Threshold Design Lab

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!

Paul Schulman did a fantastic job of designing and supervising the renovation of our 5-bedroom Old Town loft apartment, including the kitchen and bathrooms. He came up with plans to open the kitchen to create a large great room that instantly modernized the apartment. He enlarged and updated the master bath and powder rooms. The materials that he selected, including the marble for the kitchen counters and bathrooms, the tiles, carpeting and paint were all smart and beautiful. He brought the entire job in on time and on budget. It was a pleasure to work with him, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a masterful designer-contractor.

I hired Paul Schulman Design for multiple rehab and design projects in my home. For each of the projects, Paul's work was outstanding: his design concepts were terrific and his execution of the designs was timely, cost conscious, and better than I could have imagined---- Paul is wonderful to work with--- he is responsible, responsive and a pleasure. I would wholeheartedly recommend him.

My husband and I bought a house that had previously been incompletely and poorly renovated. There were numerous problems with the millwork, floors, entryway design, fireplaces, etc. We knew the house had tremendous potential, but didn’t know how to fix the many problems. Our other challenge was that the house was very old and traditional but our aesthetic is contemporary/modern, and we had no clue how to make the house fit our sensibility. Fortunately, we got Paul involved! He knows a TREMENDOUS amount about millwork, molding, floors, overall interior structure, etc and transformed the house from truly dreadful in some places to immaculate and beautiful. It was amazing to see the difference in the home even from subtle changes he made. He made impeccable choices from the paint colors and light fixtures to the total redesign of our entry way. Overall, he demonstrated an intuitive sense of how to blend our very old home with our modern furniture, helping us marry these two aesthetics seamlessly. On a personal note, Paul is tireless, meticulous, creative, dedicated and eternally cheerful. He is a true pleasure to work with and REALLY knows his stuff.

The designer consulted on partial remodel/redecorating of two bathrooms. The work included setting goals and budget, recommending sources, providing guidance on choices of finishes and materials, selecting paint colors, and reviewing many options I found on my own through internet and showroom searches (I wanted to do this to save money and also see what was out there). My project was a great success, and I loved working with Paul Schulman Design. Everything took about 4 months, from initial meeting in Chicago (where I visit my daughter) to the completion of the actual work in my home in Chevy Chase, Maryland (outside D.C.). All other communication was done via email (or regular mail) by sending photos and links. This worked quite well, since almost all products and materials are viewable online, and drawings and diagrams can easily be scanned for emailing. Regarding timeliness, when I sent a message, Paul usually got back to me within a few hours, and if I said I had an urgent question, within minutes. In return, I did try to respect his time; when I didn't need a response for several days, I said so. I started with one magazine photo of a look I liked and a long list of everything I hated about both bathrooms. Paul offered options and an approach, then suggested wholesale sources (for floor tile, for example) in Chicago that I visited in person. He ordered the tile, which was easy to pick up from the company's service center in Maryland. All other items I purchased from major online retailers and the many online suppliers of faucets and hardware. Would you believe you can get free delivery on shower doors from a supplier thousands of miles away? As a matter of fact, I paid for shipping on only two light fixtures and a switch plate cover. On every choice, every decision, I was able to get Paul's guidance via a quick email. I was so happy with the progress of the bathrooms that I decided to upgrade the whole upper level of my townhouse. I sent floor plans, a carpet sample, and a fabric sample to Paul, and he suggested a color palette that I loved. Speaking as a person who has personally repainted a room five or six times trying to get it right, this ultimately saved money and frustration, but also disappointment. Even on a modest budget these things are expensive, and it is so easy to go wrong on your own. What I experienced working with Paul was true collaboration: he listened well and worked with me in a way I was comfortable with and truly enjoyed. Finally, and a very important detail: my bathrooms look great, just the combination of vintage and contemporary that I wanted.

Paul has helped us with a wide range of projects -- redesigning bath and kitchen, building custom cabinetry, designing interior and external spaces, making custom furniture, sourcing a custom fountain, and re-imagining spaces. He's also a great source of design ideas, vendors and subcontractors. Paul has gotten to know our tastes and sensibilities. He is terrific at both working within those and nudging us in directions that are consistent with what we like but might not always be something we'd pick given our first inclinations. He listens well, makes suggestions, goes back to the drawing board if necessary and helps us get to something we' end up being very happy with. It's also fun to give Paul a concept and let him run with it. He will then check back in and then we refine together. He will do initial legwork -- both online and in person -- and has also accompanied us on shopping trips. As someone with a background in actually making things as well -- cabinets, furniture -- he brings multiple skills and perspectives to the job. We've appreciated his creativity, responsiveness, and sense of humor. Whenever we want to start to think about a new project, we call Paul.

Paul Schulman renovated and redesigned our single family home, including a gut renovation of both the kitchen and master bathroom. Our house had an awkward layout, a poorly functioning kitchen, and very little closet and storage space. Paul completely redesigned the layout of the first floor, greatly enhancing both the functionality and aesthetics of the space. He re-thought and rebuilt our kitchen to our (very demanding) specifications, and turned a poorly-lit, never-used upstairs space into a gorgeous window seat surrounded by closets and ingenious overhead storage. He worked hard to save us money (giving me adorable children's rooms with little more than fresh paint and reconfigured furniture) while simultaneously advising us on how to purchase furniture that could withstand the wear and tear of family life. What makes Paul so extraordinary is his personal investment in the projects on which he works. We were continually impressed by his attention to detail, his uncompromising standard of excellence, and the way in which he gave us his full attention. We always felt that Paul was honest, forthright, and transparent in all dealings with us. The best example of Paul's general approach to renovation is his redesign of our kitchen. We use our kitchen very heavily, cooking not only 3-4 meals per day here, but also making many of our staples (butter, flour, yogurt, cheese, etc.). We needed a kitchen that could stand up to heavy, consistent use. We also needed it to contain a lot of storage space as well as seating for all our children, in a space that's much smaller than a typical kitchen. We interviewed a number of contractors before meeting with Paul, and they all essentially offered us the same floor plan and layout. In contrast, before Paul did his drawings for our space, he asked to come over and watch me cook. He observed how I used the space, carefully noted which appliances I needed out on the counter at all times, and watched the flow of family traffic in and out of the room. Only then did he formulate his ideas about how to redesign the space. This type of appreciation for the ways in which real families live in their homes is what puts Paul in a class by himself. We now have a kitchen that works perfectly for our needs and our family, and that is creative, practical, functional, and lovely, all at the same time.

Paul helped on a number of design, contracting, and building items. We originally asked him to design, build and install a built-in bookcase for our living room. Once we got into that discussion, and with no "hard sell" from Paul, we realized that we needed substantially more help. We ended up, in addition to the original bookcase that is great, having Paul re-do much of our downstairs lighting (living room, dining room, kitchen); repainting the rooms downstairs to create more connection and continuity throughout the floor; installing a full wall decorative mirror in the dining room; cutting down the height of our breakfast bar in the kitchen and putting in a new backsplash; purchasing new furniture to work better with the space and new decor; designing and building a "floating" cabinet in our entryway; and installing shelving for some decorative items. We have also used Paul for other episodic advice on design and decorating, and for access to his network for needs around the house (e.g. plumbers, fireplace maintenance, etc.). We will also have Paul help us with some upcoming work on other floors of our home. Paul is great to work with. My wife and I have overlapping but different aesthetics. Paul really listened to both of us and was able to find solutions that we both liked and his attention to that and his diligence in finding good options was terrific. We were both impressed by how many good choices we had from Paul that excited both of us, and he was patient when we needed time to come to a conclusion. We couldn't be happier with the results and think that the floor of our house that Paul worked on is by far the nicest and most comfortable. In addition, Paul was very easy to work with. He was always responsive (and continues to be), performed the work on or ahead of schedule, charged what he said he would with no surprises, and immediately fixed problems as they arose. Even now when we have an occasional issue with something he did (e.g. a sconce broke recently), Paul shows up, figures out what happened, and gets it fixed. He also has been generous in getting us connected to his sub-contractors when we need something done and not trying to always be in the middle, which to me is a signal of his integrity.

Paul provided consultation and design services when I moved into a new townhouse condo. He has the amazing creative ability to walk into a room and instantly visualize a design that works in the space. The furniture he selected is both stunning, practical and very comfortable.

I have worked with Paul Schulman on a number of decorating and renovation projects and he is a talented designer with an amazing eye for materials, color and proportion. Paul's sourcing network is broad (from high range to more affordable) and he has an amazing network of quality and trustworthy subcontractors. I appreciated working with Paul as he brought his experienced perspective and insights to my projects while understanding and incorporating my design aesthetic and preferences. It is truly enjoyable to work with Paul, he is client-focused with a wry sense of humor and excellent insights.