By Jennifer Martin

here is nothing Geno Benvenuti likes better than to take a jog through the historic neighborhoods of Evanston, where his design/build firm is located. The area is a treasure trove of classic architecture—Victorian, Tudor, Colonial, Georgian, Prairie and many other styles. “Evanston has a rich architectural history, and so does much of the North Shore,” he said. “It really is a pleasure to live and work here.”
Benvenuti, the president of Benvenuti & Stein, has spent 30 years constructing and remodeling homes, so he knows good architecture when he sees it. When he’s on a remodeling job, he sometimes finds himself recommending ways to preserve the best features in older architecture while also bringing it up to date. He remembers a 1928 Dutch Colonial home that was destined for demolition. “This residence was really special, really beautiful. I would have hated to see it go,” he said. “So I bought it.”
Benvenuti saved the front façade, built an addition, and remodeled the home from the inside out. New owners came along, pleased with his work. When he was finished, they had a five-bedroom historic home with high-end appliances, a beautiful master suite, a wine cellar, a custom kitchen, and media room, luxury bathrooms and other high-end features. “It was the best of both worlds,” Benvenuti said. “And as an older home, it offers tax advantages that a brand-new home wouldn’t.”
Benvenuti’s reverence for well-constructed older architecture, coupled with an excellent eye for design, has won his firm many awards including three from the Glencoe and Wilmette Historic Preservation Commission, three Chrysalis Awards, and Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in the Home Book Design Excellence Awards. Benvenuti was named Illinois Remodeler of the year in 2006.
“I think some of our strength as a company lies in our diversity,” Benvenuti said. “We have four separate divisions that handle architecture, home maintenance, carpentry, and cabinetry and millwork. Having the four specialized divisions allows us to give our clients a level of customized service that you don’t find in too many other places.”
The company has grown from $65,000 in annual revenues 30 years ago to more than $10 million this year. It tackles projects ranging from a few hundred dollars in its maintenance division, servicing past clients, to those that range up to several million. For example, at the other extreme, a client requested the company to design and build a full-size, indoor basketball court addition plus a pool house, spa, changing rooms, wine cellar, theater, and art studio to fill out the wish list.
“It’s pretty unique, a one-of-a-kind project. The client is just really into sports and wants to play basketball with his kids and his buddies and not have to leave home to do it,” Benvenuti said.
The company has become much more sophisticated since Geno Benvenuti and Jeff Stein, high school buddies, founded it in 1977 after reconnecting 10 years after graduating from New Trier. Benvenuti spent his youth traveling and realized that he loved the outdoors. He worked laboring for bricklayers and concrete companies during summers while in college earning a liberal arts degree from U of Illinois. “I was young and vigorous, so it was OK then,” he said with a laugh. He later discovered that he had a passion for carpentry and design. Stein, having earned a bachelor of art degree from University of Michigan, supported his art doing drywall work. The company formed when the two men collaborated on designing and building out a basement entertainment room.
After four years of inconsistent income, Stein, who had a young family, chose to specialize in carpentry, and Benvenuti, who had taken night classes in architecture, decided to go it alone. But he kept the name because the company had built a budding reputation for quality work. The in-house cabinet shop soon followed, and as they say, the rest is history.
Currently, the firm is hard at work on several projects on the north shore and in the city that typically involve additions, remodeling, and lots of cabinetry. “We are known for our attention to detail and the ability to deliver very fine work “Benvenuti says. “With a staff of 46 that includes architects, master carpenters, and our own cabinet shop on the premises, we have all the key ingredients to do beautiful things for our clients in a timely manner, and that’s what keeps them coming back.”
Benvenuti says that 40% of the company’s current business is usually repeat clients and another 40% is referrals or the kids of some of those early clients. “Our clients and their families know that we will be here for the long haul,” he said. The company plans to open up a satellite design studio in Hubbard Woods this summer to help expand the roots of that commitment.


Benvenuti & Stein
2001 Greenleaf Street
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 866-6868
(847) 866-8010
www.benvenutiandstein.com
mailto:geno@benvenutiandstein.com