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!

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!

Easiest architect I've worked with. I have many colleagues in a very close second but this guy is…read moretop notch. Highly recommended!

If you're looking for an amazing experience and outcome, use Richard Thomas! He is incredibly…read moretalented, smart, professional and beyond wonderful to work with. The outcome of our commercial project exceeded our expectations, so we then used him for a very large residential home project on our own personal home. You will get nothing short of a solid quality job each and every time with an honest professional and a lot of integrity who delivers beyond outstanding results. Thank you, Richard!

After interviewing many architectural firms, Bill was the only architect that asked us what we…read morewanted in our home and listened. That immediately impressed us. We knew what we wanted, we just did not know how to incorporate it in the existing home. We were not looking for an architect to control the entire project. We have been doing the general contracting on our own and Studio 21 was the perfect firm for us. They drew out the plans and submitted for permits once that was all approved we took off flying with it. We did run into a unforeseen bump on the road with the crawl space foundation where and an existing addition was done in the 1940's, three cinder blocks deep. Gregg was able to amend the blueprints for us to get us back up and running. We now have a 100% full basement instead of 5% crawl space for the addition that was existing. We have yet to finish our total gut rehab/addition but we could not have envisioned working with any other architect firm other than Studio 21. As busy as they are, they took the time to answer our questions and go above and beyond anything we could have imagined possible in our home. Words cannot express their attention to detail, knowledge and creative minds. Bill and Gregg did an excellent job. We cannot wait to move in and finally enjoy the home. Studio 21 can tailor the project for your needs. They can go as much as doing everything for you to letting you fly on your own. If you are looking for an architectural firm definitely add them to the list of the potential candidates. We highly recommend them.

From the owner: A one-stop-shop process led by our expert architects, from design through construction. We don't…read moreoutsource design, ever! Our architects are involved at every step of your project. One team manages your project; a team that keeps your interests in mind and one that you can trust to deliver your dream home.

My husband and I hired Nate Kipnis and his firm after interviewing several architects about the…read moredesign of our vacation property. Our wish was to build a second home with green features, and the Kipnis firm was without question up to the task. He educated us about the options for building materials, helped us select a contractor, then worked closely with the contractor to make sure he understood all of the innovative design features. Other members of his staff were equally professional. Nate was highly knowledgable, yet he listened to our input and designed a home that remains today a huge source of pride for our family. He was a pleasure to work with every step of the way!

I have been working with Nate for years. I first met him when I bought an office building and…read morewanted it completely redone. Nate is beyond creative and has to be top 3 green architect in the state. Since our meeting I have done several projects with Nate and couldnt be more pleased. I am very picky who I send people to but would recommend Nate to anyone. He really is excellent!!!

We contracted with Veseli Design to remodel our bathroom, which included fixing some poorly done…read moreplumbing and adding a ventilation fan, along with complete replacement of fixtures, tile, etc. Goran from Veseli Design was great to work with! He promptly responded to all phone calls and emails. He referred us to quality vendors and I've been pleased with all the vendors he recommended. The guy who laid the tile for the shower and the floor was amazingly detailed, and the bathroom looks fantastic. We couldn't be happier with the end result! The project was finished on time and within the budget... you don't hear that very often with home improvement projects! In addition to doing general contracting, Goran is an architect, so he can help you take your plan from idea to completion. We'll definitely be working with Veseli Design for the rest of our home improvement needs.

As a general contractor who is also an architect, Goran Veselinovic of Veseli Design and Build was…read moreamazing to work with. His attention to our wishes was impressive, always coming up with ideas that fit our financial and aesthetic needs. Goran knew that we were working within a budget, and to that end, he gave us options that allowed us to stay on track financially while producing a beautiful living space for us. Overall, we were extremely pleased with the outcome of our total gut and redo which transformed our 1980s era unit into a modern and comfortable space. We will definitely work with Veseli Design and Build on future projects.

Mason has done multiple projects for us including our master bed/bath/closet, master 2nd floor…read morepatio, total gut reno of coach house, warehouse reno into fitness center with sauna and more to come! He had us at hello (actually he first won over our Grandma who is now living in the coach house that he designed for her). Since that first project for Grandma, he's proceeded to win the rest of us over including my husband - who is not an easy sell.

I lived in my house for 8 years dreaming of all the ways I would make it perfect one day. After…read moreinterviewing more than 10 architects, design build firms, and hobbyist renovation addicts turned "designer & GC", I was introduced to Mason via a builder who had worked with him. The builder spoke very highly of his work, and after spending some time with Mason, understanding his vision and even touring some of his other projects, it was clear he was the right fit to finally help me reach the aspirations I had for my home. The job was huge - a full gut on the first floor, two full baths and a raised ceiling on the second, and a total makeover on the exterior. Aside from the great ideas that enhanced my vision as we discussed design concepts, I knew he was the right guy when a high level builder looked at his plans and said "who did these? These are some of the best architectural drawings and directions I have ever seen". While I ended up using the builder who introduced me to Mason, the two of them worked very well together, respecting the ideas and challenges that crept up throughout the 8-month long project. I have referred Mason to a number of friends and family who have all seen and admire my project, and I would highly recommend him for anyone looking to do a major renovation as he has the knowledge, skills and vision to achieve an outstanding finished product.

I'm looking for the 6-star choice because we are so lucky we found Doug for our project, and so…read morehappy with the effort he put forth for our project.  Our experience with him has been wonderful and he is even a nicer guy than he is a great architect. We got to Doug through a reference after being run-around for months by a previous recommendation who decided he was too busy, after stringing us along for too long.  Doug (and everyone) was backed up with Covid renovation, but when he heard my frustration in the delay he found a creative way to work us in. He made several visits to our apartment and dug through some walls to be certain what was possible and what the limits were. He looked at our idea which started as a shower expansion and showed us how we could do so much more if we removed the bathtub which we never use, resulting in a much larger footprint for the shower and a new vanity/makeup/cabinet area where the enlarged shower was originally going to go. He came up with a wonderful venting solution that we weren't focused on, and then noticing that with the new plan that we'd have to re-tile the floor, made a great suggestion to heat the new tile floor. Something we hadn't thought about.  We are so excited for the new design and features of the new space he's defined. He mocked up a cardboard replica of the steam generator for the shower so that we could work in 3-space to position it in the adjacent closet, and he's made trips here throughout the project and has been available to answer our questions.  We were having problems visualizing some details in discussions with our contractor and he emailed an isometric 3-D drawing shortly after our clarification phone discussion. After Doug finished the drawings, we weren't happy with the 2 contractor quotes we received and Doug connected us with a wonderful contractor who came in with a much better price and has been an absolute joy to work with. All of this was done for the reasonable price of his original quote, even though the calls, visits, emails drawings and interacting with our contractor was extra work.

Doug did a wonderful job for us in designing the new look for our front porch. We were amazed by…read morehis attention to detail and commitment to our satisfaction. He communicated well, set our expectations up front, and was very reasonable throughout. In particular, we loved how Doug provided so many ideas we would never have thought of ourselves. Our concept for the new porch was simplistic, but by the end of it, we had exactly the look we wanted (but couldn't necessarily articulate) and one that perfectly complemented the existing charms of the house in ways we wouldn't have imagined. Our neighbors keep complimenting us on the new look, which is also a testament to our contractor (Hilman Construction, reviewed separately on Yelp.) Doug worked well with the contractor, and that cohesiveness kept the project moving along nicely. On the permitting front, I am sure we saved many hours of effort and weeks/months of waiting by using Doug's extensive experience in how to cut through the red tape as quickly as possible. He took the initiative to call the reviewers at the permit office ahead of time just to anticipate the issues we would face, and he coached us in how to approach our permitting meeting so that we knew what to expect. An otherwise frustrating and hopelessly complex process became quite manageable. We would not hesitate to work with Doug again!

We fell into a family owned 75 year old house after my husband's great uncle passed away and…read morecouldn't pass up the good deal. COULD do without the pink kitchen and yellow and black bathroom tiles. Aesthetics aside, there were some serious layout issues with the house that made it seem smaller than it actually was. Before just hiring a general contractor, we talked to Jereme to see if he had some design ideas that would be more interesting than just "knock down some walls and put new drywall up." Jereme worked really hard to keep within budget while still adding some fun touches that everyone comments on, like a reclaimed wood soffit that defines the kitchen area. He also used every square inch of the home to make sure we didn't have any wasted spaces. We used barn doors to make old bathrooms feel bigger and built ins to make the most of slanted attic walls. Overall, everything was on time and any extras were clearly laid out. Communication over email was great and he was very organized as we went along with the to do list and keeping all of the contractors on task. I would highly recommend Design Insight and will definitely use them again if we buy another house.

When we moved into our home we knew it had potential, but the out-dated kitchen and flow wasn't…read moremeeting our day-to-day needs five years later. Jereme / DII Architecture renovated and completely transformed our main living spaces, including kitchen, living room, family room and dining room. Jereme listened to our needs and ideas, and came back with a design that exceeded our expectations. We opened up walls and ceilings to make the spaces feel modern, bigger and MUCH more functional. He was with us throughout the entire process, in constant communication and even made last minute changes when requested. The result is a completely custom, beautiful space that not only accommodates our family of 5, but makes hosting large gatherings so much more seamless. We get so many compliments on the space, and would be happy to recommend Jereme and DII Architecture to others.

We used A. Perry to find a lot, design and build our home. From the beginning, we appreciated their…read morefocus on quality, integrity and family. Everyone who works at the firm is either related or has worked there forever and they take extreme pride in their work. It shows when you visit one of their homes- they feel solid and you can tell the home is exceptional quality. Building a custom home is difficult and challenging but the team made it as seamless as possible. They were communicative, thoughtful and kind throughout the process. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for- which we appreciate greatly having come from a home where the builder cut corners. The team, software and tradespeople were best in class. The vendors they use are excellent and they are open to clients using their own. Our site superintendent was absolutely fantastic and ran the site like a tight ship- helping us deliver on our timeline even in the middle of a pandemic. We have been in our home for about a month and could not be more happy. A Perry has been over to fix any outstanding issues quickly. It's been a long process but well worth it. Happy to chat with anyone considering A Perry. I recommend them to everyone I know who is considering building a custom home.

After a pretty lengthy search we finally decided on A. Perry to build our forever home. From the…read moreinitial meeting with Anthony to the preliminary design to the build and the ultimate move-in we were very happy with the entire experience. They were very responsive, had every base covered, made sure we were kept current on progress and, most importantly, provided us with peace-of-mind. We were so happy with A. Perry we contracted with them to finish our basement shortly after we moved in. The basement is now complete and we love it. Would highly recommend them for your build/renovation and would definitely use them again.

My wife and I selected Chi Renovation to do a complete remodel of our primary bathroom and to add a…read morehalf bathroom to our basement. We have nothing but the highest praise to give to them for delivering such a fantastic end result. The team we worked with was fantastic. We really enjoyed the hands on process of working with Elizabeth, our designer, who helped guide us through the entire process of creating our dream primary bathroom. We had a fair bit of back and forth throughout the design process but it resulted in some highly detailed and thorough design plans, which included realistic renderings, all the selected hardware and finishes, and overall layouts. We felt like we got great advice from Elizabeth, and she really listened to what kind of look and feel we were going for. We then got with Daniel, our project manager, who helped turn the plans we received into reality. He was also a pleasure to work with and always provided very clear project updates via text and phone. The teams he assembled for electrical, plumbing, and carpentry were all very professional and did great work. Daniel was also a great problem solver who was able to come up with clever solutions to any issues that came up. In summary, we are very happy owners of two completely new bathrooms spaces designed and built by the lovely team at Chi Renovation. We would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a remodel in the Chicago area.

We first worked with Chireno in 2020 when they remodeled our kitchen, and we loved the results so…read moremuch that we didn't hesitate to use them again for our bathrooms. We recently had our bathrooms remodeled, and we couldn't be happier with the results. The scope of our project included a full renovation of primary, kids and guest bathrooms, and the quality of craftsmanship really shows in every space. From the tile work to the fixtures and overall layout, everything feels high-quality and thoughtfully done. We especially appreciated the unique elements incorporated into the design, like the wall-mounted faucets, recessed vanities, heated floors, and heated bidets--features that truly elevated both the look and comfort of our bathrooms. The team was excellent to work with from start to finish. Elizabeth, our designer, and Eric, our project manager, were both fantastic and communicated clearly throughout the entire process. Elizabeth helped bring our vision to life with thoughtful design choices and a great eye for the overall look and feel, while Eric kept everything running smoothly and on schedule. Our contractor, also named Eric, did very high-quality work, and it really shows in the finished product. Everyone we interacted with was professional, respectful, and clearly took pride in their work. Communication was consistent, and we always felt informed about what was happening next. The team's level of care and precision really stood out--they made sure everything was done right. The entire process, from design to construction to the final finishing touches, was smooth and well-managed. They helped guide us through design decisions without pressure, kept the project moving on schedule, and made sure the final result matched (and even exceeded) our expectations. The end result is a set of bathrooms that not only look amazing but feel built to last. We're extremely happy with the quality of work and the overall experience, and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone considering a remodel.