Orren Pickell Building Group

There are many design/build firms from which to choose in the Chicago area, but the area's most discerning homeowners choose Orren Pickell. Why? Because not only do we consistently get top honors in many of the area's design and building awards, but we're also decidedly different in a number of other ways. Some firms are able to design a beautiful home, but bid it out to be built. Others may be able to design and build it, but bring in subcontractors to handle the kitchen cabinets and leave punch list items and maintenance to yet another team.

Simply put, Orren Pickell Building Group takes the risk and worry out of architectural design and custom home building. Your custom home or re-model will be finished to your specifications on time and within budget thanks to our award-winning team that will make your project our top priority. Our longevity, time-proven process, demanding standards and our ability to expertly manage every aspect of the building process from design to home maintenance set us apart from other builders. Yes - Designing and building custom homes is our passion.

Peggy Smedley sits down with Lisa Pickell, COO, Orren Pickell Building Group, to discuss how the labor force has changed in the last 20 years and what can be done to get more women involved in the construction industry. Pickell also talks about how to keep a family-owned business running in a competitive landscape. Deciding whether to leave where you live and build a custom home or renovate and remodel what you have can be an emotional struggle. On the other hand, if you don't like where you live, the decision can be easy.

Even though you're building your dream home, at the end of the day it's important that you know how much it's going to cost-and that the budget estimates you're given at the beginning of the project aren't wildly different from the actual costs at the project completion. That's why it's so important that we accurately estimate both the costs and the timeframe of the project before we break ground. At the Orren Pickell Building Group, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide accurate estimates for both new home builds and remodeling projects.

The Orren Pickell Building Group stands by our work; that's why we offer a one-year home warranty on every new home we build and all of our remodeling projects. But our approach to stellar service goes much deeper than that. Unlike other design/build firms, we put as much emphasis on the quality and level of service we provide after you move in. What paint color and finish are used in your master bedroom? What specific HVAC system was installed in your home? You'll be able to answer these questions-and much more-thanks to the Pickell Portal.

While there is no greater honor than working with a family to create the custom home of their dreams, Orren Pickell has enjoyed and appreciated the recognition of his peers and industry-leading publications as one of the Midwest's premier designers and builders for a significant portion of his career. His projects are regularly featured in magazines, trade publications and other local and national media, highlighting current trends and techniques or to demonstrate the unique features and spaces of his clients' custom dream homes.

Known best for designing multimillion dollar custom homes, Orren Pickell has a team of in-house architects, kitchen and bath designers and expert trim carpenters, as well as access to reliable, trusted subcontractors to help us complete jobs on time and on budget. And for our remodeling work, we draw upon those same resources to ensure that your renovation experience is equally top-notch. Unlike other companies, Orren Pickell is a full-service design/build/remodeling firm; the same architects and builders whose work is featured in Dream Kitchens & Baths and Luxe Interiors + Design are the experts who will be working on your remodeling project.

Want to build on your own land? Whether you've already found a lot that you love or need help deciding on the perfect lot for your new custom home, Orren Pickell Building Group can help. If you have questions or concerns about a lot, let us help. Our experienced team of architects, engineers and builders can provide insightful answers. No matter how you find your lot-with the help of a broker or on your own-due diligence is important to ensuring your custom dream home becomes a reality instead of a nightmare.

The Orren Pickell Building Group brings proven design expertise to every custom dream home and remodeling project we complete. In fact, over the past 40 years, we've been recognized throughout the Chicago area with more than 350 awards for our excellence in design and building innovation, including numerous Crystal Key Awards, the highest honor bestowed by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago. We're also proud to note that our client's custom built homes have graced the pages of Dream Kitchens & Baths, The North Shore Weekend, Design & Architecture and the Chicago Tribune's home section, among a number of other publications.

Known for years for our innovation in home design, the Orren Pickell Building Group is increasingly becoming known for our innovative technology that helps keep homeowners informed and involved in the home building process. The Orren Pickell Portal is an award-winning online client project management software that lets you see exactly where your home is in the design/build process. Our laser room scanner creates 3D renderings of the existing space down to the inch to speed along the remodeling process, and our 65 touch screen allows clients to draw right on their blueprints to communicate their desires during our design meetings.

When you're looking for a luxury home builder with the experience, skills and capabilities to handle your custom home project or renovation from start to finish, choose Orren Pickell Building Group. Unlike other firms who might only be one or two people, Orren Pickell has a team of specialized professionals able to handle every aspect of the project from design through build and maintenance. Known in Chicago and throughout the North Shore for our beautiful, innovative designs, the Orren Pickell Building Group has been honored with more than 300 awards for design excellence.

Over the past 40 years, The Orren Pickell Building Group has developed a network of high-quality subcontractors with whom we regularly work. These subcontractors provide electrical, HVAC, plumbing and other services and have proven over the decades to deliver excellent results on-time and within budget. We turn to these subcontractors when it is time to gather competitive bids of our remodeling or home building projects, asking them to provide us with their best possible pricing for their service.