We were warned repeatedly: "A kitchen remodel will be a nightmare--don't live there while it's…read morehappening!" That, along with a few other cautions, set our expectations before starting our project with Kitchen & Baths Unlimited. For my wife and me, however, the experience turned out very differently. We cannot say enough great things about Nancy (design), Owen (project management) and the entire team that meticulously executed the remodel. While I work from home and my wife commutes downtown, we decided to move forward with gutting and remodeling the vintage kitchen in our 100-year-old farmhouse in Evanston--and we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Yes, the demolition phase was a bit loud, as expected. But after that, the usual construction noise--hammering and drilling--was manageable. The team did an excellent job minimizing disruption: adjacent rooms were carefully sealed to contain dust, wood floors were protected with panels, and window treatments were wrapped in plastic. Design selections were also made easy thanks to Nancy, who guided us through choosing colors, cabinets, and countertops that matched our vision. The result is a beautiful transformation from a neglected, dingy farmhouse kitchen into a bright, modern farmhouse space. The Italian tile backsplash complements the quartz countertops with subtle veining. The lower cabinets are a soft gray, while the upper cabinets are white, creating a clean and balanced look. We also upgraded our appliances and fixtures, including LED ceiling lights, a Bosch microwave drawer, a professional KitchenAid range with a matching hood featuring an infrared sensor, and a modern stainless-steel farmhouse sink with a gentle bow. Despite an initial delay with the permit office due to a previously applied for permit that KBU helped us manage, the project stayed on schedule. We made a few minor upgrades along the way, but thanks to Owen and Nancy's guidance, we remained on time and within our overall budget. The KBU crew was professional, punctual, and highly skilled. Communication was seamless--especially since I was working from home--which helped address questions quickly and keep the project moving efficiently. In the end, we passed all inspections and received written approval from the village within a day. For us, this remodel was a great success. Thank you to Nancy, Owen, Patricia, Rade, and the entire team! You are the BEST!

fabulous kitchen remodel in Logan square neighborhood of Chicago. having done a few kitchen…read moreremodels before (north shore and colorado), I felt some trepidation approaching this project in our new home in Logan square. luckily, I found KBU! I worked with Julie (designer), her team led by Jesus, and of course, owner Owen. Julie came up with ideas I hadn't even thought of and was able to convert an old, smaller space, into something that felt luxurious. Jesus and his team were super hard workers, pleasant to deal with, trustworthy, and highly efficient and knowledgeable. Everything was overseen frequently by Owen. I was blown away with the gorgeous result and the seemlessness with which this project was completed! I highly recommend KBU to everyone!

Working with Dawn was amazing! I reached out for help selecting a paint color for a tricky room in…read moreour house (the kitchen). During our 2-hour consultation, Dawn not only found a color that perfectly matched our style, counters, and backsplash but also spotted opportunities to refresh the colors in the dining room and entry to bring the whole design together. Her color savvy is fantastic, and she asked great questions and listened carefully to incorporate our preferences and ideas. She left us with paint swatches for all three rooms, and the new colors look incredible. Dawn's color consultation more than exceeded our expectations, but she didn't stop there! She also suggested ways to update the kitchen and dining room lighting to be more functional and coordinated. Her after-visit email summary included links to all of the ideas she had offered, including multiple options for fixtures that were very affordable and perfect for our spaces. We love the new lighting. To top it all off, when we told Dawn about our longer-term goal of renovating our kitchen, she offered fantastic ideas for reconfiguring the space to make it more functional and appealing. She followed up with detailed recommendations in her after-visit email summary and included rough drawings to help us visualize thew space. The 2-hour consultation with Dawn was an incredible value, and we definitely want to work with her on the kitchen renovation project!

"I had an absolutely amazing experience working with Dawn Bach on my apartment layout and design. I…read morereached out to her before moving from Colorado to Illinois, and she took the time to schedule a call and clearly explain her role as an interior decorator and how she could help based on my space and preferences. Dawn provided detailed layout plans along with furniture, bedding, electronics, and artwork recommendations--all of which perfectly matched my style and lifestyle. Her guidance not only made the process easy, but it also saved me over $900. I truly got everything I asked for and more. Thank you, Dawn! I will absolutely recommend you to anyone looking for an interior decorator."

When we first started shopping around for a small kitchen project, we weren't sure who to work…read morewith. It was our first home renovation project, and we did not know how to go about the process. We first went to a big chain hardware store to get some guidance, but found them to be unclear and Not personable. But then we luckily found Habitar Design and Strategem Construction, and the difference was like night and day! From the very beginning, Mitch and the Habitar's team really took the time to listen to us, and made us feel heard and understood. We actually began our project way back in January, but when the pandemic began, our plans were understandably put on hold. However, Habitar was just stellar at communication overall - especially during the early months of the pandemic, when everything was so confusing for all of us. We never felt out of the loop with Habitar. The design process was thorough, and they explained everything in as much detail as we cared to hear. We fully understood the cost of all of our options, and so we didn't have any nasty surprises at the end. It was really nice to not worry about potential cost overruns through the job. We explained to them that we wanted to try and stick to our estimated cost as closely as possible in order to stick to our budget. However, like with any project, things happen, and sometimes the estimate is exactly that....an estimate! After expressing our concerns, and knowing that we were on a budget, Mitch and his team intervened to make sure that we all arrived to an agreeable situation. The Strategem construction team was professional, courteous, and respectful in every interaction we had. And while they were working in our home, we didn't even feel inconvenienced - they made as minimal an intrusion as possible. Any problems that came up were quickly resolved, and the whole team worked to find solutions. The whole process felt extremely personal - the owner, Mitch, even came out to see the job, and left us a small gift as a thank-you for our business! We would whole-heartedly recommend Habitar and Strategem to anyone who needs renovation work. If or when we ever have more renovation projects, we look forward to working with them in the future!

I had such a wonderful experience with Habitar when they updated my kitchen that, after recently…read moremoving, 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 Habitar 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.

Fourteen years later, my curtains continue to be beautiful and durable! Recently, a minor fix was…read morerequired. Kim's installer came and fixed it right away. Thank you, Kim! (Photo from summer)

This review is for our experience with Kim @ UE. She was amazing flat out. She was prompt, willing…read moreto work - take calls - texts at non working time hours as she gets it done! We have a new construction home so we needed drapery suggestions. So she came 2 days later, took measurement and made amazing suggestions. While we opted not to utilize her services and order drapes, that is the only reason she gets one less star because I can't speak on the finished project/products. Kim was amazing and I wish her the best! She has an amazing eye and brings suggestions to to the table! SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!

We've furnished our dwellings with RH over the years. Now we don't have to drive to the Schaumburg…read moreoutlet. This is one rather cavernous room filled with couches, tables, beds, rugs, outdoor furniture. All very decidedly neutral. Prices are marked down but still pretty pricey. Still, the furniture was in very good condition and available (no waiting). I think RH furniture is well-made and quality. They had pillow covers and towels but I didn't see all the other furnishings and accessories at the other stores. I'll come back when I have something specific in mind to purchase.

American was our sales person and she was extremely helpful. She provided excellent customer…read moreservice and I highly recommend asking for her when you visit the store. The new outlet had a lot of options to choose from and the discounts were pretty good. We ended up with a sofa and two chairs. We had them delivered via a third party company that they recommended and that company was on time, and reached out to share their feedback before they moved the furniture which was greatly appreciated. Overall we are very happy with the selection we made.

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!

Natalia came out to meet with me for a consultation at my home which was very informative and I was…read moreable to see a lot of the work that her and her team have done. She was able to look at my space and give a lot of helpful advice about Reno/design/layout ideas. She explained that they do high-end, modern clean, looking designs, but they also do all other designs as well ( like my traditional looking home). They do big and small projects and continue to work with the homeowner even after the project is done. I would highly recommend!

I've been working with Natalia on designing our new rental. Yes, you heard that right, a rental!…read moreWe'll be here for about three years, but I still wanted our place to feel like home. Natalia has been incredibly helpful in guiding us through big, impactful design decisions that are practical and thoughtful, while also keeping costs reasonable since we don't want to invest too much in a rental property. I also didn't want an interior designer to fully design every detail of the place. I wanted to be involved in choosing pieces myself, but have someone I could trust to advise me on whether things would actually work in our space, and Natalia has been perfect for that. I'll text her with questions about furniture purchases, design ideas, or even quick installation decisions when our maintenance guy is here, and she always responds right away. My husband is also very picky, but he has been genuinely impressed with her advice and with how our place has come together. I know Natalia takes on much larger and more expensive projects than ours, but I have never once felt like we were wasting her time. She has always been responsive, kind, and very professional. I highly recommend Natalia to anyone looking for practical, thoughtful design guidance that respects your time and budget. We'll definitely be working with her again on our next home project whenever we move.

From the owner: Blinded by the Light Blinds and Shades specializes in transforming your home with high-quality,…read morecustom window treatments. As a family-owned and locally operated business in Chicago, we offer a range of services to meet your unique needs: Custom Blinds: Tailored solutions for any window, providing style and functionality. Custom Shades: Personalized designs to control light and privacy while enhancing your décor. Custom Shutters: Elegant and durable shutters crafted to fit windows of all shapes and sizes. Custom Drapery: Beautiful, bespoke drapery options to add a touch of elegance to any room. Motorized Solutions: Advanced motorization for effortless control of your window treatments. In-Home Consultations: Expert design advice in the comfort of your home to help you choose the perfect window treatments. Professional Installations: Meticulous installation services ensuring a perfect fit and finish. Repair Services: Reliable repair services to keep your window treatments in top condition. We are proud to hold the Hunter Douglas Repairs Certification, reflecting our commitment to excellence and industry-leading standards. Trust Blinded by the Light Blinds and Shades to bring light and beauty to your home with exceptional customer service and expertise.

I needed inspiration for a new stair railing which is the centerpiece of our kitchen and living…read morearea. Cat had this vision that I absolutely loved. She recommended a contractor for the stairs who did an amazing job! I recommend Cat as she has a great eye for design.

Cat Hardt is so creative and talented. she can make anything beautiful! she listens, executes and…read moreeven comes in under budget. highly recommend!

I've worked with Jennifer Harris for a multitude of projects over the years - from large scale…read moredevelopments to residential homes needing updating. She is very knowledgeable, adheres to agreed upon timelines, and works tirelessly to truly understand the the clients' goals and then find the best, most affordable way to execute that are in line with the clients' vision. If you're looking for an interior designer - no matter how small or large the job - Jennifer is your go to! She will prioritize your job, always keeps her eye on the ball, and always has a smile on her face. Truly wonderful designer to work with.

I can't say enough positive things about my experience with Jennifer Harris! I was introduced to…read moreher by a friend, during Feb. 2021, when we had significant ice damming damage in multiple rooms in my house. She always had a professional to reach out to no matter the issue - refinishing a water damaged table and chairs, reupholstering furniture, creating draperies and bedding, etc. And having barely met me, she was able to find fabrics, wallpaper and paint that were a fit for my style and budget. After getting through this project, she then quarterbacked a total family room make over which included all new furniture, tearing out paneling, fake ceiling beams and a brick fireplace. Oversaw the addition of new drywall, built-in cabinets and shelves, new can lighting, AND she was there almost every day communicating with the contractors & the furniture showroom at the Mart during the project. We were out of town for 2 months and thus Jennifer allowed us to not have to live through the construction as it was completed on time and finished upon our return. Her communication, even given the distance and time zone difference, was great. We came home to a beautiful new family room! I need to figure out another room to redo so I can work with Jennifer again!!!