Geneva homes, these homeowners noted that many of the properties they saw featured grand wine cellars. The couple…
Inspiration and Insights from the Orren Pickell Blog
What’s the best way to turn a “blah” basement into a beautiful living space? When is a whole home remodel your best bet? And what are some of the top design features that are trending in Chicago-area luxury homes?
Find out the answers to these questions and more in the Orren Pickell blog. Written by our own Orren Pickell expert team, the blog provides insights for homeowners, home builders and remodelers. We share helpful tips for getting the most enjoyment from your custom home, from the best ways to design a four-season sunroom to the things you need to keep in mind if you’re considering building on your own land. We also share summaries of past projects with stunning photos, providing you with inspiration for your own renovation or dream home construction project.
An Investment for a Lifetime
It’s called a “dream home” for a reason. For some people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime dream. For others, it’s a dream that suits their current chapter in life. But no matter where or how long you plan to be in your dream home, one thing remains the same—it’s likely to be your largest investment. And to make sure your investment retains value, an Orren Pickell Building Group home is a wise decision.
Our reputation for high quality, unparalleled attention to detail and commitment to service is known throughout Chicago and the North Shore. When you choose us, you choose an award-winning home designer and builder with nearly 50 years of experience in designing, building and maintaining custom homes. For a luxury custom home that provides value while retaining value, the Orren Pickell Building Group is the right choice.