I live in the north Chicago suburbs and would think you could find many qualified designers to help with this project. You have to start somewhere, getting recommendations from friends, then doing interviews to see if you 'click'. Where did you get your plans? You say they are 'architect plans' - from someone you worked with or from a website? If you look on Houzz under modern shingle style, look at the photo credits and see if there are local architects. I know there are plenty in MN as I have an inspiration folder filled with them - for some reason that style is plentiful there. Those architects may be close enough to get you some local recommendations for a designer if you explain your situation. I'll put in a link to a design firm that might be a fit for you - I'm not associated with them in any way, but did use their services many years ago. It will require some homework on your part but I'm sure you can find a good working partner for this. Good luck - it will be interesting to see your project. Here is a link that might be useful: Fredman Design Group

We're also in the western suburbs (Clarendon Hills) and did a major addition/remodel about 3.5 years ago in which we gutted the kitchen, mudroom and 4 bathrooms. We got all our cabinets through Northstar Cabinets in Posen. Northstar's website We were very happy with the quality of work and price. (As our GC said, he could have recommended a place nearer to us but we would have paid much more.) Since then, I've contacted them for some updates to our mudroom and their response seemed a bit slow. Could be because it was such as small order/request. (I ended up not pursuing it for now.) Another option that some of my friends have used, and are very happy with, is Brakur. A good friend who is a KD really likes working with them. Brakur's website HTH!

Sounds like you have already taken pH into account which is something I was going to ask about when I saw the recommendation to add lime. If you have the right kind of clay, gypsum can also help - it adds Ca which can help aggregate clay particles into larger structures without raising pH. I am not sure why the earlier poster said that Mg would do this as well and that it was a bad thing. In any case tons of organic matter will help and you don't need expensive soil conditioners. Get a bulk load of compost delivered. One thing about clay is that you have to keep after it year after year. Once you till in this initial load, add smaller amounts in successive years and taper off on the digging and tilling to allow the spongy structure created by worms and microbes to form and not be destroyed. If there are perennial beds you don't want to disturb after initial tilling, use degradable mulches (leaves, grass clippings) or lay compost down and put wood chips on top. The soil food web will digest and incorporate it. You can read more about managing clay by searching this forum for 'clay soil'. There are some very informative threads. Good luck and keep us posted.

I overseeded my crappy lawn which had a ton of damage from crows and skunks digging up chafer beetle grubs in very early spring. I overseesed with a fescue/rye/bluegrass blend about a month ago after spreading a thin layer of top dressing that had sand and manure mixed in. I applied starter fertilizer a week and a half later and it's all looking great right now. Has almost filled in the bald patches. I have had some weeds, mainly mouse eared chickweed but have so far been able to keep in check with hand pulling. I say go for it. You can always do a more ideal repair in fall as I plan to do. Here's a before and almost after. Still some filling in to do but so much better. First photo about a month ago second and third photos from this morning and last night. I plan to follow up with some alfalfa or soybean meal soon and stick to organics if I can. You wont find soybean or alfalfa at big box. Try an agricultural supply store. I'm in the city and have to drive to burbs to get mine.