Change Design Group

We cannot recommend Mike and Jeff highly enough. We are so thrilled with the work they did for us. They were amazing throughout the entire process, design, demolition and construction, installation and follow-up and finishing touches. Design - We had a non-functional kitchen with virtually no counter space, ovens in the mud room, no pantry, and no space for a table, unless you compromised your ability to open the cabinets. Most people who looked at it assumed they only way to fix it was to build an addition. Mike came and met with us, listened to our needs, how we cook, what our priorities were, kids' homework habits, etc. First, he was willing to at least give us a ballpark for a project - other contractors wouldn't even give us that - $50K, $100K, or $150K. Hard to start a project without some idea of the cost involved! Once we agreed to a reasonable retainer, which would later be applied to the cabinet costs, Mike came back with several design options - none of which involved an addition. We were skeptical that we could really gain much space without an addition, but after several rounds of meetings, we narrowed our choice down to one design, which involved a wall removal. At every re-do, he listened to our thoughts, and went back to incorporate them into the next round of drawings. Honestly though, we felt like he and quot;got itand quot; from the very beginning, so all in, we never felt like we made that many changes from his initial suggestion! He taped everything out, so we could walk around and feel the space, before construction started. Most impressive was his ability to see space we didn't know existed, by moving or removing internal walls. We now have more counter space than we could have dreamed, a pantry that exceeds all expectations and functioning space we never could have imagined. Demolition/Construction: Before our plan was finalized, he had a contractor come in and remove a portion of our wall, so we knew what we were up against and where the supports were. This really helped make sure we encountered no major surprises. After plans were agreed upon, he met with potential contractors to get their bids for the demolition and construction. We chose Lake Brothers, who had done other work with Mike, and we felt like they worked extremely well together. At no point did I feel like the contractors and designer were disconnected, and throughout the process, Mike and Chris of Lake Brothers worked together to address any unforeseen issues. In all cases, we felt like the solutions were well thought out and implemented. Mike checked in on a regular basis, but since the contractors were doing well, there was not a lot of hand-holding needed during this process. Every day the construction dust was thoroughly cleaned, and we felt the house was left as neat as possible throughout the process. During this process, Mike met us at the granite stores, and helped us pick out the right granite. He also helped us coordinate appliance purchases during this time. Cabinet and counter installation: The cabinets came in and we were really impressed with their quality. The construction of the cabinets was flawless, and when it came time for installation, Jeff Burch was a perfectionist. The cabinet installation could not have been more precise. We had no idea how precise the process was, as home center cabinet installations we've had in the past just screwed them in and left! Jeff explained to us the importance of having everything precisely measured, so cabinets hang properly, and open/close precisely in the years to come. He was always on time, he was a pleasure to have around the house, and was always patient with our questions about why he was doing certain things during the installation. He also met the granite installers, and made sure that was put in with equal care. He installed all the appliances, and made sure they were measured and adjusted to ensure proper alignment. Follow-Up: Mike followed up with us right up until final inspection. He helped us with light fixture choices, paint colors, and virtually all other questions that arose. Both Mike and Jeff were very calm and easy to work with throughout the process, and we really enjoyed working with both of them. Their demeanors and engaging personalities were exactly what you would want from someone who would be spending months in and out of your home! Our project has been completed for over 6 months now, and literally every day, we comment on how much we love the kitchen and the final result. Thanksgiving, with up to 6 cooks at a time, was the true test as to just how amazing the end result was!

It is a beautiful job! We were very happy with the work! The price was justified by the quality of work! They have a very good reputation!

We are happy to highly recommend the work of Change Design Group, of Wilmette, IL, and its two principals, Mike O’Brien and Jeff Burch, who planned and implemented the total renovation of our kitchen in 2013. For us, they were truly a “dream team.” We simply can’t imagine ever finding better key people to work with on a kitchen redesign project than Jeff and Mike. We learned so much from them and benefited greatly from their high standards, extensive expertise and commitment to total customer satisfaction. And they’re such nice, fun people, with such agreeable and engaging personalities. Having them as partners in the renovation made the whole process enjoyable and smooth. When we were choosing a designer for our kitchen renovation, we were looking for a skilled professional who could take us through the process, listen to our initial notions, envision what might be possible, and then work with us to create something we could both love and afford. At the start, we knew we needed to replace everything. We had some design ideas and preferences and a list of goals and aspirations. But we weren’t sure whether to stick with our old, quite workable space configuration or try something substantially different that might also involve the adjoining dining and family rooms. We needed help seeing what might be possible – and help understanding whether we could afford to do more than just updating. We were immediately impressed with Mike. From the beginning he saw how a few strategic changes could make a big difference. He gave us options and worked with us to choose and develop the ultimate floor plan. Then he unerringly guided us in the choice of materials for the kitchen and adjoining rooms. But not only was he great at envisioning a beautiful space, he brought his years of experience to figuring out how to make it all work in a quite constrained space. With creativity, expertise and great attention to detail, Mike figured out how to size and configure the elements to achieve both maximum functionality and openness. We couldn’t be more delighted with the result: he produced a transformative design that joins three rooms (kitchen, dining and family rooms) into an open, beautiful, light-filled space that works and flows much better – a space that perfectly fits the way we live and our design preferences. We also couldn’t be more delighted with the process of working with Mike. Mike has an unerring design sense; we never went wrong following his recommendations. But he also never failed to listen to us; whenever we had a preference, he was open to it and found a way to realize our idea (or if it was ill-advised he gently helped us see a better way). The result was a renovation that feels like our home – not just some designer’s notion. What started with Mike finished with his partner, Jeff Burch, who brought tremendous skill, artistry, and attention to detail to the manufacture and installation of the kitchen cabinets and to the renovation of the existing dining room cabinets. All the cabinets are beautiful, with high quality wood and construction, and they are a delight to use, with their heavy-duty glides and many special features. A true craftsman, Jeff made sure that every step of the installation process was done with care, precision and expertise, neatly and on time. We have never worked with anyone so committed to doing things right. We quickly realized that not only did he know far more than we did about what constitutes quality and how to achieve it but that he has an internal drive to produce a result that both he and his clients will be proud of. Time and time again, he went above and beyond the call to do things right – fixing or replacing little things that weren’t up to his standards, without us even asking, or coming in after-hours to keep to schedule. We appreciated how neat he kept the job site at all times and how careful he was to make sure that none of his work damaged our new floors. And finally, he was a joy to work with. In short, we are very happy customers and would recommend Change Design Group without reservation. (Total cost is confidential.)