Architects in Benton Harbor, MI

“As a Chicagoland kitchen and bath designer, I have worked with the dSPACE group on a number of residential kitchen and baths. They are a talented and professional group. Great ideas and inspired designs flow from the studio on Lincoln Ave. A pleasure to work with on every job.”

“We interviewed 3 architects and chose John Allegretti based on his previous work and enthusiasm for our specific project. We wanted to go from a 1-1/2 story, 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath to something more. Our lot size is 33 x 132 ft. which isn't much to work with. Our location on lake Michigan's Silver Beach is extremely desirable but our home was not allowing us to take full advantage of available views. John created a full second story complete with a master suite (bedroom, bath and living area) and walk out second floor deck. This deck offers privacy and another beach view perspective. We now have expansive views throughout our home. (John used glass railings throughout.) We ended up with a more spacious home than we had envisioned. John also presented our project to the local planning commission (we needed variances), and remained engaged throughout the project which was a big help to us. We would work with John Allegretti and his associates again.”

“After a few false starts with others in the area, Keystone has been a breath of fresh air, with timely service, reasonable rates, and great customer service. It's also clear that Keystone's technical advice is very sound. Being an engineer, my curiosity can be unwelcome in technical areas, but Ven has helped me fully understand the merits of his work. He's also helped our builder bring solid plans to reality, with little of the friction you might expect between architect and builder. Working with Keystone has been a rare pleasure in today's world; not only has the quality, cost and thoroughness of Keystone's work been excellent, but their sense of urgency has helped keep our rehab project timeline intact.”

“Hired to select and evaluate potential sites on our property adjacent to a wetland. After site selection designed a rustic modernist cabin that was environmentally conscious and leveraged the views and available light. Was a great process from the beginning. Truly an amazing, thoughtful and considerate, Fred is an amazing architect and craftsman. We hioghly recommend him.”

“Nothing but praise for Helman Sechrist Architecture: we are in a home we couldn’t even dream of (better than a ‘dream home’) - designed by Helman Sechrist! We had a design challenge - leaving behind two homes that we loved, and combining into 1 new home that would accommodate my family (husband and 3 kids) and my mom, ensuring space for everyone and universal accessibility. We looked at a few homes in our area, then we spent months looking at plans, and realized that nothing pre-drawn was going to work for our family. From my first conversation with Jeff Helman, I was confident that he understood our unique situation - he agreed that we would need to start from scratch. I realize now that this is how they design all their homes - designing spaces around the needs and wants of their clients, spaces that function perfectly and are beautiful! The journey was amazing - their process ensures they are aware of all the functions you want to accomplish in your home - before any plans are drawn. We met extensively with Jeff and Brad (Sechrist), they were alway patient and a pleasure to work with even when we were not at our best - ( imagine how hard a project is to coordinate between two people - then add a mom / mother-in-law to that mix). The staff at Helman Sechrist was there for us throughout the project - They helped us with the bidding process, helped us pick the right builder, made sure that the house was on the lot where it should be, and even talked us through the inevitable rough spots. I cannot express how much we love our new space, how perfectly it is working for us. The spaces that we are living in are just the right size, very spacious - but still cozy; never cavernous or cold. If you want a house that fits your family and your needs - not a house that you have to fit into - Helman Sechrist is well worth the investment.”

“Jesse Hibler is an excellent architect, talented and responsive to concerns. We built a home with his guidance over the last eighteen monthsa And we are extremely satisfied. His design captured the feel we were looking for, and we Feel he came up with a plan that suited our needs, both in style and function. Jesse has a fun personality and we really enjoyed the design phase of our project.”

“I have used Design Evolutions for two of my homes, both in Battle Creek, MI. The second one is so spectacular I could not sell it when I took a job in a new city. Ii so appreciate the talent and abilities of this firm. You know what they say. Be open to new concepts and allow a talented professional do what they love. Our home took advantage of a wonder view location and was sited on the lot with direct interaction with the designer. I personally am a landscaper and artist but not by trade. I wrapped a landscape around my house that even amazed the top landscape company in town. Design Evolutions gave me a creative pallet to allow a wonderful extpreciation from which to put into my art work.”

“Jim came up with a concept to fix a problem we had at our house. It had been cobbled together over the years and added onto numerous times. There were 4 ridge lines that were all different heights and latitudes. They were also all different pitches. His idea eliminated two of them and added a very nice look to the old house. We also gained a nice covered porch area. Jim also provided us with a number of different elevation views of the house with various treatment and siding options. It helped make the two story area of our house go from the look of it being added on to, as an afterthought, to being part of the plan, from the beginning.”

“In 2012 we purchased several acres in a secluded area in northern Michigan as a place to retreat from our busy, everyday lives. We contacted Ben and Kristi because of their experience, expertise and honest reputation to design a "cabin in the woods" with an open floor plan to maximize accessibility and social living. This would serve as a vacation getaway with an option for our retirement home. Working with Ben and Kristi was smooth and comfortable and they were always accessible for questions and changes. Our beautiful cabin, as well as our experience with WHD, far exceeded our expectations.”