I am writing this update because Jason Lear sent a message to myself and husband, Tom Schabarum stating that we had been maligning him for two years. This is one of his many misrepresentations. I wrote one honest review posted here, on Yelp, and on Angie's List. And now this update. Jason says that his firm repeatedly told us that they told us our ideas were too expensive. That is an out and out lie. We still have the interview questions in which we specifically stated our budget and in which Jason Lear responded in writing that his firm could accomplish doing what we wanted within that budget. We did make suggestions about what we wanted in our house. We also make it clear that we did not know how much items cost and we were depending on experts to let us know that. Well, they let us know after they designed the house. Then expected us to pay again to redesign the house. Jason Lear's firm designed a house that included a green roof and triple pane windows. We had never heard of triple pane windows or a green roof before meeting them so we did not request those expensive items. When we asked to have them removed, we were told that that would be more design cost. Jason Lear's own project manager came to the house two months into the project and asked why we weren't tearing it down because it was too expensive to fix. We learned a very expensive lesson dealing with Batt & Lear. read more

We had a great experience working with Batt and Lear on a kitchen remodel in our mid-century home. We interviewed several design/build firms, but ultimately we really hit it off with Jason. He was very knowledgeable about the design period of the house, and I liked that he took my concerns about lead and asbestos seriously and carefully explained their process for abatement. The design meetings with Jason, Jan and Holly were fun and they took our feedback constructively. I felt like they really listened to how we used the space. When it came time for the remodel to begin, working with Greg and Wayne and the rest of the construction team was awesome. There was fantastic communication - they answered all questions promptly, provided updates on the schedule, and held weekly meetings with me to cover details and get feedback. They were very considerate about being in the house, cleaning up, asking permission to move things, etc., and they even offered to work around our toddler's nap schedule! I also really appreciated that the whole team hustled to get the project done and finished right on schedule, because I was very pregnant and had a baby due within a week of completing the project. Initially, we had wanted to remodel both our kitchen and bathroom, but it became clear pretty early on that we couldn't afford to do both. Jason was upfront about what both projects would cost, and so we decided just to focus on the kitchen remodel. As other reviews have noted, they are not cheap, but you get what you pay for and the end product was absolutely worth it. The design and construction quality are incredible, and I appreciated that they paid a living wage and worked hard to donate a fair amount of our old kitchen to other homes, as well as make sure elements of our new kitchen were sustainably sourced. Ultimately, we love our new kitchen and wouldn't change a thing. The design fits in perfectly with the rest of the house and we have received endless compliments on it. We would definitely hire Batt + Lear again. read more

I was going to leave a detailed negative review here but after reading the ones already posted and seeing Jason's response, I will just say that we had a VERY similar experience with his firm and I don't believe adding more details are necessary. We paid $101K and it was not a pleasant experience. While we requested a mud room and living room fireplace and built ins in addition to a laundry room, basement windows and basement bath, we ended up with only part of the project being completed - an 8ft x 8ft basement bathroom remodel, added a small laundry room and two egress windows in the basement at YE 2017 / early 2018. {I should note that we bought and paid for all tiles, flooring, laundry room cabinets, sinks, paint and hardware on our own so the $101K paid to Batt + Lear was basically labor and fees for communicating with them.} I wholeheartedly second the other comments on this page and would not recommend this firm. While the quality of work met our expectations, the accuracy of their estimate was way off, and their billing practices opaque. When we questioned charges, we never received any clear explanations. Please be aware you will be charged for every email, conversation or phone call, which will then be marked up an additional 25% for contractors fees and taxes. {We were billed $56 for signing and returning the contract.} Make your own decisions, but we recommend you ask a lot of questions and get a very clear picture of what you are signing on to if you do decide to hire them. ** I should note that Greg does wonderful work, so if you can hire him away from Batt + Lear, do it!!!** read more

It looks like Jason Lear had our review and another person's removed for supposedly violating Yelps Terms. I won't go on about the litany of problems we had with them, but we and several others who contacted us had significant honesty, communication and budgetary issues with them. Suffice it to say, I do my best to steer people away from using them. Zero stars. Luckily, we've hired contractors who are far better than them. read more

We have been enjoying out Batt+Lear remodel for a year and a half now. Their talented design team converted our challenging floor plan into a much more usable and pleasant kitchen and increased storage space. Their builders produced a quality result that is a pleasure to use and occupy. The project did exceed budgets, but most of that was due to unforeseen contingenies, staff changes, balky subcontractors, etc. B+L's own employees were all competent, energetic, and responsive to our questions and needs. read more

We loved our experience working with Batt+Lear. We worked very closely with Jason and Jan on a major kitchen overhaul, as well as a big energy efficiency upgrade that included new windows, insulation, and a new ductless heat pump. We knew it was going to be a big project, and neither one of us had much experience with any other kind of remodel. They walked us through all the steps, were great project managers, and the overall experience was great. Everybody we worked with was delightful...from B+L employees to the subcontractors they hired for the energy efficiency work. They were all really friendly, nice people who performed high quality, exceptional work. In fact, the best thing we can say about working with B+L is that they created a kitchen design exactly how we envisioned, and they did it with a sustainability ethic that was extremely important to us. They were not the cheapest bid we received and we knew that when we started. But we had a big project and we needed it to be done well. B+L were upfront with the costs, organized and accurate with the budget, and extremely helpful when it came to securing financing. What tipped the balance was that of the contractors we interviewed, only B+L really listed to us and helped design the kitchen we wanted. Others tried to cram their design ideas down our throats, and weren't willing to really be creative about with our small space. read more

I'm writing this review four years after having worked with Batt + Lear on our kitchen remodel. I recently served as a reference for a prospective client and wanted wanted to share my appraisal to a wider audience. I found B+L very easy to work with, from the design stage to the building. Jan and Jason provided an innovative design solution my tiny kitchen (approximately 5' x 15') that was elegant, efficient, and consistent with my aesthetic. The quality of the build was top notch--the firm won a Master Builder award for the kitchen. Timing to complete the project took a bit longer than expected, but we had just one builder for such a confined space, and he was quite meticulous, which was much appreciated. B+L was recommended to me by friends who had worked with the firm on a major remodel. I've recommended the firm to other friends after having worked with them. I spend a good deal of time in my kitchen and can say with all honesty that I am still happy with the construction and design. It has weathered well! read more

When we hired Batt & Lear to remodel our kitchen we were very familiar with the process having remodeled our home several times over the past forty years. I can honestly say that this was the best remodel experience we have ever had, from the first design meeting to the final inspection. In the design phase Jason and Jan asked detailed questions regarding how we use the space, what we liked and disliked about our current kitchen and what improvements were most important to us. Keeping in mind our budget, they designed an amazing kitchen with just a few tweaks to the original footprint. The change I was most resistant to was the open shelving above the sink. It soon became one of my favorite features. The sliding glass panel Jan designed for the shelves makes them not only functional but beautiful and unique. The removal of a small closet in the corner made the kitchen look much larger and the addition of a bar area has made entertaining much easier. Before the project got underway we were introduced to the project manager who is also an experienced woodworker. He was on site throughout the entire project and communicated with us daily. He even took me down to the cabinet shop so I could see the raw wood and discuss how much grain pattern we wanted showing in the finished project. The entire crew, both in the shop and at the site were always so enthusiastic about the project it made it fun to come home each day, even though half the house was a construction zone. The project manager made certain we were happy with the quality of the finish project. We ended up with a kitchen that is not only beautiful but a real joy to use! read more

We had a very positive experience working with Batt + Lear. We presented them with the challenge of adding a downstairs powder room to our home built around 1900. Space was very limited and it was difficult to find a placement that wouldn't take away part of our view of Lake Washington. But their creativity helped to find a way. Jason and Jan took us through various designs which helped us to determine what would be the most worthwhile solution and keep to the architectural integrity of our bungalow house. We did end up spending more than we had originally anticipated but there was considerable more remodeling done in our kitchen, family room, and an upstairs bedroom than we had anticipated. And, it was well worth it as the end results have not only been more enjoyable to us but have increased the value of the house. The crew was amazing! The quality of work from Greg, the project lead, and Paul the carpenter was outstanding. As well, each and every worker or contractor was pleasant and did impeccable work. They matched the details of a house and cabinetry that is over 100-year-old which we view as no small feat. We set a budget with them before the project began and time frame. There were some additional expenses but we were able to discuss our concerns and come to an agreement. And what was so important to us, the work was finished on time! No delays and no downtime. We have received many compliments on the remodel and comments from our neighbors about how nice all the workers were. Although we were away when our interior chimney was deconstructed, we heard that it was quite the neighborhood event! We highly recommend Batt + Lear. read more

We had a wonderful experience working with Batt + Lear. We hired them for the design and build of a major remodel of our home that included a second story addition and many improvements to make more efficient use of both energy and space. During a remodel, house contractors become front and center in the homeowners' lives and a good working relationship is very important. Everyone in the company was terrific to work with, very professional and hard-working. Two of my favorite things about working with Batt + Lear were their communication style and their enthusiasm for the project. From the beginning we felt very listened to and noticed that they were available to talk to us whenever we needed to. They had great ideas of ways to meet some of the design challenges imposed upon them and shared a lot of their knowledge about green building. They put all of themselves into their work, the results of which are that we have a beautiful home to live in. I highly recommend them. read more