CHR Home Services, Inc.

The project went great - probably due to JRL's awesome project manger, Marty. He kept us informed every step of the way, kept an up to date schedule, and the project came in at the budget they set up. Of course, we added things here and there which were not budgeted for, and he was creative in substituting things that maintained the budget (and we happily paid for the extra things we wanted). We went on vacation in the middle and Marty helpfully took pictures of their progress and we were able to work though any questions remotely, which kept the project moving. And, he cleaned up every day so our house wasn't a complete mess! The subcontractors they used for various bits (framing, drywall, painting, carpet, roofing, etc.) were generally great except the roofing folk littered our yard with old nails, and Marty personally came with a magnet roller and spent several hours picking up the junk from the yard (we have kids and use our yard for play, so it was important no little ones stepped on a nail!). There were some weather-related snafus (the work was performed in the middle of the 100* heatwave we had) which added some time, but didn't result in a big delay. The renovated 3rd floor is now a guest bedroom and an office, and it's a joy to work from it every day. We still are wondering "is this our house?!" We will happily have them tackle some of our other projects!

Excellent experience. Jim Lebair helped us plan our project within budget and assisted with adjustments as needed throughout the work. Project manager Marty DeRocco was a pleasure to work with. We have already had JRL Design back to do a garage remodel. We were pleased with the process and are enjoying the excellent quality results every day!

Very professional work from start to finish. Jim Lebair (owner) and Marty (project manager) are extremely competent and responsive. JRL provides an excellent quality service. They replaced my window seamlessly and left the construction area spotless. I highly recommend this company.

Marty and Jim from JRL Design were extremely professional and responsive for the entire duration of the project. During the design phase, Jim captured the look that we were aiming for, with widening the pass through to adding a breakfast bar and opening up the space into the living area. Their suggestion for reconfiguring the kitchen added more than ample cabinet and storage space and most importantly extra counter space for cooking and prep. They gave us options that were within our budget and priced out additional features that we could consider. We were never left in the dark as the project progressed. Marty gave me updates and responded to any questions that I had throughout the process. He helped talk me through some of the choices we had and offered great recommendations that fit into our desired kitchen and living space. Everyone we worked with and that JRL subcontracted to were extremely professional and their work was outstanding. JRL’s price quote was very transparent and they made sure we had the information we needed to stay in budget when selecting our finishes. We stayed on budget and on time. Our family and friends absolutely love the transformation of our kitchen as do we. I would highly recommend working with Jim and Marty at JRL design and hope to again on more projects in the future.

It went great. Jim and Marty (the project manager) were responsive to all of our concerns leading up to and the construction of our new front porch. We used JRL Design, Inc. for two projects over the past two years in and around our house. We liked the bathroom remodels (3 bathrooms) so much that we used Jim and Marty for our second project, the addition of a porch across the front width of our house. In the middle of the front porch addition we decided to have our house resided. Jim arranged for that to be done during the porch construction. I would definitely use them again. And probably will in the near future. As we still have a couple of things that we want to do in and around the house.

The work went well. JIm and his project manager Marty were very attentive. They were prompt in meeting with us, asked lots of clarifying questions, and were always very up front about any pending or potential change orders. The basement looks and feels wonderful.

This was second time we have used JRL. Previously they remodeled our kitchen and we were thrilled with final result so decided to use them again. They are definitely worth the extra price for their quality and reliability. Jim and Marty were very responsive during all phases of the work from initial planning, choosing components, scheduling work around our schedule and keeping us informed on a daily basis as to what and when work was to be done and working with us when day to day decisions needed to be made. Most of all, we felt that that, as with or kitchen, they took great pride and effort to do a high quality job. We definitely would use them again.

Highly recommend - so happy with beautiful kitchen

Great experience working with JRL. My kitchen was in serious need of a remodel, and frequently, I didn't have a defined idea of the best route to take. Jim's design provided greater space (a priority in my postwar 1200 square-foot split-level) while avoiding any overly pricey steps (such as re-locating a window). Marty was a terrific project manager, well-humored, always able to explain options, and an advocate for my concerns. Highest possible marks to the Marty's carpentry, John's assistance with moving furniture, crew that removed dividing wall and drywall, crew that installed new drywal, plumber, electrician (including bringing panel up-to-date), hardwood floor team (had new flooring put in for kitchen, and had existing first-floor hardwood refinished), painter (again, all of first floor covered), tile crew. Average mark to the counter supplier. Delighted with finished product, wish I hadn't waited so long!

Very well overall. Jim and his primary partner, Marty, are professional, easy to work with, and attentive. They know rules and regulations and are extremely responsive. Their work is excellent.

The project went very well in my view. It started and end on time and we were able to get into the house in time for the start of school, as planned. The site was always neat and tidy.

Jim and Marty were fantastic. The end result was more than we anticipated, and was of very high quality. Additionally, JRL Design's team are consummate professionals, respectful and cooperative. I cant say enough about them, and I am very grateful for the work they performed for us. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

Great, this was my second time using JRL for a large project.

Jim Lebair, owner of JRL Design, recently remodeled an outdated and sad bathroom into a beautiful, functioning facility. When planning the job, Jim offered many useful suggestions and also made sure that he included those things that I wanted. Jim, and his project manager Marty DeRocco, kept me informed on the progress and what to expect each day. Their attention to detail was exceptional and the quality of workmanship was outstanding. Over the last 15 years or so, Jim has done a great deal of work on my home and I will certainly continue to use him for any future projects.

JRL Design replaced our kitchen a few years ago and we were so happy with the quality of workmanship and professionalism that we knew immediately who we had to call when our parents needed the stall shower replaced for safety and accessibility reasons. Jim Lebair met us at our parents and assessed the existing situation and made suggestions. The work was scheduled and completed on time and within the estimated cost. Marty DeRocco was the project manager and along with the plumber performed all of the work. Marty took extra care not to disrupt the wallpaper and carpet when he removed the existing shower and installed the new one. Marty went the extra mile to ensure our parents were pleased with the shower seat installation, the height of the grab bars, and all other aspects of the project. Marty was also responsive to us and made sure to keep us apprised of all activities from scheduling to decisions on hardware. Our mom said "Marty aims to please" and we couldn't be happier! Our parents now have a safe and accessible stall shower and we have some peace of mind.

Jim and his project manager, Marty, were professional and courteous at all times. They prepared our house meticulously before beginning the work, keeping the space as clean as possible. The project progressed as expected, and thanks to Jim's diligence in preparing measurements and outlining the work ahead of time, we had no unwelcome surprises. From matching the hardwood floors to the size of the trim, Jim and Marty made sure that the walkway was a seamless addition to our home. We would highly recommend the team from JRL Design!

Very well, have used JRL before for a larger project, highly recommend them.

As with the other two large, complex projects JRL did for us (two full bath renovations), the job went well from conceptual stage and drawings to the last handshake. Jim and Marty make a great team, Their subcontractors work at the artisanal level. Any large, complex project hits snags and provides challenges. What counts is how such challenges are over come. JRL does a great job with such challenges. You, the homeowner, benefit from Jim and Marty's knowledge base and experience. We selected JRL design for the three largest dollar projects we've done (of a dozen in fourteen years) for several reasons. With this kitchen project, Jim's business model and use of design software allowed him to get us 3D drawings and a cost estimate when the other two teams were sending us letters from their respective architects telling us that moving forward meant a cheque to them, detailed drawings, another cheque and we'll have something for you in a month, Not. Jim walked through each step sending us to trusted agents for materials (quartz counter tops, tile and flooring, etc), providing samples of the wood and finishes for our custom cabinets, and so on. JRL remained sensitive to our needs - for a complete kitchen job you're without the nerve center of your house (especially if you have kids) for more than a month) - and the budget every step of the way. Jim and Marty should do your next job.

It went very well. Jim and his team, aside from providing a great end product, were courteous and professional throughout. They coordinated all subcontractors and were neat and respectful to our home and those in it. The bathrooms turned out better than I ever imagined, and we are very grateful to have used JRL Design for our projects--we will definitely be using them again.

Will be starting construction in next few weeks.

My parents just moved in this week...on time! Our experience with JRL Design has been wonderful. Jim was so thoughtful in his design helping us plan a space that would allow my parents to age in place. He gave many suggestions and recommendations. Marty, the project manager, is superb. Every stage of the project went so smoothly. The planning and communication was first-rate. The finished addition has exceeded our family's expectations.

We are just finishing up on the project and are very happy with how it’s turned out. This was a big project that required a number of subcontractors and significant changes to our day-to-day living over several months. Jim and Marty were very sensitive to our needs and scheduled well to keep the project moving along. Jim was very responsive to all forms of communication. He was unfailingly positive and helped us pick design elements that suited our vision. Marty is an excellent manager. It was relief to have him take care of issues and questions as they arose with the subs. He was very responsive and good about keeping us in the loop. He offered expert design ideas and opinions, which we appreciated, and was creative and thoughtful in tackling unforeseen challenges. We would recommend JRL Design to family and friends.

Phoned and had a quick consultation. Described what features I was looking for, Jim provided design. Worked with me for any changes and upgrades. Marty the project manager kept the job on track and kept me updated on the schedule. Overall I was extremely pleased with their professionalism as well as their work product.

My wife and I hired Jim after reviewing several local design and construction companies in the area. We liked the idea of having someone own the end-to-end process so there wasn't anything lost in translation between companies. Design: Jim was very thoughtful and thorough in the design process. He made sure to really get to know both of us and what we really wanted out of a kitchen - which is what he worked into the design. He also had a lot of suggestions based on his experiences remodeling kitchens which encouraged us to balance form and function together to really optimize the space and achieve the goals that we wanted - which was a bit more of an open kitchen concept to encouraged entertainment. You end up getting some very well speced designed with 3D mock-ups which really gives you a good feel for the space (my wife is very visual so this was really helpful in working through it with her). He was able to nail the design on the first go round so we had little modifications to make. Estimates: For what we had wanted to do, Jim was able to really work his supplier and sub-contractor networks to get us what we wanted for within our budget range. I never felt pushed or hassled in talking through price. In fact, we were pretty open and transparent about our limitations and our priorities. Also to really help us nail down our contingency, Jim went the extra mile to drill into our soffits to make sure no red flags existed so we could make sure we planned appropriately. Construction: Marty is the project manager - he was amazing. The handoff between Jim's design and Marty was very smooth and seamless. Marty is very responsive and planful; in constant communication throughout the project in whatever medium works for you - texting, email, and phone calls. He laid out a plan which we completed within with really little volaility or game shifts. They are very clean and setup ram board throughout the foyer and installed air filters to keep the dust down (I had a pregnant wife so that was very important to me). He was also very thoughtful with the dog and they really developed a friendship. I think on the 6 week project we had to board him only a handful of times which was really above and beyond. Whenever there was an issue or decision point, Marty would be flexible with our calendar to stay back and work through it with both of us. Also, I had to travel during some major milestones in the project and Marty would text pictures of the installed cabinets, etc. which was a nice touch. Overall the craftsmanship was very well done and we had a pretty broad selection through the different suppliers. Oh - and part way through the project we discovered that some of the exhaust duct work had rotted out which was pretty dangerous. Marty and Jim acted with urgency and even helped me identify someone to do the work on short notice. They even helped me to make sure we got the best pricing available and helped us think through our options. My wife and I both loved our experience with both of them and will certainly be looking forward to doing another project with JRL.

I am very happy with the project results, and can't believe how much the expanded kitchen and dining room changed the feel of the house. This project required a good deal of patience on all of our parts due to the scope (every surface in the home needed to be addressed) and the necessity of dealing with the insurance company. Jim and Marty were always in touch by email or text to provide me with updates. While there were a few small hiccups involving the subs, they were quickly corrected. Would definitely use JRL again on another project.