Dovetail Group LLC

From the moment I read Jonathan’s bio, phoned him, and he answered, I thought I was transported back to the days of excellent client service, and I was! I have to report that working with Jonathan, his one person crew, and his subs, he/they performed exceptionally from project design to project completion. His attention to detail in every aspect from project design, to keeping construction zone totally separate from our living space, to his precise custom craftsmanship and abilities, made this project seem like a textbook example. It couldn’t have gone better and we are thrilled with our two newly customized and constructed new library and den. In fact, when selecting new fireplace stone, the office manager remarked that she wanted Jonathan to train others in the business on how to do it right! Thanks to Houzz, I found Dovetail Group LLC (Jonathan), and I have no reason to look further!

We imagined that it would be a major challenge for any design team to take over the renovation of this 70 yr. old home hence we sat with Jonathan Scholl , owner of the Dovetail Group team and gave them our ideas and concerns. One of the largest projects was removing 37 windows that were cemented into the structure of the masonry. No other window company we talked to had an idea this would be so time consuming. The custom front door is the conversation of the neighborhood. It is most unique, constructed of several types of woods, “rain drop” designed glass in an Art Deco style. What is most appealing is the foyer of this home. With precision, Jonathan transformed the never used foyer into a beautiful Art Deco Style entrance using imported crème marble flooring with center medallion. The final portion of this renovation was the custom style “She Shed” (thank you Jonathan) built to replicate the lines of the home using like colors and design. I am impressed with how Jonathan went through the explanation of the quality of materials used in the entire renovation process. This Mediterranean 2 story stucco home had little upkeep for 7 decades but Jonathan listened and his ideas, advice, honesty and total involvement were most valuable in transforming our home to the showcase of the community. The renovation of this home is one of a kind and I’m sure it will bring us years of pleasure – thanks to the Dovetail group!

The scope of work that was needed in our house spanned three bathrooms, a powder room, and a laundry room. Out of the three bathrooms we only had one that was functioning (just about!), that was our Master Bathroom which was split between two rooms, one room contained the bath and shower, but the twin vanity was in an adjoining area in our bedroom separated by a door, which we did find terribly inconvenient. The other two bathrooms were not used because one of them leaked, so every time the tub with a handheld shower was used we ended up having the repair the kitchen ceiling that was directly beneath. The other was so old that when the shower was turned on there was an incredibly loud grinding noise that was unbearable to tolerate. All the bathrooms were extremely old in décor, and not our style, but more importantly, none of the bathrooms functioned correctly. The laundry room was just a small space with torn vinyl flooring, a washer and dryer side by side, and stained plastic utility sink, leaving not much space for anything else, the type of room you never wanted to be in. The powder room downstairs was a dull, small and cramped, the vanity was too large, the tile on the floor and grout was supposed to be white in color but looked dull and dirty no matter how much I cleaned it to the extent that I cringed from embarrassment every time we had guests over that asked to use it. As a family of four with two working parents, everyone had been using our master bathroom for the past 12 years, the traffic through our bedroom was unexpected and extremely congested every morning trying to get the family to work and school. With chaotic lives we never had the chance to renovate, the idea was too overwhelming with the scope of work that was needed, and we had heard some horror stories about getting the wrong contractors to do the work, leaving the job unfinished and of poor quality. But we decided to get some professional help when even the master bathroom started falling apart. After getting a few quotes and interviewing several contractor companies, I knew immediately that I could work with Dovetail. I was extremely impressed by the expert knowledge and personal skills demonstrated by Jon Scholl when he first arrived at our house to review the extent of the work and his reassuring “can do” attitude. Jon and his team worked with us to interpret our goals and expectations into accurate 3D plans of what our vision was. He helped us choose all the materials for each of the rooms, providing expert guidance and a unique perspective along the way when it came to making choices (and there were a lot of choices that had to be made!). Jon also was able to custom make cabinets and sliding doors ensuring that the modern concept, flow, and connectivity that we wanted throughout the entire house was incorporated. The standard of quality and artistry to which Jon delivered our entire renovation project exceeded our expectations. The spaces were completely designed for modern living where form followed function, and the project was completed from start to finish within 8 months. We love and enjoy every space that Dovetail created, each room is truly a work of art. Jon and his team also became part of the family, they were polite and pleasant to have around, and always left the house clean every day when they finished their work. There were no problems only creative and innovative solutions which we were always impressed by. I would highly recommend Dovetail for any home renovations.

When my husband was ill and needed to live downstairs, Dovetail Group LLC turned what had been an office space into a downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Jon Scholl and his group did a fantastic job - very professional, fast, clean, neat and at a very fair cost. Dovetail did such a good job that when I needed all new doors and windows throughout the house two years later I hired Dovetail again, and again they did a fantastic job, taking care to do everything to not upset the routine of my work. The Living Room had a huge picture window that they took particular care with, and now everything looks beautiful. And his workers are so pleasant and helpful. Dovetail made such a difference! Much appreciated. I am going to hire Dovetail again to update bathrooms and kitchen. Sara C Schwartz

Jon and the whole team at Dovetail Group have been fantastic to work with. We spent over a year designing our project, which included a whole house remodel, as well as an addition. We were always impressed with Jon's approach to design...more focused on how we live and use the space and solving problems that we had with the "old" house. Once demo and construction started, the crew were meticulous in cleaning up after themselves every day, even though we weren't even living in the house. Jon was again highly detail oriented, honest and up front, and just a pleasure to work with. We couldn't be more pleased with how the project is progressing, and our new house. We would highly recommend Jon and Dovetail Group to anyone in the market for this type of work.

We hired Dovetail to rehab our outdated kitchen in our 1924 era stone house. This was a challenging job since the new design had to fit in limited space and use some existing cabinet boxes. Jon helped us with design and was patient in working through surprises after pulling cabinets out. We added a new paneled back splash to the list along the way, and asked for repairs on existing pine floors at the last minute. Jon accommodated all of our additions with patience. Jon is very easy to work with and I valued his design sense and expertise during the project. He was very responsive to all of my questions and concerns throughout the project.

Our 1970's kitchen was transformed by Dovetail Group LLC into a magnificently current area to create culinary delights. The planning process with Jon was organized, focused on our needs, filled with discussions of possible options and pleasurable. The agreed upon time line was honored and fulfilled. No workable kitchen for 3 1/2 weeks could have been a nightmare, but Jon made it as easy as possible for us. He was respectful, honest, had a good sense of humor and a joy for us to work with. Our cabinets received new doors, hardware, new drawers constructed and a trash/recycle center added. We went from dark to white cabinets making the area brighter and a center of focus for our condo. Creative lighting including an original ceiling configuration, under cabinet and recessed fixtures made a dim area come alive! Cork flooring, new appliances, a subway tile backsplash with an accent piece and a new breakfast bar completed our journey to this renovated project. We are delighted and would highly recommend Dovetail Group LLC to anyone taking on a project. Working together, we were able to stay within our budget adding only agreed upon Changes.

Jon Scholl and the Dovetail group did a very nice job remodeling two of my bathrooms this past year. One of the bathrooms was a complete remodel. The plumbing had to be switched around, new vanities were made, soffits made, new die walls cast for the shower, a complete remodel. Jon's expertise really seems to be in woodworking. The molding around the room, aligning the soffit with the die walls for the shower was difficult and well done. The design of the vanity was very well done. Jon has a great sense of symmetry, making sure that the grout lines in the bathroom all lined up, and lining up the moldings with the top of the die walls and framing the room all made the room look very good. There were some mistakes made along the way but Jon was very quick to recognize them, take ownership and correct all of the mistakes. In the end, the finished project looks very much the way I envisioned it on paper and in pictures and that is a testament to Jon's work.

This project involved gutting the kitchen and starting from scratch which was like poking in the dark at times to see what final configuration might work. Jon Scholl never gave up trying to find the optimum solution for our kitchen requirements. Repeatedly he presented options, samples and suggestions for how to proceed which included everything - flooring, cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting and appliances. He was creative with the kitchen island, the window touch over the sink, and the glass tile positioning of the backsplach. Jon never tired of the project and took pride in the work he did just as we took pride in the results.

Dovetail did a great job helping us prep for upcoming work so we were able to save money in some areas. The attention to detail was great and the suggestions for materials and design very helpful. We did T&M due to some work of which we didn't know the extent so I was worried about it but in the end we came within the budget range and the finished job looks great.

We have a large family – 5 children, and we needed a kitchen that would be both classic and relaxed. Prior to the renovation the kitchen had cold, white cabinets, white corian counter-tops, hard tile flooring and the design did not take full advantage of the beautiful view of our backyard. We also had a very large butcher block from my wife’s grandmother that she wanted to incorporate into the kitchen without it being big and clumsy. Jon has such incredible vision and managed to give us everything we wanted. The tile flooring was replaced by hardwood that he matched to the original hardwood in the house. He transformed our view by angling the island so we had a completely different view of the backyard. He incorporated the butcher block in such a manner that it is noticeable and useable but not obtrusive adding even more character. The result was the kitchen of our dreams, which is extremely functional for a family of 7. Jon’s work is Impeccable and his ideas and vision are excellent. We are very happy with our kitchen and will use him for any other renovation we do in the future.

Jon Scholl of Dovetail Group LLC brings meticulous craftsmanship and creativity to any project, large or small. He hired me to make a one-of-a kind vessel sink for his client. The bathroom renovation was in a long narrow space that was very challenging and unusual. He managed to create a beautiful , functional, and serene space out of something that looked impossible. Anyone with talent can renovate a "normal" space but it takes a special kind of skill to take on the challenge of and odd , unwieldy one.

Jon Scholl designed and installed a new hallway for us containing a shower, bathroom, and sauna. His excellent design turned a very dark and unwelcoming space into a very attractive and accessible area. He did the demolition and installed the new walls, using a bamboo product he found. He did the tile for the floors, the shower walls, and around the mirror. He made an open shelf vanity for the sink using a contrasting bamboo color. He used a section of the old paneling to make a sliding door for the toilet. He also made two backlit panels using an opaque product, one using bamboo slices and the other a maidenhair fern design. He subcontracted the plumbing and electric and worked very well with both men. He was open to our suggestions and incorporated them into the design. Jon was very detail oriented and came up with several clever solutions to problems that arose. The results are terrific and we have received many compliments on the finish product.

The company did a major renovation with paneling and cabinetry in our antique Philadelphia row house. The work was impeccable. Jonathan Scholl is a true craftsman and professional. He played an integral role in the design of the project and had excellent design suggestions. Everything he did was well documented and photographed, which was important because we were not living in Philadelphia during the undertaking of the project. Everything was well priced, and any variance discussed. The final project cost was exactly as predicted and planned. We couldn't be more delighted with the final project.

Dovetail Group is a fantastic team of professionals. Jon Scholl (the owner of the company) is exceptionally talented. His attention to detail is unlike any other we've ever encountered. He consistently kept a clean and safe workspace. Jon would listen very intently to us as we belabored over our dreams and desires for our space. After having our say, he would jokingly ask for "permission to speak?" and would not only repeat everything we said, but would also contribute fantastic ideas to save money and enhance the design or practicality of our project. We are more than pleased with our new powder room: we see this part of the house as the only part that's truly our own and completely reflects our personalities. Jon turned a conversion of a closet into a place to go to the bathroom into a long-lived investment in which we'll take pride for many, many years to come! If you have a unique or creative idea and want a contractor who's up to the challenge and will work as your partner from start to finish, contact Dovetail Group, LLC. You will not be disappointed.

I had the pleasure of working with Dovetail in the summer of 2012. Our choice over and above other contractors we looked into was our confidence in the workmanship and design. Going in with the idea that we wanted our kitchen to be more functional and upscale, my husband and I, knowing that we are style-challenged, wanted someone who would guide us to a design that fit the house, our personal taste, and be up-to-date and interesting without succumbing to trendiness that will look dated in 5 years. Any contractor can do a kitchen renovation that looks like the latest mock-up in Lowes or the local kitchen and bath design place. Not everyone has the style sense that Jonathon Scholl has. He worked in elements we would not have thought of and gently discouraged us from decisions that he knew we would regret later (such as we originally didn’t want to give up a cabinet for waste bucket but are now so glad we did). We worked collaboratively and were able to reuse about 80% of our existing cabinets by painting them and getting new doors made. This kept the cost down and appealed to our sense of responsible reuse. So what do our friends and family comment on the most? The gorgeous, furniture-grade island is a solid and functional centerpiece – all Jon’s design and workmanship; the tile backsplash - in particular, the area behind the cooktop – Jon’s selections (my initial selections would have been horrific in reality!); the spice drawer below my cooktop – the envy of all the cooks in my family; the lighted cabinet windows that showcase some of my favorite hand-painted pottery. After living with this kitchen renovation for over a year now, we are still delighted at how it turned out, thoroughly enjoy entertaining in it, and couldn’t imagine this turning out as well without Dovetail.