Moss Design

So, Moss Design is composed of a small team of real nice and cool people, who all share that sleek modern aesthetic but always with a twist of warm surprise (e.g. a upcycled/​reclaimed bathroom sink set in an industrial space.) We decided to work with Moss because of their distinct spatial design, their minimalist taste/​style, their attention to details, and their dedication to a greener architectural process.
Moss Design (architectural, interior, and furniture design) and WC Studio (architectural design and actual construction) were an essential part and a big guidance to our new and beautiful loft home. After a long and relentless search, the husband and I chose to work with the fierce head architect Matt, his incredibly personable partner and co-​founder Laura, and their creative team for a major gut rehab in a loft-​style condo unit, located in the edge of the Chicago West Loop neighborhood.
The problems we faced were small windows/​scares natural lighting in a big space and the absolute need to re-​distribute the interior layout in a smart and savvy manner. Moss Design brainstormed, researched, designed, troubleshot, and then built us with exactly what we asked for while consulting us every step of the way. The team transformed the loft from its original 2 beds 1 bath to 3 beds 2 baths, in order to accommodate 3 people living in this unit. The renovation included a new master bathroom with soaking tub and walk-​in shower, new kitchen, two bedrooms and an artist studio space. And their genius «indoor windows» proposal (using large glass panels as walls to define each room) solved the low-​light situation we had. All the other personal preferences regarding our living space were clarified by us and achieved by Moss Design. Both the husband and I are practicing studio artists, thus we are very specific about our needs and vision of the space. We enjoyed working with the independent architecture studio rather than big-​name firms because we did not want to be drowned in a sea of other projects. We wanted the personal exchanges and attention. In addition, Moss Design customized/​designed and produced several statement furniture pieces for us that are not only pragmatic but also the focal point in our loft space.
Moss Design understood our requests (and sometimes even took our original ideas further to present us with more/​different options,) and continued to provide their services even after the project was finished. They helped us constructed our dream home.

I’m surprised they admitted to lying to us.
We told them our budget the first time we ever met. We reiterated that budget limit numerous times, and every time we were told that it was sufficient. Apparently that was the first lie.
Showing us a website of houses doesn’t give permission to disregard your clients wishes and lie to them and tell them that you would build them the house they asked for. When we asked for the style in the first place, we were told that was fine, and yet again, they designed something different.
We asked for a specific style and we asked asked for no more than an extra 8 – 10 feet added to the back of the house. Both times we were told that was no problem. Yet, the designs were drawn up for over 20 feet out and nothing like the style.
Their response simply proves that they went ahead with a project they knew was a sham, simply to steal what money you could from us and be on their way.

We worked with Matt to design our commercial kitchen space. Matt had a lot of experience with commercial kitchen spaces and all of the requirements that the city has for food sanitation. He was practical and efficient in his design and worked as a true partner through the whole process to advise us from the design to the permits to the licensing.

How many words are we allowed in a Unilocal review? I don’t know where to start. I had the good fortune of having Matt Nardella referred to me by a mutual friend when I was desperately looking for an architect to turn the sow’s ear of a building I bought on Milwaukee to turn into artist live/​work space (Basa Building, 2912 N. Milwaukee). I will spare you the gory details, but we worked together for over a year and a half. He turned the most disgusting dump into a solid, clean, sleek, innovative, inspiring, energy-​efficient, light-​filled floor of studio spaces. Directly because of Matt’s design, I’m having no problem renting the spaces.
Matt’s not a prima donna designer, either. He would go get in line at the Building Department at 6 AM – and he did this as many times as it took — so that he could personally shepherd my unusual project through the wringer of the City’s approval process. We had some tricky stuff pulled on us by Zoning that ended up involving the Alderman’s intervention, but through it all Matt told me exactly what I needed to do – and it worked.
When my first contractor got put in jail (another story), he found me another one who is outstanding, Helios Design. They saved my butt. It’s because of Matt that I didn’t have a nervous breakdown and lose my shirt with this project.