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Reviews

Mr & Mrs S - Amersham

5 Stars *****

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Service


Highly Recommend Progressive Design!


Background: We moved to Amersham in 2021 having bought a 1920s house that was habitable but required modernising in terms of asbestos removal, rewiring and insulating. In addition to that work, we wanted to extend the ground and first floors to make it a more open plan living space.

 

Following a tender process, we chose Progressive Design and they were excellent from start (Apr 2022) to finish (Jan 2023). In what was potentially a very stressful project in inflationary times with a young family (newborn and 3 year old), every challenge was dealt with efficiently, creatively and economically. 


The main reasons for why we would recommend Progressive Design are as follows:

 

Dedicated Inhouse Team: this was a particular strength of the company and one that we think is quite rare having done three house renovations previously. The electrician, the plasterer, the carpenter, the foreman, sound and security, the plumber etc were all coordinated by Progressive Design. That provided focused responsibility, allowing for efficient decision making and communication. Also, the inhouse team worked very well with our kitchen, bathroom and flooring suppliers; they commented on how easy it was to work with the team.

 

Creativity: there was never a reaction of “not possible” and that was a reflection of the building knowledge within Progressive Design. There were many good solutions that we had not considered and they provided corrections for wrong decisions that we had made. For example, installing water softeners, creating different underfloor heating zones to economise working from home, re-working window apertures, maximising storage in eaves and understairs, sound proofing and sourcing prompt oil filled electric radiators to help our floor fitters get the house to the required temperature. 

 

Budget and Cost Transparency: one of the reasons that we selected Progressive Design in the tender process was the detail in their quote. We were very concerned about inflation and they understood our budget constraints by pricing additional work quickly and communicated different options for us to consider. A particular cost-avoidance for us was their ability to cost up all non-perishable materials so that we had the option to purchase them as soon as possible in 2022 when inflation was ramping up.

 

Work Ethic: we rented a flat locally and we observed how dedicated the team were to completing our project on time. Our neighbours were very positive about the team, commenting on their hard work and how considerate they were on site. 

 

Project Management and Communication: we had Marius as our project manager and George as our foreman. They were our main point of contacts throughout the whole project both onsite and also made themselves available via a WhatsApp group and direct mobile calls. There was also office support through Toria which was helpful for design questions and administration. We had weekly meetings which they documented and updated valuations and the project timeline. Additionally, the team worked well with building control and our engineer to meet their requirements.

 

Quality of Workmanship: we wanted the renovation of the house to be sympathetic to the 1920s design and the Progressive team managed to re-use and refurbish the old doors, fashion the architraves and build cabinetry to achieve this. The positive reactions from family and friends is testament to their craftsmanship.


Example of a minimalist exterior home design in Hertfordshire
Living room - modern living room idea in Hertfordshire

Mr & Mrs P - Mill Hill

5 Stars *****

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value


Marius, Ovidiu and the whole Progressive Design team were fantastic before, during and after our work had been completed. We had a large project which lasted 10 months, encompassing a full renovation as well as a double storey rear extension, a loft conversion and full external works including landscaping. The team on site worked hard and conducted themselves well. The project was delivered in line with the initial detailed quotation and any unforeseen issues were dealt with in consultation with us. The aftercare and level of service have been excellent. We have no hesitation in recommending Progressive Design and have already done so. Thank you for building our dream family home!



Mr M - Chorleywood

5 Stars *****

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness


From the moment we started our building project to the end of it, everyone at Progressive Design has been a pleasure to deal with and extremely supportive. Most of our project was carried out during the difficult environment of COVID but Progressive were incredibly well organised and exceptionally professional throughout the challenging times.

Progressive always made us feel at ease and nothing was ever too much trouble for them. Progressive were also able to suggest design enhancements which we would never have thought of but have made such a positive difference to the final design of our house.

The quality of Progressive’s work is excellent and we are delighted that we chose to work with them.

We would thoroughly recommend Progressive Design and would not hesitate to use them again for a building renovation........ read more

Minimalist exterior home photo in Hertfordshire
Inspiration for a modern kitchen remodel in Hertfordshire

Mr & Mrs K - Watford

5 Stars *****

Our first project ever and a huge one at that, we were careful to choose who we would work with. We had a lot of quotes but what stood out for us was Marius’ patience and his eye for detail along with his ability to come up with creative methods of problem solving.

Albeit being a premium quote for us, we agreed to Progressive Design based on how listened to and involved they were in our project even at the initial consultation.

When the project started in Feb 2020, little did we know the world would come to a standstill and everything would change forever.

How they managed to keep the site open and continued with the work during lockdown, tells a lot about their organisation skills.

Ovidiu, his attention to detail and brilliant suggestions on site saved us a lot of wrong decisions. My change of minds, indecisiveness was always dealt with patience and a smile.

Respect is very high on each member of the Progressive Design team.Each one of them go the extra mile to please the client. I always appreciate the little things people do and each one of their team members did it with a smile.

Any extras we wanted were recorded separately. Options were given for us to choose. Despite lockdowns and Covid challenges we managed to finish the project to a high standard and with not too much delay.

Throughout the project from the beginning to the end we have received consistent level customer service, always available on phone, email and whats app.

The project took as much of our energy as it did theirs, but we couldn’t be happier with the result and would choose Progressive all over again!

Completed open-plan Kitchen/Living Room

Mr W - North London

5 Stars *****

Very professional service, knew exactly what they were doing.


I was struck with the pride that they took in their work, when the boss was showing me the work that they had done to date when I visited the site.


Excellent communication, and quick to respond to questions or problems.

Orchard Way - Radlett
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Mrs Thomson - Hertfordshire

5 Stars *****

We first used Progressive Design to build a garage and summer room 4 years ago and were pleased with the results, so we contacted PD again when we finally got planning permission for a large extension to our house. We also invited 3 other companies to bid on our project, but ultimately chose PD. This decision was based on not only price, which was very competitive, but also attention to detail, flexibility and can-do attitude of owner Marius. These same qualities were continually exhibited throughout the 9 month long project (also included interior renovation of entire house and new roof) from Marius and his on-site team. A large project such as this of course comes with hiccups and some inconveniences, but Marius and his team went out of their way to minimise any negative impact on us. Our project is almost complete (on-time and on-budget) and I will (almost) miss having the white vans parked outside our house full of cheerful, helpful Progressive Design workers every day except Sundays!

Orchard Way - Radlett
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Mrs Dwek - Knightsbridge

5 Stars *****

This is the 2nd time I have used Progressive Design. It was for an extensive refurbishment of a 2 Bedroom flat. They project managed and carried out all works for me. Progressive Design have a number of jobs they do at the same time, however they make the client feel as if they are the only job they are working on. They were always contactable day and night and should problems arise, which was very rare, they always had a solution .

I would not hesitate to use them again or indeed recommend them to friends and family. The standard of their workmanship was first class.

Mr Hall - Rickmansworth

5 Stars *****

We had the Progressive Design team to our home for a full renovation, part demolition, extension and complete remodel, doubling the floorplan in the process. We set a fairly high expectation for the finished product and the end result is a few steps beyond what we had hoped for. The main reason we bought into Marius from the outset was because of his attitude, nothing is too difficult which is in contrast to some other contractors that we had spoken to. Because we wanted to implement our own personality to the project and package out certain elements we wanted somebody that would enable this and Marius was keen to embrace it, going an extra step by liaising directly with each contractor that we had on the project to help with a smooth process. The team were fantastic, they have a brilliant attitude, always eager to help and to go the extra mile. George was the site manager on the house having moved over from the office project so the relationship was forged even further, he was excellent, always had the answers to queries very quickly, always aware of what was happening on site and always putting enormous pressure on himself to get the job done properly. As with the office, the list of items for snagging was surprisingly small as the teams worked on a lot of this before the end of the project and all seem to have a brilliant eye for detail. Any minor snags that we have found have been dealt with almost immediately. After spending 10 years building this team it seems that they all work cohesively and have all inherited Marius’ pride in his job and motivation for customer satisfaction. Overall we couldn’t have asked for anything more from these guys and we are absolutely delighted with our new house!

So much so that Toria now proudly works with them, ensuring that every client has the best experience they can when building their homes.

Mourne house kitchen
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Mr Cecchin - North London

5 Stars *****

Marius and team were amazing. We completely refurbished our new flat, which required extensive works and had a few challenges. Marius was always proactive and responsive. The team has great attention to quality and details, something that, in our experience, is very hard to find. Marius and the team were always available and they provided continuous support thorough the project. I can say that they are highly experienced, of excellent craftmanship and easy to work with. It goes without saying that we highly recommend them!

Photo of a modern kitchen in London.

Mr Butler - Northwood

5 Stars *****

The project was to build a 580 sq ft room above my garage with a staircase leading into the existing entrance hall which was to be extended to accommodate it. The room was to be a playroom for me and our grandchildren when they visit! I already knew Marius, the owner of Progressive Design, as I had met him a few years earlier when he had completed a fantastic two storey extension to my son’s house and after that he had installed a lovely new bathroom in the flat of one of my other sons. Marius was therefore an obvious choice to ask to quote for my work. I obtained a couple of other quotes as well from established, well regarded local builders. Marius was meticulous in preparing the quotation, every detail being discussed with me so he fully understood what was required e.g. matching the brickwork to the existing bricks and re-using the existing roof tiles so that the new room blended in well and didn’t look like an extension at all. His was not the cheapest quotation, nor was it the dearest but I knew that once it was accepted there would be no hidden extras, as there are with so many builders. This proved to be exactly the case with the only extras being for changes I made during the course of the project and even then Marius only charged for these if they actually involved him in additional expense. His attention to the detail of the project from start to finish was such that I was relaxed throughout rather than being continually tense!


Having agreed the deal with Marius he gave me a starting date and stuck to it. The team of workmen that Marius allocated to my job were excellent. They would work a long hard day and still be so friendly and obliging at the end of it, cleaning up as much as possible before leaving for the evening. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them. They would arrive promptly every day, with a few short exceptions which we were informed about. Unlike many builders they did not juggle several jobs at the same time or disappear for days on end without notice. Marius or his brother Ovidiu would turn up several times a week to monitor progress and discuss with me any issues that may have arisen or any changes I wanted to make as the job progressed. One aspect of extending the entrance hall was to bring forward the existing timber and glass outer wall. The other builders I spoke to wanted to replace it but Marius’s men were skilful enough to completely move the existing wall forwards thus totally preserving the appearance of the front of the house. Having done this the whole extended floor of the hall was to be retiled and Marius recommended a tile supplier where my wife and I went and chose the most amazing tiles. We liked them so much that we bought enough to also retile the floor and walls of the downstairs cloakroom which leads off the hall. In fact with Marius’s help we refurbished the whole cloakroom with all new units. This was the only major addition to the project but we agreed the cost in advance with Marius and we were delighted with the finished result which complemented the other works so well.


The project drew to an end just before Christmas and we ordered a large L-shaped sofa for the new room. We had measured it in the shop to ensure it would go up the new staircase but failed to adequately take into account the sharp turn at the top of the stairs into the new room! Within hours a couple of Marius’s men, who were still on site, had partially dismantled the sofa, got it up the stairs and put it together again so professionally that no-one would ever know. All as a goodwill gesture at no extra charge – that’s service. This is a good example of the work ethic of Marius and his whole team. The job was finished in time for Christmas and the children loved it!


In summary, an amazing job completed very professionally and with great skill by a friendly and efficient team. I have no reservations in highly recommending Progressive Design; they really did exceed my expectations.