CHICAGOLAND

Artisans In Residence

A general contracting company that brings collaboration, design and real artistry to residential remodeling of historic and pre-war homes and condos in the Chicagoland area.

RENOVATIONS

Structural Repairs

Space Reconfigurations

Design Enhancements

ABOUT

ARTISANS IN RESIDENCE BASED IN CHICAGO

Artisans in Residence is unique because our clients are unique. Our customers are homeowners with sophisticated tastes and high standards. They welcome the artistry, craftsmanship and clever solutions that create present-day living spaces in the midst of historic and pre-war homes, condos and townhomes….

Our Recent

Projects

Every Space Counts

Why Choose Us

Collaboration

Artisans in Residence collaborates with you to help you work out all these details, especially where reconfiguring rooms and accommodating system changes (e.g., plumbing, electric, HVAC, etc.) are needed.

With expert understanding of building codes and with extensive experience, we can lend our own design and structural ideas that can augment your plan, or at a minimum give you options to consider. As necessary we can refer you to architects or specialty designers.

Design

When blending new lives with older homes, off-the-shelf solutions fall short. Standard solutions for today’s high function living frequently compromise the integrity, character and history of the original home.

Artisans in Residence is inherently inventive and the hallmark of our design approach is to create a seamless union between new lives and old homes.

Construction

Artisans in Residence has decades of experience renovating older and historic homes. This experience crosses disciplines and means we are familiar with underlying conditions, product lines, materials and various solutions. As a result, we can provide options to meet homeowners’ modern living needs while accommodating complex building codes.

Our appreciation for older and historic homes means we will gladly mill and fashion wood to be the exact fit and finish to repair and restore historical homes or customize solutions to achieve the desired design.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

David Gruber is a gifted contractor with a keen eye for aesthetics and practicality, mixed with a heavy dose of imagination. He and his trusted and capable team members transformed our well loved but aged and weary kitchen into a gleaming showcase of form, function and beauty.

John F.

Reconfigured and updated kitchen

Dave has tackled the exterior restoration of our Victorian era home in a way that has exceeded our expectations. The extent of the project included everything from roof to foundation, and Dave has amazed us with the knowledge and skill needed to address every complication this historical structure presented. In addition, we appreciated Dave's eye for design as well as his many ideas. The ability to be equally adept in both the technical and artistic sides of construction/ rehab work is the reason we would recommend him for any project. He is enjoyable to work with and has listened to us throughout the process. Thank you Dave for making our 1886 home like new again!

Jennifer C.

Exterior front porch restoration in Victorian era homenew rear entrance

David did a major renovation project for me (fully reconfigured kitchen, master closet, bathroom, and all new windows) in my 1916 condo building in Chicago. David is extremely conscientious, fair, and thoughtful in his approach to plans as well as unforeseen problems in old buildings. Construction projects always seem to take longer than planned, but much of the delay in my project involved changes in the scope of the work. David was sensitive to the challenges of living through construction, and he and his team would go above and beyond to meet deadlines that were important to me. I have recommended David to several others (I think almost everyone in my building has hired him for one project or another). Finally, I think it's important to note that David stands behind his work. He is very responsive to my follow-up calls and questions, and he continues to do odd projects for me as needed.

Jeanne W.

Vintage condo renovation in turn-of-the-century condominium building

I couldn't recommend Artisans in Residence more highly. Not only is their work of the highest possible standard, but David made multiple suggestions for both aesthetic and functional enhancements to my condo that I wouldn't have considered or known were possible otherwise. He is extremely receptive to customizing work to suit your individual taste and budget. David and his team are knowledgeable, meticulous, efficient, and pay great attention to detail. They also take care to contain the inevitable construction tools and mess at the end of each day, which was particularly important to me with a small child in the home. Because David and his team were so wonderful to work with, I ultimately doubled the original scope of work, and I couldn't be happier with the results!

Tracy V.

Urban condo renovation

David has done several projects for us and has always done top quality work. He is knowledgeable about all elements of remodeling which is critical in older houses because you never know what you'll find once you start pulling down walls. His depth of experience allows him to actively engage in all aspects of the project from planning and designing to the finishing details. He has a keen attention to detail and has pleasantly surprised us several times. In the (very infrequent) cases where we were unsatisfied with an outcome, he was quick to listen and understand our concern and then remedy the situation. I've enjoyed working with David and would highly recommend him for any remodeling project.

Kregg R.

New Rear Entrance with high end mudroom & office