dSPACE Studio Architecture

I wanted to build a radical house—a three-story box with the living room on top. When I looked at the dSPACE website and saw the aesthetic of their other projects, I knew I had found my architect. Attention to detail is part of their passion. They want to make sure the project is as perfect as possible so we are as happy as possible. Bob and team were responsive, and they saw more than I did. I enjoyed the design meetings where the team presented their ideas—they helped me come up with a realistic and livable version of my radical vision. dSPACE is highly professional. They added value because I could have not done this on my own. I was happy to work with them and become friends.

dSPACE is second to none! Very thorough and responsive. They made sure we were happy. If every business worked like them, there would be many more successful businesses out there. Working with dSPACE was a great fit. We wanted to create a beach house to enjoy family time and be with our kids. Summers are an important time in life to make memories—dSPACE gave us exactly what we wanted while accommodating the realities of site and budget. At design meetings, we were able to express our desire for something beautiful. The team translated our vision into a beautiful home that is functional, especially with small children. They are really good listeners.

Building a custom home for the first time, we had a lot to learn. It was wonderful to work with dSPACE because it felt like a journey, a learning process that they were supporting us on. Kevin and the team were great collaborators—they listened and really cared about what we wanted. It was a happy process that we really enjoyed. I always felt they were working on a project for us, not for a portfolio. dSPACE helped us deliver the vision for our home. They guided us on when and where it was worth it to spend, and where we could save. For example, they modified the floor plan to be more efficient, but it still feels grand and comfortable. I don’t feel like we sacrificed or took shortcuts. The level of collaboration, team spirit, and comradery was always great. The team was highly available and responsive to questions and ideas. We miss the dSPACE team! We genuinely feel like we built a wonderful house and we miss the process and working with the designers and builders. I still walk around and think, “We really built a great house. It’s the right size, mood, function, and feel”. dSPACE was a huge part of that, and I’m appreciative of the time and care they put into it.

We are so happy with dSPACE. They have the talent and expertise of a big firm and the personalized attention and focus of a smaller boutique firm. Tom, our project manager, thinks through every decision and detail. We would call Tom with a question and within a day, he would draw up a couple of different options and walk us through each choice. Kevin has a great design eye, loves landscape architecture, and knows all the latest architectural products and lights. Tom, Kevin and the rest of the team stayed engaged and focused from the concept phase through the punch list. dSPACE made sure that all of our ideas and requirements were discussed and incorporated into the design of our dream home. dSPACE has a modern and fresh design aesthetic and they presented us with unique concepts for both the exterior and for different layouts. They also helped us with the contractor selection process. We highly recommend dSPACE.

The value added by dSPACE is tremendous. Working with them and having them as your advocate throughout the construction process is priceless. My wife and I appreciate and respect their design aesthetic, and we get along famously with the team. You spend a lot of time with your architects—make sure you like them as people. They will likely be our first dinner guests at our new house! We chose dSPACE over the other architects we interviewed for many reasons. The biggest factor was their project management service. Throughout our entire project they effectively handled every detail. We thought about hiring a GC without a design architect—that would have been a HUGE mistake. If we had to do it all over, we would absolutely choose dSPACE again. We knew we had a challenging project on our hands. The house we chose to renovate had the right footprint, on the right street, in the right neighborhood. But we wanted to change everything inside! My wife and I are not handy people and had no idea how to get to the vision we had. From our very first conversation with dSPACE, they explored our ideas and found realistic solutions within a couple of percentage points of estimated pricing. dSPACE also challenged us to think about our design goals—in the best way possible—to further develop them while being realistic and within budget. Kevin and his team were passionate about keeping a consistent theme throughout the entire house so that everything would flow. Their ability to tie the house together is something we had not thought of and are very grateful for.

We chose dSPACE because of their experience with complex projects, attention to detail, and unique modern style. They were the perfect partner to transform our traditional city house with contemporary elements—creative, mindful of design preferences and opinions, and they treated each individual’s request with respect. Their solutions unified the home while allowing for individuality. Their organization and sophistication helped us sleep better during construction—we were confident that no stones would be left unturned. Early in the process, dSPACE translated our goals into workable blueprints. As we progressed, they transformed these blueprints into design themes that permeated our thinking. Form followed function! Our goal was to double the living space of our recently renovated house to accommodate our growing and aging family. The challenges Brad and his team inherited were significant, yet they managed the project smoothly and always focused on our needs. Communication with the team was open and informal, which was invaluable to us. There was complete transparency on how design choices would impact budget, timeline, and quality of the final project. Their 3D models brought our ideas to life in a methodical manner, helping us realize our dreams with a practical approach. dSPACE collaborated with permit expediters, structural engineers, general contractor, landscape architects, and interior designers, playing to people’s strengths while negotiating complex relationships, requests, and schedules.

My husband and I had a lifelong dream to create this home. From the first meeting we loved the dSPACE aesthetic–it was exactly what we had envisioned. It was clear to us that Kevin and his team could meet the professional standards we wanted, yet also provide the hand-holding piece where needed. Something I wouldn’t have anticipated was how critical the interpersonal skills of your architect are. My husband and I were heavily involved, but we couldn’t be there all the time. We were confident that Bob and Kevin would articulate our opinions to the other partners, and their calm approach contributed to the success of this project. Everything they did was in the best interest of the house. They brought strength and vision but were still able to build consensus and make everyone feel we were on the same side. They looked at details I didn’t even realize existed. Everything was so carefully thought through, nothing was ignored. When we ran into some zoning challenges, it was clear that they always had two plans–the original and a contingency. They were on our side at all times. We enjoyed watching how well dSPACE works with others. They brought all partners together to brainstorm, exploring how to do things in the best possible ways. They brought new ideas to each meeting. Their goal was to build the best house possible, and I just trusted them! There is not a single decision we made that we aren’t happy with. We built this house not only for ourselves, but for our kids and grandkids. Multiple generations are going to be a part of this home, so it was a big deal to us. Not only was it a financial commitment, but an emotional one, too. They were really sensitive to budget, to other partners, and to our vision. They were ideal partners. Not a day goes by that we aren’t grateful for living in this space.

This is the best design group you could ever work with. Everything was so well organized. Nothing was ever a problem. dSPACE took care of everything. We work with a lot of people, have done many projects, and have lived through construction before, and we just felt that everything was so easy with dSPACE. The entire team was a 5+. From the moment we met Kevin, he was an astute listener yet so comfortable to be around—like someone you’ve known for a long time. When Tom and Leslie came on board, we truly felt we had a champion team. We have never come across a project manager like Leslie. Her attention to detail, ability to handle pressure, and her communication was outstanding. There were no surprises. dSPACE listened to our vision and embraced it. They understood our ideas and came back with added elements that were simply fantastic. Everyone who has seen our project is amazed. We would absolutely hire them again.

dSPACE Studio is, first and foremost, a design-centric architectural firm. From sketches to sketch-up, site visits to blue prints, bidding to building; the team at dSPACE is fantastic to collaborate with and gives support at every step. We have designed to build a Michigan Beach House, we have designed for scale and are currently bidding a Costa Rican House, Guest House and Garage/Yoga Studio, and we are building at this time with them a Chicago Condo. The firms sense of design switches easily between projects, and the extent of enthusiasm for each project is always apparent. We feel honored as the client, but respected with our opinions and needs for each space. I cannot thank Kevin, Tom and the entire team enough for all their hard work and eye for detail. Thanks for hearing us, and bringing our dreams to fruition.

We so valued all dSPACE brought to the project including fantastic vision, unbounded creativity and uncompromising attention to detail. They were truly our partner on the project, and their passion was an extension of our passion. They valued our ideas and opinions—there was no ego whatsoever, and instead it was a wonderful collaboration. I was familiar with dSPACE’s incredible work so it was a no brainer to select them to remodel (gut) our modern ranch home. My wife, our two young children and I could not be more pleased with the outcome. Kevin and Kathryn helped transform our house into our dream home. One year after completion, no exaggeration, I still smile as I walk around the house as each room unfolds to express itself. Our vision was “modern yet warm and should feel at home in the woods”. That is exactly what was achieved. One of their strengths is presenting the ‘right’ number of options – not too many and not too few – yet each a complete winner in its own right! dSPACE made countless suggestions that we could not have thought of on our own, yet now cannot live without! Four specific favorites include: 1. Main Fireplace (between the living room and family room). They suggested cutting back one side to create a beautiful asymmetry and to open up the room. The mixture of black steel, white textured porcelain and gray tile create a stunning focal point and really a centerpiece of the home. 2. Master Bedroom Fireplace. The original master was oddly long creating a design challenge. They suggested breaking up the room with a fireplace – the bed on one side (TV mounted on bed-side) and a cozy seating area on the other. We used the white oak floor planks and black steel present in the rest of the house to create an unparalleled warmth. 3. Master Bathroom. The original master bathroom had a very odd layout and was beyond dated. The new bathroom is literally perfect both in form and function. It energizes in the morning and calms at night. 4. The house did not have a basement yet we wanted a space for our young kids to enjoy now and in the future. The addition dSPACE came up with is amazing and this is where our children spend the vast majority of their time (not to mention our time). The kids’ art wall spurs creativity and makes the room feel alive. The entire room is youthful yet sophisticated. Honestly, I could go on because dSPACE’s signature is present throughout the entire house. The house was built in 1979 so while it offered up an amazing mid-century back-bone, it also created design challenge after design challenge. dSPACE overcame each one. The soul of the house is still intact, yet it is so so much better!!! I think the original architect would be beyond impressed. We are. I would highly recommend dSPACE for anybody looking to create a modern forever home that will warm and wow for years to come.

I interviewed four architecture firms and chose dSPACE because I was impressed with their ability to think through a complex project and simplify it. And, most importantly, because dSPACE had passion and were capable. I’m not a typical client because of my background in real-estate and construction—I was building a team, and it worked extremely well. My project started as raw space on the top floor of a condominium high-rise that was not designed to be a stand-alone apartment. There were mechanical and structural challenges, but it had some of the best bones in the city and I didn’t want to pass that up. The design process was smooth and enjoyable. We decided the day spaces would face the lake and the night spaces would face the city, then Tom and Nick came up with several layout options and it was really easy to select a scheme to move forward. Slightly raising the master suite floor above the plumbing systems was the key to making the whole unit work. And then Nick came up with the idea to change the shape of the ceiling at the exterior wall and it turned into one of the best parts of the project. Construction proceeded well. I was living 400 miles away and couldn’t be at the project more than once a month. Tom was able to convey construction questions, using 3D renderings and bubble notes on the plans, so I could easily understand and answer questions without being there in person. dSPACE had the patience of Job guiding the project through the association approvals and worked with the building engineer to make sure things went smoothly. There were no financial surprises and that was delightful. I was trying to stick to a relatively modest budget. I know that in this type of project there really is no such thing, but we were able to deliver the project for 30% less than my neighbor (who had similar raw space). That difference really did come down to the thoughtful and innovative design that dSPACE delivered.

We love the dSPACE team, and we were very happy working with them! The design process was collaborative and enjoyable from the start. They were really great about listening to our ideas and created a completely custom project that was modern but warm. My husband and I renovated our 2-floor penthouse condo in Chicago (down to the raw concrete slabs) so there were challenges in the existing building that we had to work around, and dSPACE really excelled at turning these less-than-ideal elements into amazing design features. The ceiling on the top floor was quite low, so they created a modern interpretation of a vaulted ceiling to hide the low beam, creating a beautiful design element out of something that started as a flaw. The narrow staircase was also reworked into an amazing design feature, and they also reimagined our entry with a new layout and a custom floating cabinet for coats that becomes a stylish wet bar on the living room side—so creative and something we would never have thought of! Being able to see the new design in the 3D computer model before we started construction was so helpful to us. And before they even got to the 3D renderings, we were presented with these beautiful line drawings of the early design ideas and those got us really excited about the project! Kevin and his team are honest and good collaborators, and we really felt we could rely on dSPACE to look out for our best interests. They helped us navigate the details of hiring our contractor and interactions with our condo board - there were a couple of tricky situations and dSPACE acted as trusted advisors. dSPACE’s attention to detail, level of research, plus their additional recommendations for lighting, finishes, and even furniture was invaluable—in every way, I feel like they were always going above and beyond. Thank you dSPACE!