Orren Pickell Building Group (OPBG), the North Shore’s leading custom luxury home design/build firm, celebrates the election of OPBG President Lisa Pickell to the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) Board of Trustees. Pickell, who has led the family-founded North Shore firm since 2017, has expanded the OPBG footprint with custom home projects in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Pickell’s appointment to the CAC Board of Trustees also expands the firm’s long tradition of civic engagement including Pickell’s work as a CAC docent (class of 2015) giving architecture tours on the organizatio ..read more

Aging in place — being able to live independently in your own home as you get older, rather than needing to move to an assisted living facility or retirement community — is a topic getting a lot of attention in the home-building industry.  And at Orren Pickell, it’s something we explore with our luxury home-building clients during the design process. After all, if you’re like most Orren Pickell clients, you plan on living in your new custom home for a decade or longer, meaning it’s important that we prepare for your future needs. So making thoughtful, forward-looking design decisions w ..read more

Aging in place — being able to live independently in your own home as you get older, rather than needing to move to an assisted living facility or retirement community — is a topic getting a lot of attention in the home-building industry.  And at Orren Pickell, it’s something we explore with our luxury home-building clients during the design process. After all, if you’re like most Orren Pickell clients, you plan on living in your new custom home for a decade or longer, meaning it’s important that we prepare for your future needs. So making thoughtful, forward-looking design decisions w ..read more

So you’ve decided to remodel a room (or several rooms) in your home, and you’re researching and interviewing firms to help make your vision a reality. Congratulations! But if you’re like most homeowners, you may feel somewhat confused as the estimates start to arrive. Because every remodeling company has its own process for developing estimates, one estimate looks radically different from the next, making it difficult to compare estimates effectively. As a homeowner, how do you ensure you receive the best pricing for your renovation project? And how can you avoid unwanted surprises, unexpecte ..read more

There was nothing wrong with the condo. However, built in 2007, its standard, low-quality finishes were showing their age and layout didn’t make a lot of sense. Enter the Pickell team, with an ability to see the tremendous impact a few minor shifts and brand new finishes could make. This soft loft conversion in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood features two bedrooms and two baths in 1,500 s.f. The client had a short wish list—new fixtures and finishes throughout, a walk-in shower to replace the tub in the master bath, and moving the laundry area out of a hallway and into a more private spa ..read more

Want to build on your own lot in Chicago or the North Shore? Congratulations! It’s an exciting time for you and your family. But if you’re land shopping before you choose your builder, you may be making an expensive mistake. All lots are not created equal, and the location, features and regulations that apply to a particular lot may make it difficult (if not impossible) to build your dream home. Let’s take a look at the top seven reasons you want to consult your builder before signing the dotted line on a lot purchase. The FAR Factor: “FAR” or “floor area ratio” refers to the ratio of the h ..read more

It’s no secret that when you live in the city, in a luxury high-rise or an historic brownstone, working within the existing footprint of your unit can be challenging since you don’t have the luxury of building up or adding a room like you do in a single-family home. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options when it comes to making your small bathroom feel bigger! After all, we have been remodeling bathrooms throughout Chicagoland for nearly fifty years. Let’s take a look at some of the common challenges of small city bathrooms, and discuss how choosing the right design elements can make y ..read more

Orren Pickell Building Group Named One of the “2019 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®” The Orren Pickell Building Group, known for one-of-a-kind homes throughout the Midwest, is now being recognized for its positive approach to doing business. One of just 540 companies to receive the award, Pickell was named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation® for 2019. “The award judges have confirmed what we know,” offers company president, Lisa Pickell. “Orren Pickell Building Group is an amazing group of people, and that makes it a great place to learn ..read more

So you’ve built (or bought) your luxury home, the place where you’ll raise your family, entertain guests and live your life. And if you want to make the most of your investment and maximize your enjoyment, you’ll want to ensure that your home is properly maintained. By staying on top of maintenance tasks, you’ll be able to identify and resolve potential issues early before they turn into major problems. Let’s take a look at 4 tips for luxury home maintenance. Create a Checklist The old edict “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” holds true when it comes to custom home maintenance; after ..read more

Which room in your home do you spend time in every day but often overlook? Your master closet. And today’s homeowners are looking for ways to enhance the level of luxury and organization by building a luxury custom walk in closet in their new homes or upgrading their standard closets with custom closets that offer dressing areas and tailor-made storage solutions. But what exactly take a closet from ordinary to extraordinary? Let’s take a look at some of the best custom walk in closet design features and get inspiration for creating the luxury walk in closet of your dreams. Luxury Begins and ..read more