Threshold Design Lab

Threshold Design Lab exceeded our expectations with our kitchen remodel. From the initial design phase to the final touches, the team was professional and easy to work with. We love our new kitchen!

We worked with Paul and Threshold on a redesign of our primary bedroom. Paul is incredibly talented in design and perfectly combines cutting edge and classic design that will last. He was able to integrate pieces we already had as well as elevate the design of our space. He’s responsive, a good communicator, and we felt lucky to be able to get to work with him when we did. Book him while you can, he’s only going to get more expensive. I cannot recommend him highly enough!

My partner and I wanted to redesign our bedroom. While we didn't make any structural changes we did however need a decent amount of built-in cabinetry designed and installed. Paul was wonderful! He put together elevations and renderings and also helped with sourcing all new furniture and carpet. He worked with his own millworker to custom build all of the millwork and a very affordable price. He also had the millworker build custom nightstands which he designed based on all of the elements of our room and they came out beautifully!!! We don't live local so we were able to get everything shipped and had a local carpenter do the millwork installation. Paul oversaw everything and it all got installed smoothly! I highly recommend working with Paul!!!

As a plumber in Chicago. I've worked with a lot of General Contractors and Paul by far is a pleasure to work with. We have worked side by side on some beautiful projects from downtown Greystones to huge Bucktown lofts. He runs his job very professional and punctual. I have even used his services for my own home which turned out stellar. Needless to say, we are extremely happy with Paul and his team.

Paul Schulman (and his assistant Lydia Workman) recently completed a "walls in" renovation of the kitchen, powder room and family room in our 1896 Victorian home. We are thrilled with the results. The rooms flow seamless together and fit in perfectly with the rest of the old house. The kitchen is functional, bright and beautiful. The level of craftsmanship and professionalism of the workmen was fabulous and they left our home as clean and as usable as possible during a renovation. My husband and I have totally opposite taste in just about everything, yet Paul and Lydia were able to come up with a plan, finishes and details that thrilled us both. We love our "new" rooms and enjoy them everyday. We highly recommend Paul Schulman Design. Thanks Paul and Lydia.

Paul redesigned a condo that he had designed for the previous owners; it was beautiful and elegant, spare and monochromatic, and we wanted to add color. He was quick to suss out our taste and pulled choices of furniture and accessories that both reflected our design esthetic and brought new ideas to the party, giving us a beautiful home that we couldn't have imagined ourselves, even though it has our stuff in it. Paul also designed and built a great bookcase to replace an existing freestanding closet that took up too much room. The decision process was easy - we never had to go to the Mart. Best of all, Paul respected the budget and we did lots of hi/low - finding good stuff at retail is part of his toolbox! Deadlines were met pretty much as promised; billing was prompt and complete. Paul was fun to work with and I highly recommend his company.

In late 2014, my husband and I embarked on a mid-life adventure acquiring rural farmland with the intent to create a sustainable agricultural operation as well as a net-zero/passive solar home. Our hands were beyond full starting the farm and we needed help. Paul believed in our objectives and wanted to contribute, in his words, "to this special project." What began as basic floorplan review and general aesthetic consultation quickly turned into complete design oversight. From millwork and fixture specifications to material and finish selections and everything in-between, Paul committed his precious time and professional expertise. His understanding of the construction process, meticulous attention to detail, and keen artistic sense offered us a truly comprehensive design service. We can't thank him enough for creating a home that is functional, authentic, and stunning.

I had to have door and window trim updated and rooms painted along with new lighting.for a tour of my home and studio This came up quickly and had to be done in a highly organized and efficient way. In less than a month Paul was able to pull the project together. The results were so good that i've started working with him on the remodeling of 3 baths and 2 more rooms. I am obsessed with details and my home is houses a contemporary art collection. Paul and his team made it all come together and the tour was a success.

I worked with Paul Schulman over several months on a complete renovation of the second floor of our Wicker Park 1890s home. This included design and product selections for two bathrooms, as well as an overhaul of our master bedroom and other cosmetic upgrades to the common hallway and other areas. Paul is fantastic to work with – super, *super* reliable and responsive, but most valuable for us was his fresh approach and creative problem solving. I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted our final rooms to look like, but still, I met with other “designers” who were nothing but questions: “Well, what do you want the layout to be?” “What do you want to do about the ugly closet doors?” etc. I really love DIY and design as an amateur, but isn’t the professional supposed to be the one who brings ideas and solutions to the table for such design puzzles? I found this to be among Paul’s strengths. For example, I knew I hated our bedroom. I knew the architecture was a mess and that nothing was symmetrical or lined up…anywhere. But I had very few ideas on how to make it better. Paul had the vision to correct these problems and make the room beautiful with a modest investment. To hide ugly closet doors that dominated the room, he recommended paneling the wall in a graphic pattern (see photos) to distract from the closets and give your eye something else to focus on. It is insane how effective this was and how good it looks. He also helped with color selections and advised on the other pieces I was buying for the room. Frankly, our bedroom went from being my most hated space in the house to my absolute favorite. I relied on Paul for all of our selections in the bathrooms, too. First, he provided blueprint/layout options and worked with us through several revisions to get at exactly the look and function we were after (we changed course midway through the process when we decided to trade a walk-in closet for upstairs laundry, for example). His designs were beautiful and functional, and his measurements and drawings dead-on (our contractor commented more than once on how good, detailed, accurate, and easy to follow all the drawings were). I wanted to do my own shopping for tile, faucets, lighting, etc., (both to control costs and because I enjoy it), but would always go back to Paul for his ideas, feedback and final “okay.” It was a great collaboration. I would find, for example, three faucets online that I liked, and email links to Paul for his input. With some selections, it was easy, “the first one is the clear winner.” When he thought my selections were off, he would always clearly articulate why and make a helpful suggestion (“I think that finish is going to compete too much with the medicine cabinets you already chose and love. I’d look more for things like this . . .”). Much of this could be done by phone and email, but we also set up a few, efficient in-person meetings when there were tons of details to finalize, or color samples, etc., to consider in person. The results? Outstanding. Even though I had a clear vision of what I wanted the end result to look like, I KNOW that many of the details that came together perfectly and made the rooms a success would have been just a little off if it weren’t for Paul, and would have driven me crazy. (For example, the bathroom sconces I had planned on were great – we both loved them – but Paul pointed out that the scale was wrong and then helped me find something smaller. Now that the correct sconces are installed, I know I would have *hated* the other ones). Avoiding all those potentially costly mistakes (tons of this stuff is not returnable when you’re ordering custom/higher end finishes) would have easily added up to the fees we paid to Paul. Most of all, it gave me so much more confidence as that process was underway that it was all going to come together and work. Cannot recommend him more highly - will certainly be using him again as we gradually tackle other areas of our home.

Paul conducted me through the entire process of renovating my studio apartment. It was a challenge because it is such a small space with so many things I wanted that space to do. He worked with me to design each of the areas, asking lots of questions that helped me define and clarify what I hoped to accomplish. He suggested things that I wouldn't have thought of, but that were right in line with my style. Then he hired all the workers to complete the project - New floors, tiles, cabinetry, built in bookcases, painting. The kitchen was a big challenge because it was so small that every inch counted, and Paul got all the pieces to work beautifully. The bathroom also had to be completely re-done and was not a standard size for today's standards. He made it work. Then he helped me choose furniture and accessories to make the entire project look extremely polished. I couldn't be happier with the project from start to finish. Paul was a pleasure to work with.

We worked with Paul on a top to bottom redo of our 3-story house in need of updating and a cohesive flow from room to room. This included gutting the kitchen and master bath. Paul was spot on with most of his recommendations. Since our house was built around 1910 he was careful to ensure changes were appropriate for the style. While we blew through our budget it was mainly because of decisions we made to upgrade selections. There were a few hitches but when there were Paul would work to fix them. We love the end result. And Paul was fun to work with.

Paul took a 1950s home that needed to be brought into the 21st century while maintaining the look and charm of a 1950s home. He did everything...chose paint colors for the rooms; opened up a living room/dining room space; selected furniture and window coverings; designed a dressing table area inside of a closet; selected new items and incorporated them with existing items and arranged them on shelves and tables; selected wallpaper to line kitchen cabinets; chose a new shower door, bathroom mirrors, and light fixtures; chose throws and pillows; etc., etc. I appreciated that Paul could work such wonders. He has the great combination of attributes that bring a balance of style and quality while incorporating his clients' wishes. I have got to say that the entire experience has been a treat from the beginning. I never thought that it could be such fun! Once you have the confidence and trust in Paul, then everything falls into place. Even when I have wondered about something, I have found that waiting until he finishes is the right choice and I have been happy each and every time! I don't think that I can say anything further. Paul is gifted both as a designer and as a communicator. He cares about his clients. I recommend him without hesitation!