Over 100 Years of Combined Industry Experience

Our Team at DESIGNfirst Builders Near Chicago, Illinois

Friendly and Professional

MEET THE AWARD-WINNING HOME REMODELING TEAM THAT BRINGS
YOUR PROJECT TO LIFE.

Working with DESIGNfirst, you won’t have to worry about coordinating and budgeting for designers, contractors, and other necessities—we handle everything for you. Our Chicago design/build firm manage the entire project with a diverse team of in-house experts, who work together to simplify the process for homeowners and make high-end designs accessible to more people. Get to know the people behind DESIGNfirst that keep our clients coming back, year after year.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS

Our architectural design team spends hands-on time with homeowners, developing project ideas into real plans. They consult with you in your home, sketching, rendering and finding creative solutions turning a vision into a reality.

ARCHITECTS & INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Our in-house development team manages all interior design details from our 12,000 sq. foot showroom, assisting you in selecting the best options, materials and finishes such countertops, cabinetry, tile and more that represent your style and align with your budget. Our Coordination team manages all of the paperwork and permitting, to ensure everything is in place before construction begins.

PROJECT MANAGERS

Our project managers work in the field, supervising the construction process. They make sure that everything is completed to specification, and that all of our work meets your expectations. If you need anything during the building process, your project manager is there to help. Our Chicago design/build team and process make renovating and remodeling more efficient, more cost-effective and more easily-managed than any other Chicagoland company.

OUR TEAM

TONY SLADE

OWNER & LEAD DESIGNER

Owner of DESIGNfirst Tony Slade E-mail: [email protected]

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The first of our amazing team.

Tony’s vision, passion and a phenomenal imagination make him the unique designer he is today. With over ten years of hands-on experience in all areas of design, construction, and technology, he is always thinking of the big picture without sacrificing the details. Accented by an education in Business Administration and Finance, Tony works diligently to discover and design the most valuable projects for his clients

DAN SCHOENDORFF

OWNER & VICE PRESIDENT

DESIGNfirst Owner Dan Schoendorff E-mail: [email protected]

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Enhancing our teams Since December 2016

Long-time friend of Tony Slade, Dan’s vision is clear: provide customers with the highest level of service in all areas and work diligently to offer the greatest value for every project.

Dan works closely with a dedicated, experienced team of professionals at Design First Builders who share his enthusiasm for this industry and he has been responsible for helping several companies in the industry win countless awards for design creativity and construction excellence.

Not content to simply design and build fabulous custom homes and renovation projects for his clients, Dan understands the need to offer additional services, and believes his company's Cooking Skills Academy and Ann Tucker Millwork company rise to the occasion. Today, Dan enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a designer and builder, with satisfied customers and magnificent projects throughout Chicagoland.

Dan earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Newman University. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, and is active with the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest fraternal organization dedicated to providing charitable services, promoting education and actively working to provide insurance to care for the widows and orphans who are left behind.