STUDIO TALO ARCHITECTURE

Studio Talo did the designs for our 2nd story addition seven years ago and just completed plans for a basement remodeling project. They are professional, responsive, and thorough. (There were several issues specific to Skokie and the number of windows required in a basement space that they had to check into.) We recommend them without reservation.

Great!!! We were fortunate to have Studio Talo design and manage our kitchen/dining room and basement home renovation. We worked with Joe and Thomas, who were professional and great to work with through the whole process. As someone not familiar with the construction process, we never felt overwhelmed. During the design process, within the constraints of zoning/meeting code requirements in an old home, we were presented with three great options including a virtual reality plan to help us visualize the end result. During the construction, Thomas was attentive to every detail. Every time we encountered a logistical or structural/design issue, Joe and Thomas, had solutions, almost on the fly. They provided us with good advice on decisions we had to make. I'd recommend them for any project. They make a stressful time easy!! Thank you, Studio Talo (Thomas Ahleman and Joe Kirsch)

We hired ST to design our entire first floor renovation and had an incredible experience! We would highly recommend them for any home renovation project. Thomas and Joe were professional (and patient) from the beginning of our project to the very end. They thoroughly described the entire scope of the project, fees, and how they would be providing support along the way. They listened to our vision, provided redirection when it veered too far off track, and delivered a professional product and service. We got 5 different layout options, a VR experience, complete architectural drawings, and they submitted the plans for permit. They also helped us screen contractors and compare all bid figures. During demo and construction, Joe stopped in at least once a week to check on the progress and answer any questions the CG had. Professional, detailed, and we feel we got an incredible value for the fees we paid. You won't go wrong with Studio Talo!

Although we didn't end up using Thomas, it was to no fault of his own. We haven't used any architect since we put the brakes on the whole project. Thomas was very knowledgeable with city codes and regulations and I would have no reservations using him or highly recommending him to others.

Thomas was very helpful and his 3D drawings really helped us understand his ideas. He listened and was very conscientious to understand our priorities. He also did a great job of managing the design and construction process which included a general contractor and interior designer that frequently needed prodding. He introduced us to some fantastic cabinet makers that did great work...and were substantially less expensive than the shop recommended by the interior designers. He was definitely looking out for our best interests. He did a good job of keeping things going and making sure the details didn't slip through the cracks. We love our newly remodeled home and would hire him again in a minute. And we may when we decide to tackle the second floor

Thomas Ahleman proved to be outstanding as both our Architect and General Contractor. He was incredibly dedicated and responsive. He was very kind and patient; always willing to answer questions. He was always willing to consider ideas we had regarding design, and helped guide us toward the right decisions. There are no aspects of the final product that I regret. As our general contractor, Thomas hired very good contractors, and was watchful and tough with them when he needed to be. To put it simply, I cannot imagine having done this project with anyone else, and I heartily encourage anyone to hire him.

Tom did an exceptional job on the plans for the conversion of my building from a two-flat to a single family home. He had a lot of great ideas for the design, but was not pushy. I didn't get the feeling that he was and quot;designing for his brochure,and quot; as some architects do; he focused on meeting my objectives. He provided a lot of helpful advice during the contractor screening process, including helping to compare bids, which is difficult because contractors categorize things differently. During the construction process Tom was very diligent in making sure everything was being done correctly. My only minor complaint is that the total cost for Tom's services ended up being more than I anticipated. I was viewing the construction management as an optional service but it is really critical; there's no way I could have done it myself. The hourly rate was very reasonable, though. Tom did a great job and I would definitely hire him again. He is extremely responsive and does great quality work.

As a non-profit urban farm, we are indebted to Thomas for his crucial and visionary ideas over the past 4 years. He has provided us with expert advice on all of our land and structure requirements, beautiful colored site renditions and maps, detailed bldg plans, and creative sketches for a mobile food/farm cart . And he has done this with unflagging enthusiasm and professionalism, providing us with a range of imaginative yet practical solutions all based in the green and sustainable principles that we hold dear. In addition to the formal drawings, Thomas has spent hours of unpaid research, consulting and meeting time (both with our Board of Directors/staff and with municipal /school/collaborator officials) on our projects. He has performed outdoor site assessments, spoken at public meetings and fundraisers, and sat with us thru intense brainstorming sessions. Our organization would not be where we are today without his valued services.

I can't say enought about Thomas as both an architect and construction manager. He has the rare combination of creativity and technical/organizational skills to do the whole job. He paid attention to our goals, preferences, and budget. As we loved the architectural features of our house, we wanted a design that would blend with these but would also be unique and modern. Most important to me was that the porch would be a place to entertain and eat throughout the summer. Thomas came up with a bright, airy design that has transformed our house. To say we love it is an understatement. Thomas was very responsive and cared about the little things that meant a lot to us. When a sample of stained concrete for the floor didn't turn out quite as we had hoped, he took us to see an example of a ground and polished concrete floor that turned out to be a beautiful alternative. His site superintendent and carpenter, Andy, is a homeowner's dream. We lived in the house throughout construction, and the site was kept very clean, and tools were put away at the end of each day. Both he and Thomas kept a close eye on the work of the subcontractors which made the process a lot less stressful than it could have been. Andy, who has a background in furniture design, even designed and built a beautiful custom table and bench for the addition. While any construction has its moments, I can't imagine a better experience than the one we had with Thomas and Andy. They transformed our house into something truly special.

I know of few organizations that will agree to work within in our schedule, on our terms, and no get paid for it. Studio Talo did and did it happily. We could not have been happier.

Thomas is a true professional. He knows his craft very well and his previous experience allowed insight that reduced the construction budget.

I was part of a building committee that was responsible for researching and securing the services of an architect for the renovation of the first floor of our downtown Chicago consulate building. Our director wanted an elegant, modern feel for the ground floor of our 1950's office building but he also wanted it to be warm and inviting. Thomas came across as very professional, knowledgeable and responsive in our interviews and provided the services we needed. After we retained his services, we knew right away that the beautiful drawings and realistic renderings that he provided would make it so easy for us to understand what our renovated lobby, meeting hall and offices would look like. We were extremely happy with his attention to detail and close attention to cost effectiveness of the project. He was very candid when he thought we may have been trying to pack too much into the design given our budget guidelines. The lobby is very welcoming and much brighter now because of his design. The office area is also a pleasant place to work. Thomas and his firm did such a terrific job that we asked him to help advise us on some long overdue exterior construction work. He's help us find just the right contractors for those jobs and made sure we were getting the best value. We are very grateful for his creative, energy and kind patience.

We are serial remodelers. My wife and I have worked with a number of architects and contractors through several gut renovations we've done over the years. In addition, I've hired a number of architects because of my work as a developer. So when we moved to Chicago we came with pretty high standards for the architect who would help us remodel the condominium we purchased downtown near the lake. We couldn't have been happier with Thomas. He was fun to work with and really listened to us. He provided creative solutions that really worked with our own ideas and came up with really some clever details to get make better use of space. I was originally hesitant to keep him involved during construction because I do this for a living. However I could only visit Chicago occasionally because of my other projects so I decided to keep him on during construction. Best decision I made. He is incredibly detail oriented and really made sure the contractor followed the drawings. I made a few changes along the way and he was always great about firing back drawings that reflected the changes and making sure we didn't pay too much for them with the builder. I always new exactly where things were with the project and he did a great job of working with the building management and neighbors in the building to smooth over issues that came up with our contractor. I would hire him again in a heartbeat.

We have two flats in a single family home. Thomas has been working with us from the beginning of the project, since 2005, and until completion of construction in 2008. He was very professional and responsive to all of our needs. He has had great insight into creating a floor plan that was suitable to our lifestyle. He took care of all the construction drawings and permits as well as managing the construction process through the life of the project. We would hire him again in the future.

Thomas was very responsive, polite, and professional on the telephone. However, it was clear his company was not interested in a job this small. This surprised me, based on other reviews on the List. He did, however, refer me to another architect.

Thomas has been extremely responsive, thoughtful, and provides great feedback. He is my realist - when I start to dream, he grounds me in my original project plan. I am looking forward to completing a job with him from not only a design standpoint, but also because he is simply lovely to work with. He comes highly recommend, is reasonable, and someone I will be referring to friends in the future.

I can't say enough good things about Thomas. His response time was very quick, and he really stuck to the schedule. He was good at listening to our needs, and to creating designs to fit our needs but to work within the confines of zoning laws, and a old Victorian house. I completely trust him, and pretty much turned the entire stressful renovation process over to him to manage. I would hire him again in a New York minute, and in fact plan to hire him down the road when we turn our 2-flat to a single family.