Surroundings changed our lives--for the better! Took a builders-grade ho-hum house and ramped it up…read moreto a custom-designed lovely home. Decorator Lori Waters is truly wonderful, a talented blend of good taste coupled with the experienced pragmatism to make your design dreams come true. Over about ten years in several phases, we have completely made over the place upstairs and down, inside and out. Stayed within the budget, gently nudged us into trying new ideas when we were stuck firmly in the mud of 1985, and just generally gave us a new way of using the spaces that perfectly suited our wallet, our taste, and our lifestyle. Could NOT be more proud of the finished product, although as Lori reminds me, "We still need to address that old yellow bathroom..." We will, Lori, as we start the next phase of this immensely gratifying partnership! Surroundings is the place to go when you decide you're ready to turn your house into the delightful home you've always wanted.

From the owner: We’re a full-service interior design firm located in the heart of Iowa City, at 331 Kirkwood…read moreAvenue. Our qualified and experienced designers assist clients from concept to completion — turning your ideas and dreams into surroundings you love to live in. Our Design Center is filled with inspiring samples, displays, and merchandise to help bring your vision to life. Whether you’re updating a single room, selecting finishes for a remodel, or starting fresh with a new build, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We are open 5 days a week, 8-5 Monday- Friday. Design assistance is by appointment only. Our showroom is open on Tuesdays from 10-4. We hope to see you soon!

Olivia has been great to deal with. She was able to communicate well on her clients behalf, was…read moreflexible and understanding with the design concept and came up with a beautiful end product that was very functional.

From the owner: Interior Design services that are approachable, functional, and unique to your home or business.read more

Luxe Interiors has been on my radar since it moved to the Northside. I am one of those…read more'I-watch-HGTV-so-I'm-basically-a-professional' types. Logically, I wanted to confer with like minds. I stopped in one downtown district shop crawl and was instantly greeted by the shop owner, Jan. What a wonderful lady! I loved the shop. A couple Iowa-centric items, lots of beautiful decor, paintings, furniture-- all carefully curated. I begrudgingly left that night empty handed. (A lot of the items on my radar were not surprisingly pricey. I unfortunately tend to have expensive taste. And this shop definitely has some higher end items.) Then, last week, I realized they sell items ONLINE with free contactless local delivery. *Happy Dance* I'm not sure if you've perused the Northside? But currently an entire street is closed to outside dining which is amazing, but does the parking situation no favors. ANYWAYS. The online shop was filled with candles, tea towels, furniture, pillows, vases, rugs, artwork... the whole gambit. I found an amazing photo of the pedestrian mall in the rain. I couldn't resist. My treasure was well priced. Jan emailed me personally that night to set up next day delivery. I found my package neatly put between my doors, packed with care. The cherry on top was a handwritten note from the shop owner. The picture is perfection. I haven't used Luxe for interior design purposes. (And due to my frequent HGTV watching and inherent designing expertise, let's face it. I probably won't anytime soon. ;)) But Jan is fabulous, the shop has tons of flair. A great addition to downtown! Stop by virtually or IRL.

Fraud is a word I would use to describe how this business is run. We engaged with the owner in…read moreApril, placed an order on July 6th for $17,000. We left a $10,000 deposit. In August, we received another email with an invoice for $2,100 as she had received items in her warehouse which we paid. The owner failed to keep us posted on timelines and deliveries which we were supposed to have in September (after paying for items in August). Our delivery was scheduled for October 22 when I got a call that the truck had been in an accident and all of our pieces were damaged and she would have to reorder. She did not offer a refund. Months later, she delivers $6,000 worth of the items. That was the end of it. I finally called and demanded a refund which they processed (has not reached my card yet). I come to find out that 1) No one at Luxe Interiors ever heard anything about an accident and 2) the order for one sofa was never placed and the other order was placed then cancelled back in December. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THESE LYING CRIMINALS!

We would like to extend our genuine appreciation to your company for demonstrating what true…read morecustomer focus looks like. Every interaction reflects a level of professionalism that is increasingly rare, and it's clear that your team takes pride in doing things the right way. Your commitment doesn't end at the point of sale -- you stand behind your products with integrity, responsiveness, and a willingness to ensure that customers feel supported long after their purchase. That kind of follow‑through builds trust, and it's the reason your organization stands out. Thank you for setting such a high standard. Your dedication to quality and customer care has made a lasting impression, and it deserves to be recognized. Steve S. Cedar Rapids

Great Store. Wide Selection of hundreds of different vendors. Alway new items weekly.read more

Every person who works here I'd very pleasant, friendly & helpful. I have 9 items from her, all in…read moreperfect condition. Not rushed to make a purchase, spend time measuring in your home, try to match a current piece in your home give other choices to compliment what you have. Delivery staff are the best I've experienced: careful in your home ensure setup is perfect, and glass/mirrors are clean. Even worked with me to ship an item out of state. Excellent quality of merchandise. All staff are great, my experiences with Stacy we're a pleasure.

We have done two major home remodels with Phelan's, from furniture to carpets to walls. Besides…read morebeing stylish and low priced, the best was their service. They are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

Mary Jo hemmed 10 curtain panels for us and did a marvelous job. She came to our house to measure…read morethe curtains and had them done within a reasonable amount of time. The curtains look great and now fit our windows the way they should! Excellent work!

Loved working with LWD and team! The crew did an amazing job from start to finish working with our…read moregeneral contractor for the design and build for our basement. Lori took a "cookie cutter" basement and evaluated our use and need for function of our basement. It was amazing. She also has helped me professionally with work-space flow out in my work office. It's truly amazing how effortless it is for her, however, it makes my life easier. I look forward to the day when she can help us with our dream home. We won't have to attempt 2-3x times, LWD will get it RIGHT the first time. Thank you so much! I will use you again, and again, and again.

From the owner: Multiple areas of interior design including: space planning for new construction and remodeling,…read morekitchen and bath design, lighting, furnishings, wine rooms, exercise areas, custom closets, fireplaces, etc.

I'm sorry for as long as it took and the cost ! The chair was for my Husband! Not that thrilling!read more

Shopping at knilans was a pleasant experience due to the sales lady Joan who helped us with color…read moreselection and furniture styles. After delivery we are very happy with the selection that was made.

The rock shop did our office quartz counter tops. They are stunning. We get compliments all the…read moretime. They are easy to clean. The staff was knowledgeable over the popular question of granite or quartz. I love the color. Stunning. I was so glad we used a local business

My wife and I had just visited the former Ar-Jay center on Council St., when we decided to stop by…read moreThe Rock Shop. Thank goodness we stopped. We met Leanne and discussed different granite options and pricing. She showed us some awesome granite she had onsite. We decided to go with a perfect selection that would accent our cabinets and new room colors. We scheduled the measuring and decided to accent our hearth with the same granite in the kitchen. Our open concept area was going to be free flowing and was a great suggestion. Installation day finally arrived, the guys were professional and considerate throughout the day. The care and attention to detail was amazing. We are so happy with the results, I would recommend The Rock Shop to anyone who is looking to remodel, using granite or other rock, to check out The Rock Shop.