Real Illusions Inc

I have worked for Real Illusions and find the negative feedback to be a total mis-characterization. This is a company that employs working artists that have earned B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in art/decorative finishes and take seriously what they do. This is a living fusion of art, business and craft. These artisans were trained by Real Illusions, under the guidance of Jo Lesoine, to create beautiful, original finishes, in a timely manner, with complete respect to the homeowner/business owners needs. Jo has very high standards, and her crew wants to exceed that. The finishes always match the working samples and the work is beautifully executed! I know of no other company in Los Angeles that spends as much time perfecting finishes as does the crew of Real Illusions! It is pure artistry. Pure dedication to the craft. This company is the Real Deal when it comes to artisan finishes! No competition! more

As an architect in West Hollywood and Los Angeles, I was aware of Real Illusions prestigious reputation in the design community for developing new finishes and their attention to detail and abilities at hand painted finishes. I was pleasantly surprised that their level of professionalism also translated into helping us, as developers maintain a demanding schedule, always performing at agreed to budget. We were fortunate to develop a new iconic, six star property, the Montage Beverly Hills, in the City of Beverly Hills. There was no question when it came to quality and talent that the stellar reputation Real Illusions has cultivated over the years made them the correct consultant for our discerning owner. During this time, former employees saw our project as an opportunity to further their personal ambitions. As the Director of Design for the US's premier six star resort development company, I cannot communicate properly the level of respect I have for RI and the quiet dignity with which Jo conducted herself during this trying period. It is unfortunate that this forum can be used to air personal grievances without fact checking or editing. I am so glad we made the correct choice to continue our relationship with RI. Her company is now ensconced in the history of Beverly Hills with the beautiful gold leaf gilded domes which punctuate the city sky line. Montage's Grand Ballroom, with its' turn of the century had painted beaux arts ceiling can regularly be seen in television and film. We continue to use her regularly on our luxury projects when quality, timeliness, and a basic understanding of the underlying design concepts are essential. She and Real Illusions are the best and without pier. We consider her a part of our family. more

Real Illusions has created a magical bathroom for us. We had a very small powder room in our living room and now it is the talk of our home. The ""copper"" faux finish is stunning and makes a very small space seem so elegant and sophisticated. They also made our plaster mantels look like real stone without the expense of real stone. Their workmanship was fabulous and their employees very easy to work with. I would highly recommend them! more

Real illusion makes magic out of artistic painting and work. they are professionals in any aspect of the job and the results are stunning and long lasting. they did some work at the school i go to (University of Santa Monica) and it's beautiful, I highly recommend working with them more

Do disgruntled former employees make the best judge of character for any company? I think not. The company's track record speaks for itself. Some of the biggest names in the business choose Real Illusions for their quality of workmanship and professionalism. Over the years, it has been unparalleled. As for their pricing... you get what you pay for. No person chooses them without an estimate therefore, their pricing must not be too out of line. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because I always believe there is room for growth in all of us. BRAVO Real Illusions! more

Extremely professional, on time and on budget. They truly create magic with paint. I would highly recommend them and have for the last 18 years. more

In the last 20 years I have worked with Real Illusions many times. As a designer I care for the highest quality, uniqueness and a company that always completes the job on time, to the highest excellence. This company is known to the design industry as the best of its kind. Thank you more

I can tell you firsthand that this company is run by someone trying to maintain their lifestyle at the customers expense. As a person on the inside, they're finishes are third rate and completely overpriced. Nobody wants to work for this person as you can see by the other post here. They will probably be going out of business soon so save your money and don't spend it here unless you feel like getting ripped off. more

As a former employee of RL, I can tell you you're getting ripped off going with this company. Firstly, the company is run by two brain-dead lunatics that couldn't care less about you, their employees, or if their product looks good in the end. They care about $$$, that's it. Secondly, as employees, we all took 1hr to 1hr and 1/2 lunch breaks on your dollar, smoked weed at your house, and generally only did about 3 full hours of work in an 8 hr work day. Look at what RL charged you for labor, look at your walls, and ask yourself if that's fair. more

they are a complete ripoff....delivering cheap finishes at a ridiculous price. you've been warned more