Stratagem Construction

We're planning to renovate our living room into modern design. Our interior design was old and some furniture and cabinets were already broken and needed to be fixed. We save a lot of money to come up with this. One of our family friends suggested this company and they even showed a picture of their living room and room. It was pretty and amazing.

I called the number and a guy answered. He is quite good and our communication was good. They visit us and look in our living room. They even showed some examples of design. But we had a prepared design and he said that it was pretty cool and nice. They start renovating it and it tooks 5 days till it's done. Were so amazed by the output and were very happy and satisfied with their work.

Stratagem Costructions renovated our kitchen from studs up with design from the sister company Habitar Design. They are different companies but the teams communicate really well so the experience is seamless. Site preparation, quality of cabinetry, installation, modifications, all went incredibly well. We had no kitchen 24 hours before the scheduled Covid 19 shutdown.

Owner Mitch Newman and the gifted installer Sebastian scrambled so that we had a sink, and working appliances for duration of the shutdown. They just stepped up, no big deal, no drama to take care of us. My building manager says that she has seen few projects as well thought out and detailed as the plan from Stratagem. We are working with them again to remodel a bathroom. We highly recommend Stratagem. It does excellent work. And it is a great team.

We used Stratagem for painting our whole condo and updating our kitchen cabinets. They were great! They coordinated with our condo board to get the appropriate approvals and kept us updated with lots of communication. The painting crew was able to repair minor damages to our drywall and even a door that had holes in it! They were able to quickly and efficiently paint all of the walls and trim (including the doors).

They left our condo very neat and clean and had no problems coordinating with our condo association to enter the unit when we were not there. The cabinet crew was great. We got new walnut, shaker style cabinet doors and drawers. They were able to make them in shop- they're gorgeous! The crew worked in our apartment while we were also working from home, but they were very considerate.

They wore masks and gave us frequent updates on the work. They were also responsive to the minor edits that we requested. Thank you to Stanley, Ortega, Javier and Mike for their hard work!

Stratagem Construction and its affiliated company Habitar Design have done several projects for our home, including major remodeling of our kitchen, a guest bathroom and our master bathroom with a walk-in closet. We have used them multiple times because they have always been easy to work with and receptive to our input at all stages of the project, and delivered professional work to our complete satisfaction. Most important to us, they stand 100% behind their work and have quickly taken care of issues even after the warranty expired.

Working with Stratagem was a painless process - their crew did a great job and stayed close to the schedule and budget. even in our old house with crooked walls and wonky floors! Their work was meticulous and clean and they did a good job of keeping us informed throughout. We highly recommend them. lots of people have kitchen remodeling horror stories, but they made it an easy experience!

We had such a great experience with Habitar design, that it was a no-brainer to use Stratagem to complete the work. Highly skilled professional painters, wallpaper installers, and tile workers. They worked cleanly, quickly, and most importantly, accurately. We had 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, dining, kitchen, and entryway worked on, as well as having 23 smart dimmer switches installed. The results are stunning, and we could not be happier!

We've hired Stratagem and their sister design company for two big renovation jobs in our old two flat greystone over the past two years. They did an excellent job both times, both in the design phase and the construction phase with Stratagem. They did a complete gut rehab of our large master bathroom, and after that job was such an astounding success, we hired them to rehab our 1st floor bathroom, our 1st floor kitchen, install overhead lighting throughout the house, revamp our foyer and install new hardwood flooring throughout our entire 2nd floor, along with a host of other rehab projects thrown in.

All big jobs, and stressful for us, but they handled everything with ease and the utmost professionalism. Hannah is excellent on the design side of things, Nick is the best project manager you could hope for (excellent communication, follow up, and logistical management), and all of the contractors do top notch work, are very professional, are respectful of the job site, and are just all-around nice guys. We fully recommend Stratagem with no hesitation. They are the best.

Stratagem is fantastic. Renovated two adjoining condo units into a 2-bedroom unit with new master bath. Happy with the work and their attention to detail.

Strategem did an excellent job in guiding me through the construction process of living in a high rise building. Given my busy schedule, they even worked directly with my condo association, and made the construction process feel effortless. Would definitely recommend!

Habitar Design is an Exceptional, Outstanding, Extraordinary Design Firm! High Praise from an Excessively Particular Couple so this Says A lot. I was given the opportunity to work with Habitar Design specifically working closely with Mitch Newman and designer Hannah Tindall. My boyfriend and I had just moved into a stunning downtown condo where we were excited to make it our own in terms of design, constructing modern built ins in the family room/living room, adding custom cabinets to our existing kitchen, new hardwood floors, updating two bathrooms and desired a new design layout.

And let me say in all honesty, we are excessively demanding with details and obsessive with mundane details.and yet Habitar Design still exceeded our expectations! With many downtown condos, our space was small, but Mitch Newman and his design team allowed us to capture the feeling of "home" and express our taste in our new place. We were immediately drawn to Mitch Newman's attention to detail, level of professionalism, brilliant visionary work, and his craftsmanship is truly an artist's work.

His background as a physician demonstrates a level of commitment and knowledge, and all his life experiences really allow him to be magnificent in his craft. I cannot stress enough, the level of quality in his craftsmanship---gorgeous, it was beyond beautiful and better than I had imagined! Our friends & family had no idea we had customized and designed our own built-ins with Mitch, they truly thought we had ordered them from one of the high end Italian stores in Chicago.

He was a true visionary from his design of the plans, execution of the construction, selection of materials, even down to the choice of a cabinet or drawer fixture. We also loved working with Hannah Tindall as our designer. She was able to keep us organized with our design ideas and encourage our own creativity but allow us to showcase our design aesthetic in a tasteful, functional, and cohesive manner. Hannah Tindall worked tirelessly to make sure our experience was delightful and inspiring.

I would highly recommend Mitch Newman, Hannah Tindall, and Habitar Design, and will definitely use them again in the near future. Unfortunately, my relationship with the boyfriend did end after 6 years, but the most difficult part was walking away from my beautiful home. I didn't want to leave my gorgeous home where Habitar Design inspired and captured my perfect aesthetic combination of personalized palette colors, room balance, modern comfort, and my love for the space. Thank you for the amazing experience and look forward to seeing you soon for a new project!

Let me start this review by saying Stanley is the best contractor we've ever had the pleasure of working with. We redesigned our bathroom and had a great experience from the moment we started working on designs with MacKenzie to the last walk-through with Stanley. MacKenzie is very open to ideas, creative in problem-solving and gave us great options along the way. Stanley, the project manager, and his co-worker, Sinuhe, were an excellent team.

When one of the fixtures we ordered came in with a defective part, Stanley ended up McGyver-ing a solution so we could have water while we waited for the new part to arrive - above and beyond! The team was always on time, kept us informed throughout every step of the project, and left our place tidy and organized at the end of every day. We would have like to have seen Mitch on the job once or twice, as he was the person we originally contracted with, but we wouldn't hesitate to use Habitar / Stratagem again based on the professionalism, expertise and great-to-work-with-ness of Stanley, MacKenzie and the rest of the on-site and in-office team.

We hired Stratagem Construction for our renovation project after working with their sister company, Habitar Design, for our design and planning stage. It was a large project that involved removing a load bearing wall and blocking in a window to completely change the floor plan of our kitchen and refresh the finishes on our dining and living rooms.

The team at Stratagem did a beautiful job. The quality of their work is absolutely top of the line. Our custom cabinetry fits perfectly and all of the tile work is neat and straight, even though two of the three tiles they installed were done in a more difficult herringbone pattern. Our new wood flooring is wonderfully level and the paint job is flawless.

We have received nothing but compliments on our new space. Of course, like all construction projects, ours ran into a delay here and there - and it was a big project that just kept getting bigger as we went. But our project manager Zane and the owner Mitch went above and beyond to make up for lost time and assure us that we were making progress. Any time we had a concern, it was promptly addressed.

In a previous review I posted about a fireplace installation with Strategem of which I was really pleased. The company also created customized cabinetry, shelving, and lightening. Inside the cabinetry we wanted to house multiple gaming system and our cable box. They took this into account and created a beautiful pocket doors for the middle cabinet, an installed temperature control system with an embedded fan in the cabinet I. Conjunction with lights that I can control via my mobile phone or tablet.

My entire family is in love with it and it looks like something that was always meant to be in the space. I'm truly pleased with the company. The staff was always courteous. If I have another project in the future I will be reaching out to this firm for sure.

We initially engaged Habitar Design to redesign our living room (fireplace, built-in cabinetry, built-in aquarium) and our family room (fireplace and built-in cabinetry). We provided some ideas of what we had in mind as well as our budget. MacKenzie's initial drawings were 99% on spec, and we only made one minor change to one of the cabinets when we finalized the drawings.

When it came time to bid the work, Strategem (sister company to Habitar) provided us with one of the bids. We were impressed with with the incredibly detailed quote, which in the end, turned out to be exactly on spec. The only changes to the cost were because of additional items we added as the project went on. Finally, the craftsmanship and professionalism of Nick (project manager) and Sebastian at Strategem we're second to none. Communication was excellent, our place was cleaned up every evening, and, above all, the finished product is impeccable.

Excellent quality craftsmanship. All of the work was performed in accordance with the design, and Nick provided updates along the course of the construction. The work was finished on time and on budget. I recommend Stratagem to anybody considering updating/renovating their home.

Strategem did an significant remodel of our place (including bathrooms) and did a fantastic job. They used high quality materials and were able to work with some of the quirky features of our building. We are still getting compliments about the work years later. Mitch is great to work with and, best of all, is transparent about pricing and decision-making, particularly when any unforeseen events arise. For a contractor, that alone is worth it's weight in gold.

We collaborated with Mackenzie from Habitar Design to redesign our dining room. We gave her some basic ideas for a cabinetry wall as well as a window seat and she ran with it. After some minor tweaks to the overall design, Nick and the Stratagem Construction crew took over. We were thrilled with the results!

I would highly recommend Strategem and Habitar Design. I used them to upgrade doors, trim, and woodwork through my home. The contractors were very respectful and neat while they worked, and they ensured every detail was perfect. I'm very happy with the results, and have received many compliments. They offered a great turnkey solution, from start to finish.

Their work is absolutely amazing & professional!.Since we moved into our house approx 2 yrs ago we have had a total of 8 rooms painted (all different colors). Half of those were darker colors. We have white baseboards and a white ceiling, so any flaws would be noticeable, and there none. Also, I'm a clean freak & they kept everything covered while working & left no mess behind.

A lot of builders had ideas but Kapan really helped us make choices and pulled them together in a way that the other builders could not. But it wasn't just the design which was great and captured what we wanted, Mitch's team and Krzyzstof made it happen. The craftsmanship was excellent. They exceeded our expectations. I give them a 10 out of 10.

We used Stratagem for bathroom renovations after we had seen our neighbor's kitchen renovation and we couldn't be happier with the final result. They were meticulous, courteous and detail-oriented. There was a clear road map from the beginning, and when there were hiccups (which there are always bound to be with construction), they took everything in stride and didn't let it slow them down. Also, they were open, receptive and responsive to all of my questions throughout the process. When we have other projects in our house, we will definitely be using Stratagem.

I read the Great reviews on Yelp and decided to contact them about possibly remodeling my bathroom and doing some custom built ins. The girl that answered the phone asked for my name, phone # and email and asked how much was my budget $15-$20,000. I said I have a 1 bedroom condo so probably not going to spend that much but I wound like to speak to someone about the process.

She asked me again for my email I said let's just have someone contact me back so I can find out how your process works. I get a voice mail hours later Stating they have Turn down my project and they wish me the best of luck! I was shocked so I decided to call and ask Why without talking to me first they had decided to turn down my project. She answered the phone and told me she turned it down because I refused to give her details about my condo!

I stopped her and she what are you talking about? I said you Never asked for my unit number or Any other details from my condo. She said I wouldn't give out my email so I said Wait you left me a message on my voicemail Telling me you turned down My project because I didn't give you my email? She got nervous and said she was new and put me on hold.

Apparently the Owner got on the phone the first thing he said to me was she said your upset because they want my email address? I said No I'm upset because I have a voicemail from her rejecting me as a customer and I didn't understand why! He was very nice and polite apologized and said the process is to get my email, details about condo, and pictures and I said understood why but that's clearly not what I was told. It's a shame because I am looking to remodel my bathroom and fire place but this inquiry started wrong from the minute she answered the phone.

Without telling me how their process works to asking me if my budget is $15-$20,000 if a turn off! Not only that to wait hours later to get a voicemail telling me no go but wish you the best is even a bigger turn off! I'm almost under the assumption that they didn't want my business because it wasn't worth it to them since I didn't want to spend that much money on a 1 bedroom condo!

We love our new fireplace. The design was great. It was very easy to work with Habitar. Mitch made sure they stayed on schedule. They did what they said they were going to do. The craftsmanship was exceptional. We're very pleased to work, and that's the truth. We've been telling everyone.

They did a great job on my bathroom remodel. Worked with their designers at Habitar Design to plan the bathroom and select all the fixtures. They listened to our input and helped us design our ideal bathroom. Remodeling is never fun, but everything went smoothly and on schedule. The guys working on our project were very professional. They addressed any concerns we had with no problem. I am very happy with the finished product and will be using them on future projects.

Mitch and his team have done a fantastic job. After consulting with us, they provided design ideas, laid out a detailed budget and plan, and selected outstanding materials and finishes. The old flooring was replaced, the entire apartment was painted, a new fireplace and mantle were installed and the closets were finished within just a few weeks.

The project was done exactly according to our agreed schedule and the quality of the craftsmanship is excellent. The fireplace install was particularly intricate and difficult, and it turned out great. We had a problem with one of the replacement A/C units, and it was taken care of. No arguing, no issues. Everything looks great and works great.

I contacted Stratagem Construction regarding a bathroom remodel. The only response I received was "sorry can't help you". I would expect a bit more professionalism on your end and a little more feed back. I have several large projects and will be looking elsewhere.

Stratagem/Habitar Design was hired to do a complete remodel of my master bathroom: plumbing, electrical, frameless shower with bench, air jet bath, vanity, and tile work. They are by far the best contractor I have ever worked with. While I had selected the basic design concept and fixtures prior to hiring Strategem, Hannah of affiliated Habitar Design was able to suggest some excellent refinements to the plans, including the shower design and the choice of tile.

Leading up to the day of demolition, Chris, the project manager, kept me informed of the status of the project and the start date - including the arrival of the fixtures - every step of the way. I was given a time frame of 2-2.5 weeks for completion of the project, and with the exception of the shower enclosure, it was completed in 5-1/2 days. The workers were there for 8 hours each day with a short break for lunch, unlike previous experiences where the contractors would often leave to work on other projects.

Everyone I encountered from the company was prompt, professional and courteous. This helped to make the process as painless as possible. While we encountered a few hiccups as we started to use the new bathroom, any problems were handled promptly and diligently until the issue was resolved. In general, Stratagem is outstanding and we are thrilled with the result.

I am a former interior designer who used to manage residential construction projects in another state, so I have extensive experience working with contractors. After moving to Chicago, I was in need of a contractor for a bathroom remodel as well as cosmetic changes throughout the rest of my home. In short: it was a pleasure to work with Stratagem, the quality of work was excellent, and the project was delivered on time. Mitch, the owner of Stratagem, responded quickly to my inquiry and worked around my work schedule during the scoping and planning process.

He had great, honest suggestions about where it was worth spending money and where it was worth saving it. Chris, the project manager, was very communicative throughout the process and managed to keep the project on schedule despite some building setbacks (which were completely outside of Stratagem's control). While there is inevitable dust and dirt associated with construction, my home was treated with respect and cleaned up at the end of each day. I will gladly recommend Stratagem to any friends looking for work done on their homes, and will certainly use them again should I need remodeling work done in the future.

The job involved complete design and remodeling of a 2200 square foot condominium, encompassing three bedrooms, two full baths, living room, dining room, kitchen, and sun room.

I highly recommend Stratagem Construction and I would use their services again in a heartbeat. We recently had 2 bathrooms remodeled, the addition of another bathroom and a fireplace remodel WHILE we were living in the home. From start to finish, the project was done right thanks to excellent construction management and hardworking, courteous and clean contractors. Brandon was our project manager and he was pleasant to work with, very attentive to our project, and paid excellent attention to details.

If there was any problem, large or small, it was taken care of in a timely manner until it was fixed. We love our new bathrooms and would use Stratagem again for any future projects.

I highly recommend Stratagem Construction and I would use their services again in a heartbeat. We recently had 2 bathrooms remodeled, the addition of another bathroom and a fireplace remodel WHILE we were living in the home.