My wife and I were looking for a designer to remodel our master suite and decorate our family and living rooms. Our search was very clear. We wanted a departure from the many generic interiors we encountered while searching for a designer. We were looking for creativity, innovation, intelligence, functionality, and most importantly, beauty. That is how we came across Ernesto Garcia's website, which immediately captured our attention. His interiors are orderly and well-appointed, with an emotional resonance that makes them comfortable and inviting. Ernesto arrived at our home with his approachable and urbane demeanor and quickly began sketching with the confidence and skill of an artist. Within minutes, he presented a complete and detailed vision for our master suite. Remarkably, the finished project resembles those early sketches so closely that the result is dazzling. Ernesto's architectural background proved essential to the success of this complex project. He masterfully guided everyone through each phase of the process, delivering refined and highly livable spaces that we enjoy every day. Over time, our professional relationship evolved into a treasured friendship filled with social gatherings, entertaining, and intimate dinners. We now count Ernesto among our dearest friends and wholeheartedly recommend his work to anyone who values the profound impact beautiful interiors can have on quality of life. Ernesto often says, "If you take care of your environment, your environment will take care of you." We have found that to be profoundly true. John & Bonnie Stallone read more

If I had unlimited budget I would have Ernesto design my entire home! He is incredibly talented, bold, fearless and innovative. He is also quite fun to work with! I hired Ernesto after my failed attempt to pull together matching finishes for a kitchen that desperately needed updating. I had already installed flooring and counters... and gone through more than one iteration of backsplash tile. Ernesto bravely agreed to take on this troubled project. In the end I ended up repainting the cabinets from the first color we agreed on which felt dark and dreary. And am now planning to change the expensive wallpaper and custom faux finished hood included in his design. The biggest issue is that the warm brown is overpowering and this is literally my least favorite color. So as soon as I enter my kitchen I just want to leave. The other challenge is that some of the items he recommended were far out of my price range ($2500 for a single barstool). So I felt I had to source my own because he was adamant that we go with the custom one he advised. Had I had unlimited budget I certainly would have as they were beautiful and undoubtedly the highest quality. Durability was another concern with my pets and family. So the beautiful marble tile he selected for our bathroom just doesn't suit us. I would have preferred the relatively indestructible porcelain tile but... I hired a designer to advise me... not to debate. It is indeed luxuriously beautiful, but it windowpanes with each shower. Ernesto says this is because my installer didn't install it correctly. Either way: porcelain would have better suited us. So absolutely I would recommend anybody with a larger budget to hire Ernesto. And certainly some lessons learned on my end with regards to,first and foremost, finding my own clarity on my priorities when it comes to budget, style, color, etc...trusting my instincts, doing more of my own research, and advocating for my non-negotiables. read more

I met Ernesto by bidding on a consultation he generously donated to one of my favorite charities. From our first meeting, I was impressed by his capacity to understand our family's needs and aesthetics, and rapidly capture his vision on a sketch. He has an incredible ability to help you visualize the designs he proposes for each room in your home, and our meetings are always exceedingly productive. Since I met him twelve years ago, he has also done design work for my parents, been involved in one of my brother's home remodeling projects, and is currently working on our new residence in Scottsdale. Through the years, he has managed to use family heirlooms in the numerous recreations of our rooms, harmoniously adding complementary furnishings, precisely selecting the perfect wallcovering, and using light and accessories to complete invariably charming and well-appointed spaces. Ernesto is a respectful and likable professional with a lively personality, consistently committed to the utmost quality of his work. We highly recommend his services; he has always been delightful to work with. Jane Wazny read more

I hired Ernesto after interviewing half a dozen interior designers. I was most impressed with his skills during our initial consultation. I live on Camelback Mountain, with spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains. However, I had never been satisfied with the furniture layout in my living room. At our first meeting, shortly after his arrival, he visualized and sketched the present layout of our furnishings, which now comfortably allows for the full appreciation of the view. That was just the beginning. Following came the design of every single room in our home, which is a traditional one, and so is our style preference; Ernesto understood its architecture and our style from the beginning. Over the past three years, Ernesto has enhanced our spaces with exquisite rugs, wall coverings, furnishings, draperies crafted from refined fabrics, and lighting fixtures while paying special attention to our art collection and helping us expand it. With his meticulous work, he gave us a new understanding of what a well-appointed room is; his attention to detail is uncanny, and he will tirelessly search for the right accessories, never forgetting the floral arrangements that make a home so welcoming. Ernesto has demonstrated a tremendous dedication to enhancing our home; with his gentlemanly demeanor, he has made the process smooth and delightful. We are se pleased to have him as our unique interior designer, and we highly recommend his services. Joseph Zavislak read more

My husband and I purchased a home with a fantastic view of the mountains. We fell in love with the layout of the house and its views immediately. The home was built in the 90's and required a lot to bring in the contemporary look we wanted to achieve. Ernesto started to assist us immediately after the closing. Ernesto's proposed vision was attractive to us as the colors, textures, and finishes were what we had always desired. Ernesto designed a kitchen that is functional, sophisticated, unique, and easy to maintain. We had a large but narrow space adjacent to the kitchen, and we had no idea what to do in that space. Ernesto suggested a bar/coffee nook. It is an excellent use of space and accents the kitchen as well as giving my family and friends a separate area for smaller and intimate gatherings. Ernesto understood what our vision was and was able to give us the kitchen of our dreams. In addition, the remodel elevated the property value significantly. Trust the process, you won't regret it. read more

After purchasing our new home, I was a bit overwhelmed by the task of decorating it, figuring out how to incorporate our existing furnishings, and deciding on a direction for the new ones. I love color and needed help selecting a fresh palette since the home was painted in off-white throughout. I wanted my rooms to have character, an interesting use of wallpaper, and I was searching for a new perspective on how to make this new home more "mine." Some of my coworkers were familiar with Ernesto's work and suggested I have an initial consultation with him. Everyone, except my son, was present for our initial consultation, which exceeded our expectations. He arrived with all his enthusiasm and his paint chip kit and started pulling out the most exciting color options for our rooms! Colors I loved but would have never thought of or dared to select. He evaluated our existing furnishings, suggested new placements, and sketched new layouts, while suggesting wallpaper for accent walls and drapery treatments. Ernesto understood our need to address our home decor in phases, and we are thrilled to rely on his exquisite taste and advice as we continue to create the home of our dreams. He is a kind person whom we now count as our friend and recommend him to anyone looking for a qualified design professional. read more

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Ernesto during the remodeling and decorating of our home. Friends recommended him highly, and our experience working with him couldn't have been more productive. His architectural training makes him well-suited for remodeling projects as he can simultaneously see spaces from an architectural and decorative point of view. During our initial consultation, he walked through our home asking us questions about our tastes and style preferences, while masterfully sketching our spaces and helping us visualize design scenarios that were completely new and exciting to us. From surfaces to furnishings, Ernesto's selections were precise, beautiful, and consistent with our tastes and needs. His attention to detail during the project execution was on point and tireless. We love how he transformed our home, family, and friends constantly compliment us on the spaces he created. Proof of his work's exceptionality is the award he received from the American Society of Interior Designers; we now live in an award-winning home. Ernesto is a true gentleman and a delight to work with. read more

There is something unassumingly aristocratic about the spaces he designs. The simplest of his rooms can exude a refinement that is rarely experienced. We have loved working with Ernesto through the years and seeing his masterful sense of style enrich our lives. We love his work and recommend him to everyone who wants to enhance the quality of their lives through their living spaces. Pat Bondurant read more

I always hate to give someone a low rating. However, I have to be honest about my experience with Ernesto Garcia and his design for remodeling my entire condo; the good and the bad. Ernesto is an amazing interior designer. Features in his designs are creative, efficient, unique, and overall outstanding. It is clear to me why he has won so many awards. He and his staff are professional and courteous. Some of the components of his design for my condo were genius. That is the good. Ernesto's preferred design style appears to me to be modern. Therefore, prior to enlisting his services I ask him directly if he could switch gears to my desired theme and styles: "tropical beach house, casual, comfy, shabby chic, eclectic, and maybe a bit bohemian." (These styles are similar and overlap). Ernesto said confidently he could produce the design in accordance with my stated theme and style. His credentials were impeccable, and I selected him as my interior designer. The style I wanted was a prerequisite for his employment. However, not all was good. The most important design element was, of course, the theme and style I requested, and he agreed to use. We discussed the style not only in our conversations prior to enlisting his services, but during both design walkthroughs. Again, the theme of the remodel was to be "tropical beach house." The style "casual, comfy, shabby sheik, eclectic, and maybe a bit bohemian." His overall design essentially met none of these. His theme I would describe as oceanic, not beach. His style modern. A more specific example related to color selection. During the initial walkthrough I had told him emphatically I "hated" the dark, vivid blue that had been in the kitchen, portions of the living/dining room, and the hallway. I had painted these walls with primer white but there was still a few patches of the blue in hard-to-reach places. I took his team to a spot where the old color blue was clearly visible. I told them after I painted over the dark blue I hated, my condo was much brighter, cheerier, and I was delighted with the change. I stated in general I did not like dark colors and wanted light colors. One of the primary colors in his design was a dark blue very similar to the dark blue I had just painted over and hated. To be fair, color selection according to the contract was his decision. However, why would anyone make a design decision to use a color their client hated? Bottom line: His design was an excellent modern design. Exactly the design I said I didn't want for my condo. At the project level it was a failure. My second complaint is his fees. He spent most of his time creating a design I didn't ask for and didn't want. Parts of his design are very usable, e.g., his overall layout waa excellent. However, many of the features in his design were not usable. I certainly believe he should be paid for the "usable" work he did for me. I also believe I should not have to pay for work that was not per our agreement. I suggested we could find a fair and equitable solution. Sadly, his response was to litigate. To be clear, even now I have immense respect for his abilities. Ernesto is in a different league than every other designer of the ~8 designers I interviewed. However, he went back on his word and clearly made some bad design decisions. Ernesto has yet to acknowledge his mistake for taking the modern approach. read more

If someone shows you who they are the first time believe them.' He canceled last minute and never returned my call., That's enough for me.

I was just looking for Ernesto's address to send him an article because I found his name in this Sunday's AZ Republic and noticed this negative Yelp review from a few years ago. I no nothing about how he treated employees or vendors but we have had very professional experience with him as clients on three separate projects, our kitchen, master bath & display wall unit. These projects were done over about a 6 year period and we saw no negative treatment with any of the workers on any of our projects. We met Ernesto on a few home tours years ago and liked that each home had its own feel. We liked that each was completely different but also well designed for the type of home. I would have no hesitation to recommend Ernesto if you wanted something unique but tasteful. read more

I discovered Ernesto through photos on the Houzz website showing his "Relaxed Southwest Elegance style". We had acquired a new home in Gold Canyon, AZ and it had a large greatroom that we needed to furnish. I contacted Ernesto, and from the first conversation to our initial meeting, he was thoroughly professional and enthusiastic about our project. When we met, he had selected fabrics, drawn up floor plans with furniture and shared his ideas and vision for our space. The fabrics were beautiful, the colors were lovely and we moved forward with Ernesto selecting furniture, draperies, paint colors, artwork and accessories. Ernesto is very talented and insightful. He developed a great working relationship with us and was very hands on through coordination and installation of the furnishings. He is exacting in his determination of layout and dimension and it shows through in the results. We were thrilled with the final room. It is a very welcoming and comfortable space. We highly recommend Ernesto and his team in your project. You will not be disappointed. Leslie Sweet read more