I had such a wonderful experience with Stratagem and their sister company when they updated my kitchen that, after recently moving, 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 Stratagem 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. read more

Stratagem Construction - Fireplace and built-ins - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mitch and his team at Stratagem saw thorugh the entire process of the construction like I've never seen another contractor do. They built two beautiful bathrooms and, crucially, managed the project such that we could sit in the spectator seat comfortably. We live in a high-rise, and, for example, they communicated with the HOA so we didn't have to (insurance, freight elevator, loading dock, etc). When a minor issue surfaced years later Stratagem fixed it without questions asked. Great experience overall, haven't had another re-modeling project done in such a professional and (to us) easy way. read more

It was a great experience from start to finish. They took care all of the work and we are extremely happy with our fireplace. They were able to accommodate our request to have our fireplace completed by Christmas. read more

Stratagem Construction - a fireplace with stockings hanging on it - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had our kitchen and bathroom remodeled by Statagem. We are extremely happy with the work that was done. First of all, the finished product looks and functions great. The quality of the workmanship is excellent. And all of the build materials that Stratagem was responsible for are of high quality. A couple of things I would like to highlight. We lived in the house during the remodeling. The crews were extremely clean, and went out of their way to make sure we still could function in the house. Every night after the work was done for the day, everything was cleaned, and items that could be hooked up, were so we could use them. Also, they are very serious about the workmanship. There was an issue with the grout and bathroom tile. So, without prompting, they just re-did the tile. The were not happy with how it turned out, so they just fixed it. That's when I knew we had picked the right company. Again, I highly recommend them. Even when there was a small bump in the road, which happens in all construction projects, We felt like we barely felt it. read more

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We hired Stratagem Construction for our renovation project after working with their sister company, Habitar Design, for our design and planning stage. It was a large project that involved removing a load bearing wall and blocking in a window to completely change the floor plan of our kitchen and refresh the finishes on our dining and living rooms. The team at Stratagem did a beautiful job. The quality of their work is absolutely top of the line. Our custom cabinetry fits perfectly and all of the tile work is neat and straight, even though two of the three tiles they installed were done in a more difficult herringbone pattern. Our new wood flooring is wonderfully level and the paint job is flawless. We have received nothing but compliments on our new space. Of course, like all construction projects, ours ran into a delay here and there - and it was a big project that just kept getting bigger as we went. But our project manager Zane and the owner Mitch went above and beyond to make up for lost time and assure us that we were making progress. Any time we had a concern, it was promptly addressed. read more

Stratagem Construction - Picture of our brand new kitchen. - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mitch Newman and his team really transformed my bathroom and kitchen into modern and gorgeous spaces. Their work is clean and precise, as well as beautiful and functional. My entire home has been elevated. Could not recommend them more! read more

We used Stratagem for painting our whole condo and updating our kitchen cabinets. They were great! They coordinated with our condo board to get the appropriate approvals and kept us updated with lots of communication. The painting crew was able to repair minor damages to our drywall and even a door that had holes in it! They were able to quickly and efficiently paint all of the walls and trim (including the doors). They left our condo very neat and clean and had no problems coordinating with our condo association to enter the unit when we were not there. The cabinet crew was great. We got new walnut, shaker style cabinet doors and drawers. They were able to make them in shop- they're gorgeous! The crew worked in our apartment while we were also working from home, but they were very considerate. They wore masks and gave us frequent updates on the work. They were also responsive to the minor edits that we requested. Thank you to Stanley, Ortega, Javier and Mike for their hard work! read more

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I highly recommend Mitch Newman and Stratagem Construction. The contractors have completed a kitchen and a master bathroom for me, and their workmanship is impeccable. They did not miss a day of work, and the results have been excellent. The materials are extremely high quality, and the results are just what I hoped for. read more

We're planning to renovate our living room into modern design. Our interior design was old and some furniture and cabinets were already broken and needed to be fixed. We save a lot of money to come up with this. One of our family friends suggested this company and they even showed a picture of their living room and room. It was pretty and amazing. I called the number and a guy answered. He is quite good and our communication was good. They visit us and look in our living room. They even showed some examples of design. But we had a prepared design and he said that it was pretty cool and nice. They start renovating it and it tooks 5 days till it's done. Were so amazed by the output and were very happy and satisfied with their work. read more

I was really impressed with Stratagem. Expectation setting is everything, and that piece was great start to finish. They recently remodeled my bathroom and the end result is seriously amazing - the workmanship is top-notch and the team paid attention to every little detail. The crew was super professional and kept me in the loop throughout the process. Yes, there were some hiccups along the way - COVID precautions and supply chain issues spare no one - but Mitch and his team communicated clearly throughout and the results were worth the time and expense. A few months after completion, there was a small issue with the bathtub drain (wouldn't seal all the way for a bath) and Mitch gave me options for resolution and fixed the drain within a few days. I'm super happy with how everything turned out and have already recommended the team to my neighbors. Five stars all the way! read more

We had such a great experience with Habitar design, that it was a no-brainer to use Stratagem to complete the work. Highly skilled professional painters, wallpaper installers, and tile workers. They worked cleanly, quickly, and most importantly, accurately. We had 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, dining, kitchen, and entryway worked on, as well as having 23 smart dimmer switches installed. The results are stunning, and we could not be happier! read more

Habitar Design is an Exceptional, Outstanding, Extraordinary Design Firm! High Praise from an Excessively Particular Couple so this Says A lot..... I was given the opportunity to work with Habitar Design specifically working closely with Mitch Newman and designer Hannah Tindall. My boyfriend and I had just moved into a stunning downtown condo where we were excited to make it our own in terms of design, constructing modern built ins in the family room/living room, adding custom cabinets to our existing kitchen, new hardwood floors, updating two bathrooms and desired a new design layout. And let me say in all honesty, we are excessively demanding with details and obsessive with mundane details....and yet Habitar Design still exceeded our expectations! With many downtown condos, our space was small, but Mitch Newman and his design team allowed us to capture the feeling of "home" and express our taste in our new place. We were immediately drawn to Mitch Newman's attention to detail, level of professionalism, brilliant visionary work, and his craftsmanship is truly an artist's work. His background as a physician demonstrates a level of commitment and knowledge, and all his life experiences really allow him to be magnificent in his craft. I cannot stress enough, the level of quality in his craftsmanship---gorgeous, it was beyond beautiful and better than I had imagined! Our friends & family had no idea we had customized and designed our own built-ins with Mitch, they truly thought we had ordered them from one of the high end Italian stores in Chicago. He was a true visionary from his design of the plans, execution of the construction, selection of materials, even down to the choice of a cabinet or drawer fixture. We also loved working with Hannah Tindall as our designer. She was able to keep us organized with our design ideas and encourage our own creativity but allow us to showcase our design aesthetic in a tasteful, functional, and cohesive manner. Hannah Tindall worked tirelessly to make sure our experience was delightful and inspiring. I would highly recommend Mitch Newman, Hannah Tindall, and Habitar Design, and will definitely use them again in the near future. Unfortunately, my relationship with the boyfriend did end after 6 years, but the most difficult part was walking away from my beautiful home. I didn't want to leave my gorgeous home where Habitar Design inspired and captured my perfect aesthetic combination of personalized palette colors, room balance, modern comfort, and my love for the space. Thank you for the amazing experience and look forward to seeing you soon for a new project! read more

I am picky and a perfectionist. Stratagem not only met -- but far exceeded -- my expectations. The company's contractors Segue, Sara and Ian gutted and renovated my kitchen and bathroom -- which are absolute show stoppers. They worked tirelessly -- were here every day on time and stayed throughout the day. Their work was masterful and absolutely incredible. They came up with innovative solutions to address the pecularities of my condo (hiding the fuse box, replacing baseboards to hide unsightly cabe cords, just a few examples -- and I cannot even explain the innovative work they did in my kitchen that enabled me to have the farmers sink and garbage disposal). Not only that, but Stratagem built my floating vanity (which is absolutely beautiful There is nothing on the market even comparable, and built the shelving in my bedroom and den. In sum, Stratagem, as well as its sister design company Habitar (see my review) is top notch, its owner Mitch Newman is hands on, and its project manager Patrycja ensured everything ran smoothly. I have nothing but praise for, and highly recommend, Stratagem. My words, and 5 stars, will not suffice. Stragagem rocks and gave me a beautiful apartment and I cannot thank them enough! read more

I used Stratagem Construction to help with decorating my new home. I already had most of the "big pieces" of furniture but needed help with accents, seating and colors to bring it all together. I worked with Hannah on 2 projects and she was amazing. I had a boring fireplace wall that they tiled and later came back and painted. I met with her a few times (at my house and her office) and shared a few pictures I liked. The colors and wallpaper she selected were exactly what I was looking for .... She also picked out some amazing accent pieces that I absolutely love. Not only was the look everything I was looking for put the contractors were extremely detailed and professional. read more

In a previous review I posted about a fireplace installation with Strategem of which I was really pleased. The company also created customized cabinetry, shelving, and lightening. Inside the cabinetry we wanted to house multiple gaming system and our cable box. They took this into account and created a beautiful pocket doors for the middle cabinet, an installed temperature control system with an embedded fan in the cabinet I. Conjunction with lights that I can control via my mobile phone or tablet. My entire family is in love with it and it looks like something that was always meant to be in the space. I'm truly pleased with the company. The staff was always courteous. If I have another project in the future I will be reaching out to this firm for sure. read more

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We collaborated with Mackenzie from Habitar Design to redesign our dining room. We gave her some basic ideas for a cabinetry wall as well as a window seat and she ran with it. After some minor tweaks to the overall design, Nick and the Stratagem Construction crew took over. We were thrilled with the results! read more

I utilized both Habitar Design and Stratagem Construction for my kitchen project. It was a good experience from beginning to end and I will engage them on again on my next project. Some of my highlights included: My initial request for a quote was promptly responded to. It was the owner that call me and he gave me confidence that I could trust his firm to complete quality work. The design guidance was great and I was provided as little or as much feedback as I needed in pulling the project details together. Utilizing Habitar flowed seamlessly into my engagement with Stratagem Construction. Pricing was very transparent and all questions were promptly responded to Construction work didn't begin until all materials were secured - it made for short duration project which was great Throughout the project the worksite was well maintained - they didn't leave materials all over and respected my home Once the work was completed I was encouraged to keep punch list of items that required more work. There were very few, and all were addressed promptly. My one critique was that my start date was delayed a bit. I should have expected that but it was still frustrating. However, communication with Stratagem during the delay was good and they did a solid job explaining the delay and managing my expectations. read more

Stratagem renovated two adjoining 1-bedroom condo units into a single 2-bedroom condo with new master bath and walk-in closet. Construction crew is very professional and conscientious. Quality of work is outstanding. read more

They did a great job on my bathroom remodel. Worked with their designers at Habitar Design to plan the bathroom and select all the fixtures. They listened to our input and helped us design our ideal bathroom. Remodeling is never fun, but everything went smoothly and on schedule. The guys working on our project were very professional. They addressed any concerns we had with no problem. I am very happy with the finished product and will be using them on future projects. read more

Update as of Summer, 2014: I used Stratagem and Habitar for a second major project--a full kitchen remodel in my Gold Coast high rise condo. Very similar positive results...transparency in pricing, excellent quality, accurate updates (I live on the west coast), limited punch list. They handled all necessary building/condo board approvals and my neighbors told me that the workers were very considerate by limiting noise, etc. read more

I had used Kapan at the sister company Habitar for residential design previously and knew that I wanted to use her again for a commercial space last year. Because of that great experience I let Mitch/Stratagem bid on the demo/constrution of my chiropractic office. As Mitch told me initially, "anyone can write you a number on the back of a napkin, but if you REALLY want the bid to be accurate, you need to be as specific as possible on the specs." Man, was he right. The other bids were generally lower but because he made me pick out most of my fixtures/colors/appliances/door knobs before he bid the job, the final cost was nearly spot on. Now I know why everyone elses construction projects always go over budget - b/c the contractor bids low to get the job, then you pick all the pieces you want and it of course is well above the budgeted cost. Mitch and his guys were INCREDIBLE. From the start, they give you a line by line, room by room spreadsheet of everything you've picked and what they are doing for the job. At the end you get the same spreadsheet with updated costs per line. So you can see where you were over, under, right on or chose not to do a certain line item. Often the project managers or Mitch himself would call or email me about progress, they coordinated city inspections, they made sure to ask me about unclear details, and made suggestions when needed. I needed to figure out how to quiet a room and he suggested a type of lightweight polymer added to the walls, which works awesome. Mitch even facetimed me from Home Depot so we could pick out a light fixture that we added to the kitchen last minute. They took the time to explain things, answer questions, cleaned up after themselves (drywall dust gets EVERYWHERE). Mitch knew where we should spend money (installing an auto shut off on the washing machine DID come in handy when the drain pipe froze last month. It could have flooded our whole office), and where to save it (4 paint colors is enough, no need for more). Having a designer and contractor that work together constantly is awesome because she knows they do great work and he can go directly to her and ask questions. My office is beautiful and I have referred Mitch to others for residential and commercial projects. read more

I am a former interior designer who used to manage residential construction projects in another state, so I have extensive experience working with contractors. After moving to Chicago, I was in need of a contractor for a bathroom remodel as well as cosmetic changes throughout the rest of my home. In short: it was a pleasure to work with Stratagem, the quality of work was excellent, and the project was delivered on time. Mitch, the owner of Stratagem, responded quickly to my inquiry and worked around my work schedule during the scoping and planning process. He had great, honest suggestions about where it was worth spending money and where it was worth saving it. Chris, the project manager, was very communicative throughout the process and managed to keep the project on schedule despite some building setbacks (which were completely outside of Stratagem's control). While there is inevitable dust and dirt associated with construction, my home was treated with respect and cleaned up at the end of each day. I will gladly recommend Stratagem to any friends looking for work done on their homes, and will certainly use them again should I need remodeling work done in the future. read more

I contacted Stratagem Construction regarding a bathroom remodel. The only response I received was "sorry can't help you". I would expect a bit more professionalism on your end and a little more feed back. I have several large projects and will be looking elsewhere. read more

Stratagem/Habitar Design was hired to do a complete remodel of my master bathroom: plumbing, electrical, frameless shower with bench, air jet bath, vanity, and tile work. They are by far the best contractor I have ever worked with. While I had selected the basic design concept and fixtures prior to hiring Strategem, Hannah of affiliated Habitar Design was able to suggest some excellent refinements to the plans, including the shower design and the choice of tile. Leading up to the day of demolition, Chris, the project manager, kept me informed of the status of the project and the start date - including the arrival of the fixtures - every step of the way. I was given a time frame of 2-2.5 weeks for completion of the project, and with the exception of the shower enclosure, it was completed in 5-1/2 days. The workers were there for 8 hours each day with a short break for lunch, unlike previous experiences where the contractors would often leave to work on other projects. Everyone I encountered from the company was prompt, professional and courteous. This helped to make the process as painless as possible. While we encountered a few hiccups as we started to use the new bathroom, any problems were handled promptly and diligently until the issue was resolved. In general, Stratagem is outstanding and we are thrilled with the result. read more

I highly recommend Stratagem Construction and I would use their services again in a heartbeat. We recently had 2 bathrooms remodeled, the addition of another bathroom and a fireplace remodel WHILE we were living in the home. From start to finish, the project was done right thanks to excellent construction management and hardworking, courteous and clean contractors. Brandon was our project manager and he was pleasant to work with, very attentive to our project, and paid excellent attention to details. If there was any problem, large or small, it was taken care of in a timely manner until it was fixed. We love our new bathrooms and would use Stratagem again for any future projects. read more

Mitch and his team were great to work with. Our home looks GORGEOUS! Mitch and his team did high quality work, the team was professional, and was very responsive to our needs. I would highly recommend them. You won't be disappointed! read more

Stratagem Construction - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I read the Great reviews on Yelp and decided to contact them about possibly remodeling my bathroom and doing some custom built ins. The girl that answered the phone asked for my name, phone # and email and asked how much was my budget $15-$20,000. I said I have a 1 bedroom condo so probably not going to spend that much but I wound like to speak to someone about the process. She asked me again for my email I said let's just have someone contact me back so I can find out how your process works. I get a voice mail hours later Stating they have Turn down my project and they wish me the best of luck! I was shocked so I decided to call and ask Why without talking to me first they had decided to turn down my project. She answered the phone and told me she turned it down because I refused to give her details about my condo! I stopped her and she what are you talking about? I said you Never asked for my unit number or Any other details from my condo. She said I wouldn't give out my email so I said Wait you left me a message on my voicemail Telling me you turned down My project because I didn't give you my email? She got nervous and said she was new and put me on hold. Apparently the Owner got on the phone the first thing he said to me was she said your upset because they want my email address? I said No I'm upset because I have a voicemail from her rejecting me as a customer and I didn't understand why! He was very nice and polite apologized and said the process is to get my email, details about condo, and pictures and I said understood why but that's clearly not what I was told. It's a shame because I am looking to remodel my bathroom and fire place but this inquiry started wrong from the minute she answered the phone. Without telling me how their process works to asking me if my budget is $15-$20,000 if a turn off! Not only that to wait hours later to get a voicemail telling me no go but wish you the best is even a bigger turn off! I'm almost under the assumption that they didn't want my business because it wasn't worth it to them since I didn't want to spend that much money on a 1 bedroom condo! read more

We used Stratagem for bathroom renovations after we had seen our neighbor's kitchen renovation and we couldn't be happier with the final result. They were meticulous, courteous and detail-oriented. There was a clear road map from the beginning, and when there were hiccups (which there are always bound to be with construction), they took everything in stride and didn't let it slow them down. Also, they were open, receptive and responsive to all of my questions throughout the process. When we have other projects in our house, we will definitely be using Stratagem. read more

We hired the services of Stratagem construction to remodel our (dated) fireplace. The entire process, from the initial estimates to the finishing touches went smoothly, the whole staff was very professional and they were willing to accommodate our specific time restrictions. We were very impressed by the quality of the construction and the attention to details by the workers. For instance, we downsized the fireplace and, as a result, they had to redo part of the flooring. They used our old floorboard to perfectly recreate the floor: I know how to install flooring and how hard this patching was, but these guys delivered! Interaction between Mitch, his crew and us went flawlessly, the remodeled fireplace looks terrific and we highly recommend using Stratagem Construction! read more

I had an amazing experience with Habitar and Stratagem. I work at a design firm and have colleagues (engineers, industrial designers, graphic designers, etc) with extraordinarily high standards for design and its execution. When two colleagues suggested Habitar/ Stratagem, I selected them to finish some renovation projects on our condo. I'm very glad I did. Throughout the design and construction process, I had a great experience with everyone. Hannah was our designer and she was excellent at taking my inspiration and turning it into workable designs. When I had reservations about certain choices or new ideas or inspirations (I'm sure she's had easier clients), she quickly came up with alternatives. I wanted designs that honored my 1910 building but still felt contemporary. That's exactly what she delivered. It's a pleasure to live with the results. When it came time for construction, Mitch visited and came up with additional suggestions that wound up cutting costs significantly. I found him honest, calming, and deeply knowledgeable. The guys who worked at our house were here every week-day during the construction window and they were extremely considerate of my wife (who works from home) and my two-year-old daughter. They kept things as clean as possible and left our home cleaner than they'd found it. The work they did is beautiful and they finished on time and within budget. When there were some small items I was concerned with (such as the shower temperature), they were quickly handled to my satisfaction. Honestly, I was pretty terrified of a renovation project in an old building like mine. You hear so many horror stories. Habitar/ Stratagem handled every aspect of my projects with professionalism and expertise: design, project management, and construction. I had a great experience with them at every step of the way and wouldn't hesitate to use them for future projects. I'm very thankful to have found them. Highly recommended! read more

I would highly recommend Strategem and Habitar Design. I used them to upgrade doors, trim, and woodwork through my home. The contractors were very respectful and neat while they worked, and they ensured every detail was perfect. I'm very happy with the results, and have received many compliments. They offered a great turnkey solution, from start to finish. read more

We wanted to remodel the kitchen and full bathroom in our house. This was our first remodeling experience, and we interviewed several firms to make sure we found the right one We first met with Hannah from Habitar to discuss the design. She gave us a lot of ideas and came up with a great plan. Hannah was also very patient when we needed to make a couple of changes here and there. When we sat down with her to pick out the finishes, it was very easy because Hannah did a great job determining the types of things that matched our design and style and had great recommendations when we got stuck on something and couldn't decide. Next, we met with several highly-rated construction/remodel firms. Ultimately, we picked Stratagem, which was an easy choice. It was clear that Stratagem was, by far, the best pick for the job--Mitch and his team listened to us and were focused on helping us address all of our concerns, including some of the quirky aspects of our older home. We also thought that Stratagem was the most thorough when it came to putting together the estimate, they asked questions to clarify and pointed out ideas we hadn't considered. Once construction started, things ran very smoothly. Zane, the Stratagem project manager, was a great project manager and communicator. He consistently let us know how things were going throughout the project. Our house is very old, and consequently, there were a couple of challenges that we weren't expecting that popped up along the way. Zane was always upfront about everything, and he provided well thought-out solutions to every issue that arose, which was much appreciated. Zane made sure that the work was done right, and he was also excellent at foreseeing potential issues as well. The construction workers made sure everything was perfect and were clearly some of the best in their respective fields. In addition, the workers were very respectful of our home and made sure the construction was contained to the kitchen and bathroom. The job was finished on time and with excellent results. We were so happy about the outcome, we also used Stratagem for 2 other projects in our home and again had fantastic results! read more

Let me start this review by saying Stanley is the best contractor we've ever had the pleasure of working with. We redesigned our bathroom and had a great experience from the moment we started working on designs with MacKenzie to the last walk-through with Stanley. MacKenzie is very open to ideas, creative in problem-solving and gave us great options along the way. Stanley, the project manager, and his co-worker, Sinuhe, were an excellent team. When one of the fixtures we ordered came in with a defective part, Stanley ended up McGyver-ing a solution so we could have water while we waited for the new part to arrive - above and beyond! The team was always on time, kept us informed throughout every step of the project, and left our place tidy and organized at the end of every day. We would have like to have seen Mitch on the job once or twice, as he was the person we originally contracted with, but we wouldn't hesitate to use Habitar / Stratagem again based on the professionalism, expertise and great-to-work-with-ness of Stanley, MacKenzie and the rest of the on-site and in-office team. read more

We used Stratagem/Habitar to install a new island in our kitchen, and they did a fantastic job. From my first email interaction with the owner Mitch, I knew that we were in good hands. The quote he gave us was very detailed and within our budget. Even though a kitchen island is a pretty small job, we never felt like it was not important to them. Our designer Hannah was so sweet, and designed the perfect addition to our space. Zane, the project manager was the best -- very professional and responsive, and he kept us updated at every step. Once our cabinets were ready the work was completed very quickly and our house was left spotless. Great experience - we could not be happier, and we cant wait to use them again! read more

Over five years ago we had Habitar / Stratagem design and build three dream bathrooms and a fireplace as part of a remodel of our house. One feature I really wanted for the bath off the kitchen was a stone sink with a hidden infinity drain. In order to fit the space, Mitch found a subcontractor to build one. It looks fantastic, but after a few years it started to leak. We emailed Mitch fully expecting to have to pay to have it fixed as it was so long after they put it in. But Mitch thought his subcontractor should have built it to not only look amazing but to hold up. So he had his crew come out and take care of it. Truly amazing and I can't recommend them enough. read more

I recently had the bathroom in my downtown condo completely remodeled and had some new doors installed, and I couldn't be happier with the work that was done by Habitar and Stratagem. My bathroom was as ugly as they get, but I kept putting off remodeling because I felt overwhelmed by the construction process. Finally, I made the decision to go through with it in 2014. After doing some internet research, I found Habitar/Stratagem and shortly after filling out the information request on the Habitar website, Mitch called me to talk about my project. I then met with a designer (Hannah) to talk about my needs/wishes and desired aesthetic. Hannah was very pleasant to work with and came up with a great design and materials suggestions. I made the final selections, but depended heavily on Hannah's advice to figure out what worked within the design. I was then provided a detailed construction bid with a breakdown of all materials and work costs. Once I decided to hire Stratagem for the construction part of the project, the project manager took over and quickly obtained all approvals from my management office and started construction within a few days. I didn't have to worry about a thing, which was key for me. Since I wasn't living there, I didn't closely monitor the project site, but updates were provided to me on a regular basis. When I went back after construction was completed, I was pleased to see that my condo was in order and that I now have a beautiful bathroom. I was really impressed with the materials and workmanship and am enjoying my new bathroom immensely. The reasons I recommend Habitar/Stratagem: they came up with workable solutions, especially for my non-standard size bathtub and closet doors; the PM quickly obtained condo approvals and oversaw the construction which started promptly--I didn't have to monitor the project; once construction started, I received regular e-mail updates; work was done according to projections; the quality of work was high; there were no surprise costs; I felt very comfortable with everyone associated with Habitar/Stratagem; and when I had questions, Mitch responded quickly. Also, my management office indicated to me that they had no issues with the construction crew and everything functioned smoothly. Overall, a great experience. read more

We initially engaged Habitar Design to redesign our living room (fireplace, built-in cabinetry, built-in aquarium) and our family room (fireplace and built-in cabinetry). We provided some ideas of what we had in mind as well as our budget. MacKenzie's initial drawings were 99% on spec, and we only made one minor change to one of the cabinets when we finalized the drawings. When it came time to bid the work, Strategem (sister company to Habitar) provided us with one of the bids. We were impressed with with the incredibly detailed quote, which in the end, turned out to be exactly on spec. The only changes to the cost were because of additional items we added as the project went on. Finally, the craftsmanship and professionalism of Nick (project manager) and Sebastian at Strategem we're second to none. Communication was excellent, our place was cleaned up every evening, and, above all, the finished product is impeccable. read more

After contacting possibly every contractor, friend of a friend, construction company, etc. in the Chicago area with no luck due to: they were too busy, my job was too small, forgetting to call me back, not showing up for the appt. etc. I spoke with Mitch from Stratagem. I was literally at the point of giving up renovating completely and had zero hopes he could help. To my surprise not only did he say they would be interested in quoting the job, but also he gave me cost saving ideas to keep it within my budget. All the other companies tried to charge almost double what I ended up paying here. But that was not the end of my surprise, they let me choose my own fixtures (backsplash, sinks, granite, faucets, lights, etc.) and did not try to upcharge me for the installation. Additionally, Zane kept me updated throughout the entire process (I live in LA) with pictures, email updates, helped to push me along when I dragged in ordering things, etc. I can't stress enough how professional they were and how happy I am with the results (new bathroom counters, sinks, faucets, kitchen faucet, backsplash, garbage disposal and pendant lighting) and they fully deserve 5 stars for this job. I also understand why they have not received less than 5 stars on any other review. Thanks so much for your help guys, next year I have some more ideas for upgrades :) ! read more

We hired Stratagem Construction to oversee a multitude of interior and exterior projects required to repair and refresh an older home we recently purchased. While we were frustrated by the slow and disorganized initial phase, once Zane was assigned as our project manager things improved greatly and progressed smoothly. Zane worked hard to keep our project on track. He is knowledgable about many different trades and offered good advice and sound direction as needed. Zane kept us informed about the progress of our renovations and helped us work through the inevitable pitfalls of any such project. Hannah, from Stratagem's sister design firm Habitar, provided valuable input on tweaking our kitchen layout to improve the functionality. Several new kitchen cabinets needed to be built at the Stratagem shop to match our existing cabinets in order to execute the updated design, and the end results looks fantastic. The sub contractors Stratagem brought into our home were polite, reliable and did solid work. read more

We used Habitar Design / Stratagem Construction to help us makeover a condo that we recently purchased. They designed a digital floorplan of the building, helped us select options for new furniture within our price range, selected paint color options for every room and arranged for and executed the painting quickly and at a very high quality. We were very happy with the work, impressed at their ability to paint our entire place within 3 days, and would use them again. Highly recommend! read more