Testimonials

"I have known Philip since 1998, and have worked with him on a number of different projects. His commitment and passion for his work, along with his creativity and excellent communication skills, never cease to impress me as a designer. It is always a pleasure working with Philip, and I am looking forward to working with him on my future projects.”

- Lilya Sirazi
Lilya Sirazi Design

“My wife Leslie and I first learned about Philip through a cousin who lived in the city and had an entire wall “painted” by Philip. This “wall” was essentially a concept piece that turned a small apartment into an art gallery.

“When we talked to Philip about designing and decorating our home, he came up with more great ideas on his initial walk through then all of the other designers put together that we interviewed. His energy was infectious and he was literally racing around our house throwing out ideas on how his theme would run throughout. Our house is a 1961 contemporary with a lot of windows – his first thought was: ‘the outdoor scenery is such eye candy, that we’re not going to have artwork on the inside that draws more attention than the outside….a unique insight which we agreed with. It was magical to watch our house evolve and see Philip’s brainchild take shape. My wife and I made final choices on palette colors and after a few rooms were complete, we basically gave Phillip carte blanche to pick all furnishings. Our house turned out magnificent and Philip and his team have been great to work with in terms of follow up and maintenance. What I especially enjoy about his company’s service is their pro-active approach to maintenance items such as painting, floor-finishing etc.

“Philip has since decorated our offices (we’re manufacturers) and he gave us some very cool “industrial-chic” furnishings. We also bought a condo in Chicago last year and he executed an amazing plan to give it a completely differently look….yet you can clearly see it’s a PSD creation.

“In sum, Philip and his team have been a pleasure to work with. His creativity and knack for knowing how to “make things work” is uncanny, yet he and his team also have the ability to execute the creations. I trust the PSD team implicitly and would not consider using any other designer for future work.”

- Mark and Leslie Zucker

“Philip has turned our house into a home. His willingness to spend time getting to know us, how we live, and what's important to our family helped him design spaces that are beautiful, comfortable and functional. When Philip learned about my husband's passion for woodworking, he incorporated old tools into the design of the main living area. Our formal living room became a lively music room that is busy each evening with children practicing their instruments. Our master bedroom has become a sanctuary. Best of all, when people come into our home, they are not in awe because it's a showpiece, they are in awe, because our home so perfectly reflects our family.”

- Joann and Steve Callahan

“I don't have the kind of house (or budget) that requires a designer. I liked my furniture and loved my artwork, but something just wasn't working. The whole space lacked cohesiveness and flair. I heard that Philip does mini consults so I gave it a try. Within 30 minutes he had a great visual plan for tying three rooms together. He immediately pinpointed the problems and came up with amazing, creative solutions. Without realizing it, I was making a different "statement" in each room and the balance was way off. I had struggled with these spaces for years and within minutes he knew exactly what the problem was. I was impressed. Then Philip said, "Don't add another piece of furniture that doesn't provide storage for your family." I felt like he understood issues of a modern family and the need to create a beautiful space that also allows us to enjoy the space. Then he pointed to a piece in my living room and said "Are you going to take this to the curb, or shall I?" That was the moment I knew this was the person I wanted to hire. I knew he was going to force me out of my comfort zone and into something a little more daring, a little more fun. (And he was right that piece needed to GO). So without a huge budget or a lot of time, the three rooms were completely transformed. The final result is a perfect combination
of who we are and how we live.”

- Susan Bonner

“Truly unique is how we view our Philip Sassano Family room project. Spring of 2008 we set out to "redecorate" our 100 year old Victorian and take the "fluff" out, and put in something more our style however we did not quite know what our style was. Then the Sassano team started and did the most important thing - Listen! They got it -we love our room - contemporary yet traditional. So happy we immediately signed on with them to handle our exterior redo. Quickly our painted Victorian was transformed to a new home look. Complete professionalism thus our redo continues!”

- Amy Schiller

“Wallscapes Custom Framing & Art Gallery in Elmhurst, IL has been working with Philip Sassano for 5 years and has been very impressed with his creativity and design work. Philip is a very talented artist and visionary. His work shows insight that only Philip can design.”

- Frank & Angela DeFeo

"Philip Sassano is by far the most creative, artistic, and talented design professional that I have worked with. One of his most unique assets is his ability to transform reclaimed material into something truly spectacular and original! From hand-painted tin for crown molding, to gorgeous decorative applications on furniture, to stained glass windows from an old church turned into decorative ledges, to a console table made from the parts of a Parisian balcony, Philip will add lots of unique interest in every design plan. His designs are well-orchestrated, interesting and very unique! My husband, kids and I enjoy the new spaces that Philip designs because not only does he make it look spectacular, he also incorporates our needs as a family and improves the way we use the different spaces in our home.”

- Angie and George Kapotas

“Without hesitation, your (as we affectionately refer to it) dining room ceiling is the most beautiful accent in our home! Whenever guests come over, they marvel at the hand-finished, custom color-tinted and patina accented tin ceiling that greets them at our dining room entrance.

"Regarding the installation, one would never know you were here as you left our home as neat and as tidy as your found it. We were amazed that you completed the project so quickly yet no detail was left unattended to.

"We give our highest recommendation for PSD to anyone who desires the utmost level of professionalism, creativity and unique craftsmanship that will enhance the beauty of their home!”

- David and Sharon Grotto

“Warning: Philip’s passion for discovery of unique materials and transforming them into a beautiful works of art for the home is highly contagious. I have worked with Philip for over five years. I will always be looking to him for more creative help in my home, because it is just plain fun. I could never get enough of the interesting objects of design that fit perfectly into my design plan he knows so well. When my family and company enter my home, there is always a new discovery for them. From the original work of art, to the beautiful new found interesting object or the perfect new fabricated design, it never fails to fuel interest and conversations and memories, over and over again at my parties.

“I had the extraordinary benefit of meeting Philip and bringing him into our new home which was like a blank canvas in many ways. It seems to me it allowed a real shining example of his work because when I say blank canvas, I do mean blank. We came from a small condo in Chicago with little furniture and not much at all in the way of design interest. Now I realize the lack of interest made as much noise as any design would in such a void. The rooms we lived in daily were boring, cold with just basic chairs or tables, and not a bit of warmth, only echoes of children’s feet running through them. Our basement was completely unfinished down to cement floors and insulation hanging out from between the studs. Where does a new home owner begin with an empty house? Where does a new mother with time only for a new baby begin? How do you make this new construction house, feel like the home I knew and loved growing up? The old farm house I grew up in was built by my great grandfather on the open prairie. It had history, it had character, it had warmth that was built up over 100+ years. I wanted that warmth of home, but knew it could not be done overnight. I knew it couldn’t just be ordered out of a catalog, or bought in a big brand store. I did not want my house to feel like a show room, that cold feeling when you walk into the mall. But I had to do something fast, because I had the cold feeling of empty too. It seemed overwhelming, until I met Philip.

“Imagine my surprise to open my eyes up a few months later to our dream Irish Pub. Philip took green to a whole higher level. He not only used materials that were beautiful, but perfectly tailored by him for our space. He found and fashioned an antique door for us and a doorway to a room was instantly brought to life with its history and beauty. No one walks by it with out asking about it. It is if the door reaches out and touches people as they walk by and they cannot help but ask about it. Can you imagine a door from Home Depot having that effect on people?

“It was Philip’s innovation and thoughtfulness that made reclaimed materials into a reality of beauty and functionality in an Irish Pub. I did not want just an Irish themed basement. A million and one people could have done this. Philip tapped into what I really wanted, not something that screamed Irish in neon-lights, but that feeling of the Irish….the warmth, the hospitality, the welcome that you feel when you walk into a pub in Ireland and it feels like a big hug. I wanted a portal that transported people in some way to feel like they were in another place at another time so they could let down their guard and relax. That is not easy to do….that takes passion, and skill and heart. Thanks to Philip, that is what I have in my home.

“Philip created a space using mostly reclaimed materials that has the feeling of my own home that had been there forever. This is the foundation where we would put my family’s roots down and grow. Already there are many memories that will be treasured for all times. Young ones today will talk in years to come about birthdays and Christmases and endless celebrations and traditional Irish wakes celebrating the life of our beloved Dad in the pub. The décor unquestionably makes those memories more special. The materials used almost seem to summon our ancestors into the room.

“The pub is a living and breathing work of art that has soul and purpose. True, our family and love would shine no matter what room we were in, but somehow, there is a special feeling to a memory that touches all the senses in the right way. When the reclaimed materials give the home a history and the memory is even more vivid remembering it in that setting. I can tell you with great certainty, no one in my family will ever forget details in our home. I feel that is what Philip’s design does for my home. It makes the old feel new, if it is a reclaimed object. It makes the new feel old if it is new construction. Now my home feels like we’ve always been here, and we are growing our family tree of memories in the perfect setting.

“It is not just my own, biased opinion of a happy customer. I have to admit, even more than my family and closest friends compliments on our home that mean a lot to me, the ones that sometimes matter even more to me are the strangers who walk into our home and need to just sit down to soak it in. I really appreciate when we have a service call being done and when just a regular hard working Joe (i.e. furnace cleaner, sprinkler service, etc.) who walks into hundreds of basements, just stops and lets out a wow. I have to admit, I have the inn keepers urge to pour them a fresh pint of Guinness and let them sit at the bar, but no work would ever get done around here then.

“I love this room, and the many others Philip has worked on with me in our house. I believe, the beauty of the reclaimed and repurposed materials, brought to me through Philip, is in the details of warmth. It seems to me these materials are what make my home more homey for me and every visitor. For example, my fireplace wall, which could have been in any of the new homes built up at the same time, is finished off by a beautifully detailed piece of French tin at the top. That small detail makes a big difference. It goes from the standard fare, to a special and older feeling that gives a warmth sitting around that fire like we’ve been here, and it welcomes you into the room. You slide into the weathered leather chairs next to that fire with a drink and magazine and it feels like putting on your favorite well worn piece of clothing you love. Like it was always meant to be this way.

“Or by taking my pictures from Ireland I thought were doomed to a scrap book in the attic forever. Pictures that seemed dull, he cropped, colored, framed beautifully and brought them to life. Instant warmth, and a conversation for all my guests as we talk about my trips to Ireland and family history. Philip had the vision to bring this all together for me. My life, my spirit, my soul came together easily in this room, so that I could get busy living my life in my home, raising my kids hosting my parties and not struggling with designs and settings of it. The people make it beautiful and it is the perfect back drop for these beautiful people.”

- Mary and Mike Braden