The value added by dSPACE is tremendous. Working with them and having them as your advocate…read morethroughout the construction process is priceless. My wife and I appreciate and respect their design aesthetic, and we get along famously with the team. You spend a lot of time with your architects--make sure you like them as people. They will likely be our first dinner guests at our new house! We chose dSPACE over the other architects we interviewed for many reasons. The biggest factor was their project management service. Throughout our entire project they effectively handled every detail. We thought about hiring a GC without a design architect--that would have been a HUGE mistake. If we had to do it all over, we would absolutely choose dSPACE again. We knew we had a challenging project on our hands. The house we chose to renovate had the right footprint, on the right street, in the right neighborhood. But we wanted to change everything inside! My wife and I are not handy people and had no idea how to get to the vision we had. From our very first conversation with dSPACE, they explored our ideas and found realistic solutions within a couple of percentage points of estimated pricing. dSPACE also challenged us to think about our design goals--in the best way possible--to further develop them while being realistic and within budget. Kevin and his team were passionate about keeping a consistent theme throughout the entire house so that everything would flow. Their ability to tie the house together is something we had not thought of and are very grateful for.

Paul really cares about his clients and pairs the design process with interior design.read more

We hired Paul to remodel our 1910 condo, budgeted at $150,000. Initially, he appeared professional,…read moreresponsive, and creative. However, working with Paul turned out to be a horrible experience. He repeatedly missed promised deadlines, delayed meetings, gave endless excuses (seven by text alone), and blamed us for problems resulting from his poor management of the project. All along, his work contained numerous errors and oversights, and he offered few constructive or creative solutions. We tried to be flexible and accommodating, and Paul several times apologized for the delays and communication issues, blaming personnel issues (he soon thereafter fired a new employee) and family issues (new school year, etc.), which we could certainly appreciate. Unfortunately, it only got worse. Nearly two months after his proposed design deadline, he largely stopped responding to my e-mails (four e-mails over two weeks) and kept postponing phone conversations. We asked him to complete the design work by a new deadline. Instead of completing the design or asking for another extension, he said that our project "caught him at a bad time" and that we would be "best served going elsewhere." Because he chose to quit four months into the project, he waived our final payment (he had tried to collect it before the work was finished). If you hire Paul, do not pay the final invoice until the work is complete to your satisfaction--but even that cannot guarantee completion. Overall, we were left pretty unimpressed with his design skills. Good design requires a commitment to both the big picture and the fine details. Paul repeatedly promised but never actually attempted to pull all of the details together, which probably resulted in more revisions than necessary. The selection of tiles, paint colors, moldings, light fixtures, electrical design, etc. was promised, but never delivered. One hires a designer to think through how all of those details, colors, and materials interact: how a paint color looks next to certain materials and fixtures in the actual room. In reality, Paul basically just told us to research faucets online ourselves and directed us to a few tile manufacturer websites (he pulled some selections together on pintrest, but they were hardly helpful--mainly because they were not envisioned as part of a larger whole). This was his standard MO, and ultimately we felt that Paul's work lacked both vision and execution. Paul frequently complained that we were being unreasonable or costing him money. He complained that we had sent him 138 e-mails over six months: Really, it was 121 emails, including scheduling exchanges, brief messages of approval (e.g., "sounds great!"), e-mails to follow up on promises and deadlines unmet by Paul and his team, e-mails requesting updates after weeks of silence, and--of course--ideas and feedback on the designs, some of which had to be revised or returned to earlier ideas: anyone in design knows that is just part of the process and, again, many of the revisions were due to initial errors or oversights. + Design process was delayed almost two months and never completed. + Numerous (at least twelve) initial mis-measurements in crucial places. + Designs contained amateurish errors and oversights: cabinet doors that would hit each other when opened; a shower that would drench the user when turning the valve on; a custom vanity (35% upcharge) with a sink specified that would have been 2" too large to fit. Paul would complain when we brought them to his attention. + Revisions of designs were often delayed by weeks and often incomplete. + Paul would commit to doing tasks by a certain date and fail to do so. +Meetings were frequently rescheduled with little regard to client's time; too many excuses given; we actively had to request updates. + Prices are inflated: his demolition bid was over $9,000 while other contractors bid it at $4,000; his plumbing bid was $13,000 per bathroom, other plumbers consistently bid each bathroom around $2,000-$3,000. + Lighting and electrical design was largely absent and thoughtless. + Drawings were incomplete and amateurish. Every architect, contractor, and designer who has seen Paul's drawings for our project has pointed out numerous problems with them. Paul does not have architectural skills, so when you show his drawings to a contractor/plumber/electrician/cabinetmaker, they do not have enough clear information to work from. The drawings project an air of accuracy (e.g., measurements to an impractical 1/16"), but actually contain numerous larger more meaningful errors. If you compare Paul's drawings to a professional's drawings you will immediately see the difference. + Generally inconsistent communication: sometimes Paul would respond quickly and thoroughly, other times there would be no responses whatsoever. + It took four weeks and four e-mails for him to finally return our house keys! Stay Away!

Proceed carefully and document everything We engaged Xcēd…read moreDesign Build for a residential project, but the contract was ultimately canceled before construction began. We were unable to reconcile the deliverables we received with the portion of the design retainer that was kept. Based on our experience, we recommend approaching the process as a structured business relationship with clear documentation at every step. While early conversations were collaborative, relying on verbal discussions instead of written confirmation led to misalignment and, ultimately, disappointment. We expected Chelsey to lead the design based on early discussions, but the project was assigned to a different designer. Documenting decisions, preferences, and changes after each meeting would have helped ensure expectations were aligned. Recommendations for homeowners: *Request visibility into design hours, specify how you want those hours prioritized, and require notification at defined milestones *Confirm the specific deliverables for each design review *Confirm who the assigned designer will be and ask to see their portfolio *Require confirmation that proposed designs would reasonably pass permitting * Ask how dimensions, clearances, and usability are validated * Even if budget alignment is confirmed upfront, document it clearly in writing *Follow the contract closely and keep all decisions in writing A consistent, well-documented process from the beginning helps set clear expectations and accountability.

I needed a contractor to finish a second floor remodel. Drywall, windows, flooring, bathroom, etc…read more Gary Dayan and Chelsey Jackel were fantastic to work with. They had a crew of very professional workers. I cannot praise them enough. We now have a great looking second floor apartment. Be sure to give them a call when you are comparing contractors.

We got our dream kitchen ahead of schedule and on target budget! We couldn't be happier with the…read moreresult. It was incredibly easy to work with the team end-to-end, from building the designs from scratch through project execution. The design process allowed us to put all of our stylistic preferences while ensuring an overall cohesive look. The project management was seamless, with perfect communication between the Metro team, the contractors they found and us. Each week we got an update on the project status with photos. The team was flexible meeting our needs, such as helping us ensure our cabinets could get donated to The Salvation Army. The only caveat I'd give is that while the total cost matched the projected budget, that number was quite high both in absolute terms and in relation to the initial budget we had targeted. That's not a surprise for a kitchen renovation, but just note that there's huge costs not only costs for materials and labor but also appliances and a rental if you choose to move out. If sticking to a certain number is critical to you, make sure to keep reiterating that throughout the design process and maybe even try to get mid-process estimates to avoid sticker shock.

We worked with Metro for the renovation of our entire first floor, which included the kitchen,…read morebathroom, and living room. The project included things like new flooring, cabinetry, appliances, furniture, painting, lighting, etc. We enjoyed working with our designer Sam and the build team led by Tony. Together they helped create a space that our family will enjoy for years to come. Metro's attention to detail and the ideas they bring to a project really set them apart. We also love the fact that Metro is small, and for us local, business. I highly recommend both their design and build services.

This is my second time using Realty Design Group. I used them a few years ago for a bathroom…read moreremodel and more recently to complete the unfinished basement in my new house. The team was able to spend time with me in the basement before we closed, so we did a lot of the planning work in advance and they hit the ground running as soon as we closed. I interviewed 2 other teams and am so glad I went with Realty Design. They were the most competitive, I had peace of mind from working with them previously, and most importantly the other teams thought we needed to bring in an external designer or architect to map out the (simple) desired layout, but that was covered in a couple of conversations with Realty Design during our process. Our new basement really extends our living space. Who knows.. maybe project #3 is in the future!

Bill was recommended to us by our realtor upon buying our home. Our first ever home "project" was…read moreto completely re-do the master bathroom before moving in, and Bill helped us every step of the way. Since this was our first rodeo, he was able to provide insight and thoughts on choices when we felt overwhelmed. Everything was right on time, and all of the people that came to our house not only took pride in their work, but were so nice to talk to. We highly recommend Bill for any renovation project, large or small. He's communicative, timely, and an all-around pleasure to work with. We have Realty Design Group on the top of our list for our next project.

They were pretty responsive at first and sent someone over to look at our house and the repairs we…read morewant done, but after that they ghosted us. They never sent an estimate and ignored our two or three follow-up calls / emails afterward. I gave up on them after that.

From day one Peter (owner) has gone above and beyond during our kitchen remodel. His level of…read moreintegrity and professionalism is really what stood out with my wife and I. We highly recommend him for any and all of your home remodel projects.

We can't recommend Elise and Goi highly enough based on the work they did on our house. We…read morepurchased a major fixer upper that needed work everywhere: insulation, HVAC, flooring, bathroom, kitchen, to name just some of the issues. We worked closely with Elise and Goi at every step, including: - doing a deep dive on design for multiple floors and a deck; - creating a schedule for various large projects, taking into account the birth of our son in the middle of things; - vetting, selecting, and overseeing multiple contractors; - communicating with various city inspectors, zoning officials, and the alderman's office to ensure compliance with city codes; and - findings and working with a wholesaler for kitchen and bathroom design. Elise and Goi were the consummate professionals. They were well prepared for all our meetings and effectively married our sometimes-competing design sensibilities. Any questions we had were promptly answered. Any concerns we had was adequately heard and responded to. Importantly, they helped us understand the best places to splurge vs save. When we started the home purchase process, we had no idea that we'd ultimately work with an architect. Looking back on everything, we are fortunate and thankful beyond words for all the tremendous work Elise and Goi did. Regardless of your budget and design sensibilities, please consider working with Elise and Goi.

We really enjoyed working with Elise and Goi. We purchased a 100+ year old home which had not been…read morerenovated in ~30 years or so. We engaged Elise and Goi as we were purchasing our home to work through the 203K loan process. The house needed electrical, plumbing, a new bathroom, a full kitchen reno. We worked over several months with Elise and Goi to design changes which allow us to creatively use the space, add on a unique deck, pick finishes, etc. In addition, they helped manage the permit process and work with our challenging contractor. They were incredibly organized -- clear agendas for each of our meetings, multiple options based on our tastes (which they ascertained via a Pinterest board we shared with them). They were prompt to respond to any questions or concerns. We would not hesitate to work with them again.

The team was responsive and showed up as scheduled. I had a bigger job than expected but they…read morejumped in and took care of the project without question. Everyone was pleasant and professional. I will contact for future work.