I needed inspiration for a new stair railing which is the centerpiece of our kitchen and living…read morearea. Cat had this vision that I absolutely loved. She recommended a contractor for the stairs who did an amazing job! I recommend Cat as she has a great eye for design.

Cat Hardt is so creative and talented. she can make anything beautiful! she listens, executes and…read moreeven comes in under budget. highly recommend!

When I told a friend I wanted to remodel my family room but I didn't even know where to begin, my…read morefriend referred me to Stephanie. I'm so glad she did! Stephanie was a delight to work with. She listened to what I wanted to achieve in my room. She was careful to stay within my budget. There were a few problems (as with almost all projects) but she stuck with me until everything was resolved to my satisfaction. I love my new family room and could never have accomplished it without Stephanie's help!

I connected with Stephanie very shortly after I moved to a new townhome. I was looking for someone…read morewho was willing to take on a relatively small project that would help me feel at home in my new space. Stephanie helped me integrate some of my existing furniture with beautiful new pieces to create a beautiful, functional living room. What was one large open space is now two curated areas-- one for watching TV and relaxing, the other a cozy area for reading and entertaining. Stephanie quickly helped me identify my "style" and selected options for rugs, lighting, and seating that I would not have been able to access on my own. She made me (and my partner) feel comfortable, listened to several rounds of feedback, and did it all with grace, patience, and on budget. I look forward to continuing to work with her.

Highly recommend John Plunkett Interiors…read more John & Valerie Plunkett went above & beyond to help us settle into our new home. We trust their judgement, and trust that they would find the best solution for us, and they did. They listened actively to what we like or want. Because they used to own a chain of furniture stores, they have a network of suppliers that they can tap into. They have good tastes, but more importantly, they are very hands on. They don't mind doing the work themselves, whether it's hanging art, installing lights, etc. We also very much appreciate that they repurposed our old furniture and gave them new life by finding great spaces for each piece. We cannot recommend John & Valerie Plunkett enough!!

John Plunkett, his wife Valerie, Debbie, & their staff all have one objective: to assist you in…read moreachieving the best look for your home and the smartest furniture choice for your tastes and budget. They made the selection process such a pleasant experience, my wife and I ended up purchasing furniture for our entire home from Plunkett Furniture. Whether helping with interior design or advising us on quality, they were ready to make suggestions Finally, when our furniture arrived, John Plunkett was also there to help set up the furniture and place it where it belonged. This was awesome and unexpected but much appreciated. Quality furniture + expert advice + and fair prices add up to the right furniture choices.

Working with Dawn was amazing! I reached out for help selecting a paint color for a tricky room in…read moreour house (the kitchen). During our 2-hour consultation, Dawn not only found a color that perfectly matched our style, counters, and backsplash but also spotted opportunities to refresh the colors in the dining room and entry to bring the whole design together. Her color savvy is fantastic, and she asked great questions and listened carefully to incorporate our preferences and ideas. She left us with paint swatches for all three rooms, and the new colors look incredible. Dawn's color consultation more than exceeded our expectations, but she didn't stop there! She also suggested ways to update the kitchen and dining room lighting to be more functional and coordinated. Her after-visit email summary included links to all of the ideas she had offered, including multiple options for fixtures that were very affordable and perfect for our spaces. We love the new lighting. To top it all off, when we told Dawn about our longer-term goal of renovating our kitchen, she offered fantastic ideas for reconfiguring the space to make it more functional and appealing. She followed up with detailed recommendations in her after-visit email summary and included rough drawings to help us visualize thew space. The 2-hour consultation with Dawn was an incredible value, and we definitely want to work with her on the kitchen renovation project!

"I had an absolutely amazing experience working with Dawn Bach on my apartment layout and design. I…read morereached out to her before moving from Colorado to Illinois, and she took the time to schedule a call and clearly explain her role as an interior decorator and how she could help based on my space and preferences. Dawn provided detailed layout plans along with furniture, bedding, electronics, and artwork recommendations--all of which perfectly matched my style and lifestyle. Her guidance not only made the process easy, but it also saved me over $900. I truly got everything I asked for and more. Thank you, Dawn! I will absolutely recommend you to anyone looking for an interior decorator."

From the owner: Blinded by the Light Blinds and Shades specializes in transforming your home with high-quality,…read morecustom window treatments. As a family-owned and locally operated business in Chicago, we offer a range of services to meet your unique needs: Custom Blinds: Tailored solutions for any window, providing style and functionality. Custom Shades: Personalized designs to control light and privacy while enhancing your décor. Custom Shutters: Elegant and durable shutters crafted to fit windows of all shapes and sizes. Custom Drapery: Beautiful, bespoke drapery options to add a touch of elegance to any room. Motorized Solutions: Advanced motorization for effortless control of your window treatments. In-Home Consultations: Expert design advice in the comfort of your home to help you choose the perfect window treatments. Professional Installations: Meticulous installation services ensuring a perfect fit and finish. Repair Services: Reliable repair services to keep your window treatments in top condition. We are proud to hold the Hunter Douglas Repairs Certification, reflecting our commitment to excellence and industry-leading standards. Trust Blinded by the Light Blinds and Shades to bring light and beauty to your home with exceptional customer service and expertise.

Amazing ! Our apartment came out absolutely stunning! Lara listened to our ideas and visions and…read morewas able to incorporate them into the final design. She was there from beginning to end and helped us stay on the budget we could afford. Recommend without hesitation

From the owner: Specializing in Luxurious and Sophisticated Residential Interior Design…read more Home Decor, Remodeling & Renovation Serving the Chicago & North Shore Areas Chic | Contemporary | Transitional

When we first started shopping around for a small kitchen project, we weren't sure who to work…read morewith. It was our first home renovation project, and we did not know how to go about the process. We first went to a big chain hardware store to get some guidance, but found them to be unclear and Not personable. But then we luckily found Habitar Design and Strategem Construction, and the difference was like night and day! From the very beginning, Mitch and the Habitar's team really took the time to listen to us, and made us feel heard and understood. We actually began our project way back in January, but when the pandemic began, our plans were understandably put on hold. However, Habitar was just stellar at communication overall - especially during the early months of the pandemic, when everything was so confusing for all of us. We never felt out of the loop with Habitar. The design process was thorough, and they explained everything in as much detail as we cared to hear. We fully understood the cost of all of our options, and so we didn't have any nasty surprises at the end. It was really nice to not worry about potential cost overruns through the job. We explained to them that we wanted to try and stick to our estimated cost as closely as possible in order to stick to our budget. However, like with any project, things happen, and sometimes the estimate is exactly that....an estimate! After expressing our concerns, and knowing that we were on a budget, Mitch and his team intervened to make sure that we all arrived to an agreeable situation. The Strategem construction team was professional, courteous, and respectful in every interaction we had. And while they were working in our home, we didn't even feel inconvenienced - they made as minimal an intrusion as possible. Any problems that came up were quickly resolved, and the whole team worked to find solutions. The whole process felt extremely personal - the owner, Mitch, even came out to see the job, and left us a small gift as a thank-you for our business! We would whole-heartedly recommend Habitar and Strategem to anyone who needs renovation work. If or when we ever have more renovation projects, we look forward to working with them in the future!

I had such a wonderful experience with Habitar when they updated my kitchen that, after recently…read moremoving, I decided to use them again to add an electric fireplace and shelving to a blank wall in my new living room. Their work did not disappoint! The designer was so helpful in transplanting my vision into a beautiful design plan within my budget. The workmanship is excellent and the workmen that did the instillation and painting were professional, diligent, and friendly. Everyone at Habitar from the owner, Mitch, to each person that works for him is helpful, thoughtful, and committed to doing good work. Having worked with them twice, I can confidently say that they are a delightful company to work with their work delivers beautiful results.

Joanna was excellent! She designed three of our main floor rooms including the family room, formal…read moredining room, and front sitting room. It was my first time using an interior designer and I couldn't be happier with the experience. She was very professional, easy to work with, flexible, and patient when we weren't ready to make a decision. She adapted our style beautifully and we love the result. I will definitely use her again in future when we're ready to redo other spaces in the house.

I was a bit nervous about working with an interior designer for the first time, but Joanna has made…read moreme a convert! When I enlisted her to redecorate my dining room, she came over to hear my ideas. She collaborated with me and was also direct when she thought I was going astray- which was just what I needed! Within days, she had a Pinterest board with recommendations and partnered with me to narrow down the purchase list. I love the results!

My family hired the Martin family to do some work on my aunt's house in the suburbs. They were a…read morepleasure to deal with. Reliable and honest. Phone calls were returned and we always felt we were in the best hands. We remodeled our aunt's basement down to the studs and when the job was done, it was AMAZING. Highly recommended for remodeling jobs!

We were in London when Martins did the rennovations on our home. We didn't know exactly what we…read morewere coming back to. We opened the door . . . and walked into paradise. We felt like we were in someone else's home. Someone who had a lot more money than us! Martins isn't just a builder, or a designer. He's an artist. When you bring someone into your home to change it forever, you have to trust that person. When Martins came by for our first free consultation (something other people had charged us for), he stayed for two hours. He wanted to get to know us, and figure out exactly what kind of home we wanted. To say he cares about his work is an understatement! Other people we looked at charged us for that first visit, came in, took measurements, were out in 30 minutes, and then provided some cookie-cutter recommendations. Besides his off-the-charts talent, he is honest, flexible, responsive and easy and fun to work with... not to mention reasonable. He even provided us with guidance and recommendations to bring the overall costs down. If you're looking to do renovations on your home, that not only are beautiful, but also unique and specific to you and your family, your search is over. Martins Buka will not only deliver, but exceed your expectations!

Proprietress Kim Chapman is a marvel. We have collaborated…read moreon a dozen projects over the past five years, and she gets. It. Done. The service that she and her workroom provide is exemplary. If you are looking for window treatments, look no further. As an interior designer in the industry for 30+ years, I have yet to meet a more professional, dedicated, honest, and talented individual.

Fourteen years later, my curtains continue to be beautiful and durable! Recently, a minor fix was…read morerequired. Kim's installer came and fixed it right away. Thank you, Kim! (Photo from summer)