Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

I used Searl Lamaster Howe (Greg Howe and Ross Holden) for a full gut-job renovation of my condo. I cannot begin to express the level of joy and satisfaction these guys have given me - my home is beyond what I had ever hoped for! The detail in their work is eye catching and the time they spent making sure every item was perfect put me at ease over the past year of working with them. I think it's rare for someone to be able to say their home is a work of art that is meant to be appreciated, but that is truly how I feel every time I walk through the front door. It is modern, yet comfortable... I was given tons of beautifully designed storage space yet they were able to open up each room... They lengthened my hallway by playing around with door frames... The lighting is not just functional but creative... The list goes on and on. My in-laws also needed a quick move into a new condo last month, and again we hired Searl Lamaster Howe (Ross Holden) to do the job. Ross treated their home as if he were helping his own parents with an urgent move-in. The style in their condo is much different than mine, and Ross did an A+ job in giving them exactly what they wanted. I cannot say enough about how great this team is to work with. They definitely know how to build long lasting relationships... Looking forward to future projects with them!

We hired Searl Lamaster Howe Architects to design our new garage and rooftop deck in the city of Chicago. It’s hard to imagine more talented, dependable, and personable architects. From the very beginning, Greg Howe and Ross Holden were a pleasure to work with and showed amazing dedication throughout the whole project, especially when dealing with the new zoning rules. They thoroughly listened to what we wanted, and managed to incorporate all of our needs into a creative and beautiful design. We give Greg and SLH Architects our highest possible recommendation.

Even as an Interior Designer like myself, the process of finding the right Architect for any project can truly be a shot in the dark. My husband and I were very fortunate to have just finished an extensive 3 yr reno on a house we designed and built over 20 yrs ago. We enlisted Greg Howe from SEARL- LAMASTER-HOWE ARCHITECTS to execute our plan. Greg and Ross Holden, the project manager, were both very attentive to every detail on "each" of our wish lists. They considered all of our needs and concerns and executed everything to the very end. They are both highly professional,competent ,creative, and attentive. The end results were even beyond my own expectations (not easy to accomplish) ! Sleepless nights you will not have with SLH ARCHITECTS at the helm. Mary Gesualdo Mauro MGM INTERIORS, Lake Forest,Il

We hired Searl Lamaster Howe to combine two units in a Mies van der Rohe building for us. Our intention was to create our new home in a way that was respectful of Mies while being contemporary, playful, and beautiful. Pam Lamaster was the lead architect on the project, and the whole office worked on it. One of the big challenges in this building is how close the sister building is to one side of our apartment. They came up with a brilliant floor plan which maximizes our space and gives us a little buffer from the neighbors. From our first meeting with them through the celebration of completing the project, we experienced that we had an amazing team. They provided an unbeatable combination of listening to us and hearing what we wanted even when we couldn’t articulate it while providing their creativity and expertise. It was a joy to create with them. And still today I walk around our wonderful apartment struck by how well they heard and understood us.

Greg Howe and the entire team at Searl Lamaster Howe are very talented and attentive to detail. He considers not only beauty in design but functionality. Greg thinks of every detail from how light fills a space to the flow of living in the home. We have been living in our home for over a year and still appreciate on a daily basis the small, intricate details he created. Greg and his team are kind and caring and make every effort to fulfill the vision of the homeowner. He is one of the hardest working people we have ever met and is accessible seemingly always! We really enjoyed working with Greg who brought humor, professionalism and amazing talent to every meeting. When you build a home, you spend a lot of time with your architect- he was a pleasure to work with and problem solved every issue that arose during the building process. It was so evident to us how much he cares about doing the best job possible. The firm uses some of the newest technology (3D computer renditions) that helped us visualize the home during the design phase. If we ever build a home again, we would not hesitate for even a second to work with Sear Lamaster Howe.

I have had the pleasure of working with SLH on both sides of the fence - as a client myself and representing clients as an interior designer. They are spectacular to work with. Great at listening to clients needs and translating them into their projects. Incredibly knowledgable + savvy. I appreciate their desire to push the design envelope so-to-speak by thinking outside of the box and creating timeless, not trendy design. Overall, very positive experience would highly recco!

I can not speak highly enough of SLM. We had the pleasure of working with both Linda Searl and our lead architect Greg Howe during our project. Greg's ability to listen with intent, guide with decorum, and present both thoughtful and practical solutions created an environment of excitement and enjoyment, while remaining purposeful and on-task. Greg Howe delivered a home we proud to own, and delighted to share. Having worked with several architects over many years I can say SLM, and specifically Greg Howe, is the tip of the pyramid and I would consider no other firm for our next project.

Searl Lamaster Howe is a firm that genuinely listens to the client. The project was a true collaboration, and the results astonishing. The architects are responsive, responsible and super-creative. They took a rundown country house and, essentially maintaining the footprint of the original home, turned it into something splendid at reasonable cost. SLH's attention to detail (e.g. custom cabinetry), use of ecologically sensitive materials, and thoughtful consideration of ongoing operating costs (e.g. geothermal heat and A/C) have contributed to a resounding success. The client is ecstatic, and the project has been recognized by numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects and others, as well as publicity in national newspapers and journals. The architects are a pleasure to work with. Recommended without reservation. Photos are on the houzz.com website.