Client Accolades and
Transformative Experiences

Amy N
We used Howie and Function Basement Design in 2016 to finish our basement and we could not be happier with the entire experience!! The design was different from our initial idea for the space and turned out to be absolutely perfect. The entire process from design through construction and completion was completely seamless. Howie and all of his subcontractors were very professional, reliable and completed high quality work. We would 100% recommend Function Basement Design to anyone looking for a great space and a great experience!!

Alison C
We highly recommend Function Basement Design for your project. Howie is a pleasure to work with and knows his stuff! We met with many contractors in order to find the right one, and we are very glad we chose Howie as he made the project run extremely smoothly and was there every step of the way. Unlike other contractors, Howie would either answer our call/texts or respond right away to questions/concerns. Besides that, the work was awesome and he made sure to make our basement feel like an extension of our house by matching all the woodwork and helping with design. We receive many compliments on the finished product. You cannot go wrong with Howie and his crew - We promise you!

Bridget S
My wife and I used Howie Coluzzi & Function Basement Design for the finishing of our basement in 2015. My wife and I had never undertaken such a project and thus had not experience to pull from. From our initial meeting Howie & Function Basement Design stood out from their completion on their level of professionalism. Howie not only listened to our ideas but he also provided suggestions to help us to come up with the best design that has exceeded our expectations. While in the construction process all the contractors showed the same professionalism and courtesy that we had come to expect from the Function Basement Design team. Howie clearly communicated timing, schedules and expectations weekly throughout the entire process. During the finishing Howie also helped provide recommendations on paint, carpet and tile which was of great help to us in making our decisions. Howie was on site for all inspections, final walk through and even personally stopped by several months after the completion of the project as we had a small concern we wanted to have addressed. A year after the completion of the project we remain very pleased with the choice we made to go with Howie & Function Basement Design and would recommend them to anyone in the market to finish their basement.

Jovelt J
We hired Function Basement Design to finish our basement after being really impressed by the work he did for some friends. Howie was extremely helpful with us throughout the entire process, from producing several different proposals until we were satisfied with the plan to ensuring we were happy with the tile backsplash we selected for our bar area, gym area and space allotted for our new media room.
He worked closely with us, in detailing exact quotes and referrals to facilitate our selection. He showed a great deal of professionalism, reviewing work on site done by his contractors. The quality of work produced by Function Basement Design was top notch. We are absolutely thrilled by the new living area we have acquired in our basement and absolutely love the good work done to provide more space for our kids to play in a nice open area. The kids use the basement pretty much every day.
We have recommended Function Basement Design to some neighbors and friends and hope they truly consider their services due to the quality work they provide.

Warren S
We we referred to Function Basement by a co-worker of mine. After getting multiple bids, Function was the clear choice. They made the process so easy and met every request we had. They were always on time and delivered on every promise made. The only delays we experienced were through the permit process, not anything Function Basement could control. And even those delays were minimal and Function worked through it to make it smooth.
The results were spectacular. We needed them to help us with design, and they didn't disappoint. Our basement is now the focal point of the house, and we couldn't be happier. Truely a spectacular company with dedicated and hard working people that want to do the job right and meet every need of the customer.
Well done!!!

Jason F
Howie and his team were professional and offered great suggestions to enhance the project and kept costs under control. Work quality was great and we also had some unusual requests his team was able to accommodate easily. We love our basement- it's used by the whole family on a daily basis!

Kim A
Howie was absolutely amazing to work with! The communication was superb and quality top notch. We LOVE our basement! All of his contractors were professional and courteous. He made everything seem so easy, and there were no surprises -- his proposal was clear and detailed. If we had another basement, we'd use him again!

JJ
We Challenged the Function team Chicago style – River North meets West Loop, Warm Rustic + Clean Modern. They absolutely delivered on expectations and went WELL ABOVE. Project challenges included Reclaimed wood, Reclaimed Beam Mantle, Distressed Dark Walnut on top of a 0 cookie cutter template bar… Since the project has completed not one person has stepped in without a jaw dropping immediately followed by “Can we take Pictures?, Can we copy this design?, and WHO DID THIS”. The caliber of quality/craftsmanship is unreal and Howie’s crew knowledge, professionalism couple with problem solving/engineering ability is truly unmatched. HIGHLY recommended – and already sharing contact info...

Jason M
We could not be happier with our finished basement. Howie was excellent to work with every step of the way, from the initial proposal through the execution of the project. His attention to detail is beyond compare. He understood our needs, our style, and our budget. We appreciated the prompt and responsive communications and the detailed financial/budget information he provided. The end result exceeded all of our expectations. We have already recommended him to our friends and we will turn to Howie for any future home improvement needs

CS
We hired Function Basement for 2 separate projects. For each, Howie was a great partner...much more than a hired contractor. He spent a lot of time with us to understand how we wanted to use our spaces, what styles and features we liked, and what we didn’t like. We didn’t need a separate designer to bring our spaces to life because he was able to bring us options that fit what we were looking for. During the projects, he was always around, making sure that each step was completed to perfection. He provided detailed timelines and budgets, and stayed within both on each of the projects. I have complete trust in Howie, and will hire him again for any future projects!

LF
Howie is extremely well organized, easy to work with, and his team does great work at very competitive prices. We were very pleased with the process from the beginning as Howie provided a highly detailed quote and was on top of all the details throughout the project. He helped with the design and walked us through each step as necessary. I would definitely recommend him to friends for any basement job.

Paul B.
Of the three companies interviewed to finish our basement, we chose Function Basement Design and that turned out to be the best decision we could possibly have made. Howie was very professional in every aspect, on site daily, extremely easy to work with, very helpful with design, and did the highest quality work at a reasonable price completing the project on time.

We love everything about our new basement and constantly receive compliments from family and friends when they visit. It was truly a pleasure working with Howie Coluzzi and I would give Function Basement Design my highest recommendation.

Jennie F
Howie and his crew were amazing! I am not a very trusting person to have contractors in and our of my house and I never had a worry about him and his crew. They were very respectable of our family life, of our house rules and of our house. I am beyond pleased with the work that they did and the basement we have now is amazing! I would highly encourage others to use Function Basement Design if they are getting their basements done!

BA
My wife and I are super pleased with the work done by Howie and his team on subcontractors. He finished our basement a few years ago and we've received many compliments from friends & family who've enjoyed it with us. I have referred Howie to others as well who went with him and were equally impressed.

JC
I was very impressed with Howie and the Function Basement design and build team. He provided a very competitive quote and great design ideas and options for us to consider. He worked well with our city permitting process, and his team was on time and the project stuck to the budget except where I asked for added features; which were well accommodated. His team also was careful bringing things in and was thoughtful to keep things clean upstairs. I was happy with the time it took to complete the project, and especially Howie's attention to details throughout. Function Basement completed our basement over two years ago now, and we are still extremely happy with everything. I wholeheartedly recommend Howie and his team.

LG
Function Basement Design was a true pleasure to work with. They not only met our deadline(rare in this industry) but beat it by almost a week!! Work was does timely and with high quality. The crew was always polite, courteous and cleaned up daily. Howie obviously does a great job of tying it all together. There was never a moment we felt out of the loop or disconnected from the project. We have, and will continue to recommend him to anyone looking to finish off their space.

Pati A
Howie and his crew recently completed my 1000+ square foot basement. I was extremely satisfied with the end result.....my basement exceeded my expectations! The whole process, from design to the end of construction, was easy and hassle-free. Howie and all of his workers were meticulous and paid attention to detail. Howie was easy to work with and very accessible; he always responded quickly to my emails and texts. At the time of final payment, there were no "surprises" or hidden costs. The end result was an excellently crafted, beautiful basement.

Rachy B
Howie and his team did an AMAZING job with our basement--- we were beyond excited! He made a fairly small space feel spacious, polished and warm. It is without a doubt our favorite place in our home. We love the high-end touches and that it flows beautifully with the rest of our home...and yet he did it all within a budget that made sense for us. We have a toddler and another little one on the way, so getting the most for our budget was very important to us. Howie was an excellent partner--he really listened to our needs and came up with a great space for our growing family. Additionally, the people he brought into our home were friendly, respectful and made the process an easy one. Thank you, Howie!!