Emily and her team were wonderful to work with! It was my first time using professional design…read moreservices and she made the process accessible, transparent, collaborative and fun. They came with great ideas that I would never have arrived at on my own, and I especially appreciated her expertise regarding how best to tackle the bathrooms in a 100+ year old condo building. I would absolutely recommend working with Emily on any interior project.

"When we found Pam, we found the perfect professional -- proactive, patient, calm and tireless…read more When we found our dream home - also in Wilmette, she was swift in executing the process and genuinely shared in our joy and happiness. Her warmth, humor, and positive attitude are attractive in any profession - but especially in residential real estate. We interviewed three realtors before meeting Pam. When another realtor assessed the value of our home, he zoned in on a few flaws and suggested we list it at a low price. When Pam assessed it, she instantly recognized its unique qualities, charm and great light. I knew she would "sell it" with sincerity and grace. And she did. Pam is politely persistent and moves the ball forward, in spite of having to juggle many stakeholders and their wildly divergent personalities. Pam was always our partner, friend and confidante. She truly wanted what was best for us -- never making us feel pressured or rushed. She inherently knew how emotional it is to objectify and pack-up the home in which you raised your children. And was empathetic and understanding about the stresses that come with the quest to find your perfect next home. Pam is beautiful inside and out. She is knowledgeable and generous with her time, heart and insight. We feel so very fortunate to have found her. She was simply extraordinary and she is just getting started."

Overall, primarily influenced by the outcome of our search / purchase (the most important measure),…read morewe were very dissatisfied with the overall service from Pam and Wendy. Pam and Wendy did give us a significant amount of their time and energy over the months it took us to complete the purchase of our new home, which was greatly appreciated. That being said, due to circumstances that could and should have been avoided, we now find ourselves in a discouraging and extremely costly situation as we work through several issues that should have been identified through the home search, due diligence and inspection. We trusted the inspector Pam and Wendy recommended to us would be thorough with a critical focus on protecting us from major issues - this was clearly not the case, and the shortcomings of the inspection and related negotiations have left us having to pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket to remedy. On a related note, the 'experts' Pam and Wendy recommended during the inspection/attorney review period were equally poor, particularly a roofer that gave us an estimate for repairs that we now know was 95%+ underestimated (as proven by four subsequent estimates for the same work), and gave us a false sense of security in terms of what we had ahead of us. Maybe the most unsettling part of the experience in hindsight (which should have raised our flags in the moment) was when Pam and Wendy clearly put the best interest of the sellers ahead of ours (their client) in the context of pressuring us to sign the deal on a condensed timeline so the sellers would not have to relist the property. Finally, neither Pam nor Wendy made themselves or a legal representative available to represent us in person during our closing, and did not give us a heads up that we would be there alone, leaving us with a fairly sour taste on what should have been a celebratory day. Overall, as we continue to work through issues daily and try to recoup our losses, we do not feel our best interests were prioritized and feel the advice from Pam, Wendy and their recommended subject experts was critically underwhelming and insufficient.

I used to think an interior decorator was an artistic person who knew about color, design and all…read morethat artsy stuff. Lexi Nielsen is that and whole bunches more. I told her that I wanted a "zen" bathroom that had a calming, spa-like effect, and that I wanted it to be as eco-friendly in design and materials as possible. She not only came up with a beautiful design but she spent countless hours (even while on vacation) to source all the materials for high quality, low cost, and sustainability. She worked closely with our contractor and was here constantly to check on progress. One story of how she goes the extra mile: The day our bathtub was to be delivered, she offered to come by and meet the truck. I didn't see why she wanted to, but I said, sure, knock yourself out. She had the brains to get on the truck and inspect the tub before it disembarked -- and sure enough, it had a huge gouge in the porcelain. She told the driver to take it right back. I never would have known to do that. In addition to the bathroom job, Lexi helped pick out colors and wallpaper for two rooms that were switching from bedroom to office, and they came out great. A great value added with Lexi is that she knows all about Feng Shui and can direct your home's Chi into it's proper place. She is a delightful person and a really great listener. I am very glad our bathroom remodel is almost done, but I'll miss having Lexi around! I wonder what needs remodeling next?

My husband and I were so fortunate to have found Lexi to help us make key decisions with our home…read moreaddition. Although, we knew our design esthetic, we needed help with choices that made proportional sense, had functionality and at times, compromising. Lexi was very professional and efficient in coming to our space, envisioning what we wanted and what would be best. She helped us with final decisions in our master bath with tile design and lighting (so important). She also assisted with other aspects of our home remodel that we are so happy with the results. Hiring Lexi saved us time and money in making some important design decisions. We highly recommend her company.

Angela Liegel made what could have been a stressful selling process feel organized and manageable…read morefrom start to finish. She was incredibly helpful with staging, offered thoughtful repair recommendations, and connected us with reliable contractors who delivered great work. Throughout it all, she maintained a positive, professional attitude and kept everything moving forward. Her pricing strategy was spot on and resulted in a swift, successful sale. We highly recommend Angela to any prospective sellers!

Angela is the best. She helped us buy our first home in 2019 and, five years later, guided us…read morethrough selling that same house when work took us to New York. As first-time buyers and then first-time sellers, we leaned on her heavily, and she was an incredible resource every step of the way. She was always available by phone or text to answer questions, explain the process, and connect us with great people--our real estate lawyer, contractors, photographer, and more. And when we say she went above and beyond, we mean it literally: she was out there weeding and mulching our yard herself to get the house ready for open houses. Angela is exactly the kind of person you want by your side for both the highs and the stresses of buying and selling a home. We've already recommended her to all our friends, but wanted to do it publicly as well.

I wanted to take a moment to provide a review. We bought a fairly traditional home in Winnetka and…read morehad about 4 months to plan our move in . We were very keen on transforming our spaces into a more transitional decor and feel. After talking to several design teams we had Jessica share her ideas. Right from choosing our wooden floor stain to wall colors she was involved in every decision. We had some very strong opinions of our own and Jessica and her team were exceptional at incorporating those but also pushing back where they felt it was not appropriate. We also loved the fact that right upfront she pulled together a very detailed view by room of the potential budget with options helping us make the right tradeoffs on where to go really high end and where we could tradeoff. We have received a ton of compliments on all aspects of our new home including the decor, the furniture pieces, at the art pieces, the accents and the rugs. We also loved the fact that she insisted on addressing the little details like changing our cabinet handles and faucets with the right colors and styles to fit the contemporary vibe we were looking for. We recommend Jessica and her team wholeheartedly and will work with her again in a heartbeat.

I couldn't be happier with my experience working Lugbill Designs on my Streeterville condo. From…read morethe very beginning, their team demonstrated an exceptional ability to translate ideas into a cohesive, livable vision--and then execute on it. What truly set them apart was how seamlessly they managed every aspect of the renovation. Navigating building regulations, freight logistics, and coordination with property management was handled it all with professionalism and precision. I never had to worry about the process. The design itself is exceptional. The custom millwork was a particular sophisticated and warm touch. Every detail feels intentional, from the sculptural lighting to the curated furnishings and textures. Their ability to integrate architecture, design, and styling into one seamless outcome is remarkable. This was a full-service experience in the best sense--creative, organized, and deeply attentive to how we actually live in our space. The end result is not just beautiful, but functional and timeless. Highly recommend.

I feel completely satisfied and excited with my new apartment. The agent I worked with was Sean…read moreEaston, whom I recommend. My experience: I needed an apartment and knew American Realty accepted walk-ins. I visited after 5pm and there was still staff available to take me. The office felt laid back and looked minimal, with complimentary water dispenser and home-related magazines as reading material. Sean Easton took me under his metaphorical wing and explained the process between real estate broker, potential tenant, and landlord client. Afterwards, I had a better idea and knew what to expect from the ordeal. I was able to view an apartment (which is now mine) same day and have a walk through. He pitched the unit, as expected, but allowed me to view the unit carefully at my own pace, while waiting patiently. After I made my decision, we handled the paperwork in detail. During processing waiting times, Sean responded to communications quickly and set meeting times flexibly around my work availability. In a little over a week I met with my new landlord and had the keys to my new place. If me or my landlord have questions or issues, Sean assured he could be contacted anytime for assistance. Summary: Agent was flexible and accommodated my work schedule. When unexpected events occurred, agent responded quickly and provided alternate arrangements. Agent knowledgeable about business practices and showed great deal of patience with paperwork and walk-through. Highly recommend American Realty business based on transaction with Agent Sean Easton.

Crystal and the American Realty team helped us to apply, rent, and move into an apartment in TWO…read moreDAYS. After being left hanging (and mostly homeless), my roommates and I were able to get into our dream apartment. We're tired and reeling from the whole experience, but Crystal, Carlos, and the rest of the American Realty gang took a personal interest in streamlining our process. It also helps that they're the most personable realtors I've ever dealt with. It seriously doesn't get any better than this. Thank you, American Realty! You are all champions.

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.

Wow, amazing! Dominika has a great eye, and Anna is a very detailed and technical designer. They…read moreare a terrific team in the office. I really appreciate their input from beginning to end of our kitchen project. Although we did not choose their contractors, the order was correct and really worked out great! I wish we hired their contractor since they work with these particular cabinet makers on a regular basis, since my workers made a costly mistake which was really upsetting. However, Kitchen and Bath was great with ordering new parts/ cabinets/replacements. Communication was excellent, and a few times, we did hire their contractor, who fixed problems or offered good solutions. We had an incredible experience with them, and our kitchen looks so fabulous!

I needed a new cabinet for the bathroom after some remodeling and whatnot, so I looked around for a…read morecouple of cabinet places. This place is in a nondescript strip mall in Lincolnwood just outside Chicago, and I just happened to see it as I was driving home one day. I wanted to check out a few places so I added them to my list. Their hours are not super easy to work with, especially if you're a working individual, so you'll probably want to either make an appointment or contact them to confirm their hours for the day or week to make sure someone will be there. Marta helped me understand the cabinets that I might be able to choose from for my space, find something of a relatively inexpensive price point, and the countertop options for it as well. There were some hiccups. Communication leaves a lot to be desired. Even disregarding the Memorial Day holiday where there was no communication for about five days (I get it, people take time off plus their limited schedule), it was like pulling teeth to get information I needed--for instance, when I asked what they needed from me to get the job started, I got an email saying that they'd probably need a deposit. That was the full email--no instructions on how to provide one, when, etc. So I had to respond back to them to ask how to make a deposit to get the work done and it was several days before I got an email saying that I could bring a check (because apparently they do check only) during their very limited hours of 9:30-3. Oh, and to let them know when I was coming so that they'd actually be able to help me I guess. They intimated they take check only as payment, so I had to go during my workday to pay. I arrived 10 minutes after they opened--specifically after they told me they opened, because I asked via email for them to confirm their hours and that they'd be there since I needed to go during work--and no one was there when I arrived. So that was a bit annoying. Having said all that, I chose to work with them because they were by far the quickest option and reasonably priced. The townhome in which I live we hopefully will sell within the coming months, so I didn't want to spend a ton of money on this. Also, with my mom visiting in fewer than six weeks from the time I was looking, I needed the work to be done as immediately as possible. Kitchen & Bath Cabinets Center said they said it would be about two weeks. Given the cabinet place in my neighborhood said it would take five weeks just to get the cabinetry in--and then I'd have to find my own installers)--and not being able to really get much help from Studio41, this company was the clear choice. But if I wasn't worried about the timeframe (and planned to remain in the home longer than say a year), I may have gotten frustrated and gone elsewhere. Whilst this was all happening I was on the fence as to whether I'd recommend this contractor to someone else, and it would definitely have been with some caveats. However, now that the work is done I would recommend them as someone to check out knowing you'll need to have patience and be flexible. They did get it installed within a couple weeks, and it's absolutely beautiful work. They provided installation, which others didn't, so that was something that I didn't have to worry about finding separately (that alone may have tipped me to using them, to be honest). They also prepared the custom vent area that was necessary since there is a vent hole under where this unit was/is. They put on the cabinet pulls I'd purchased from Lowes, and would have done the plumbing but since I had a plumber coming anyway I preferred he take care of it. Now I just need to find someone to install the mirror that was once above the space and the bathroom will be all set.