Three experiences we had of Terri Wise show why she is the most different designer that we have ever worked with. We were about to move into an older townhouse, and needed help. Someone to understand our own tastes and energies and the qualities that we appreciate living with. And who could also help us bring the "feeling" of the house into the modern era. -- The first thing about Terri was how open and available she made herself to us. She lives in the mountains, a distance from us. But to her, it seemed nothing to drive down and meet us whenever we felt a need. And she makes the drive all the time. Most of her clients are in the city, near us. She was amazingly accommodating, whenever we called on her. -- The second thing about Terri was how incredibly thoughtful and understanding she was of what our inherent style truly is. She "got it." She understood our art, the feel that we wanted, and what we were trying to accomplish. And she had such excellent suggestions for how to accomplish bringing out those feelings and qualities in our home. The way that she solved the problems of having two different colors of paint in both the living room and the kitchen, was frustrating for us when we tried to figure it out ourselves. But for her, it was just a matter of bringing to it her understanding of how colors interact with each other, and straightaway solving the puzzle. -- The third thing about Terri was how very fast she is. Her suggestions are almost always just instant and effortless. When we went with her to stores, she was completely at home. She moved through each of the departments like time was precious and she was fast. Sometimes when we were baffled about something, she would come over to our house to respond to an "SOS for Terri." She could just walk in, and immediately size up what we were trying to do, what it was that was stumping us, and tell us what to adjust so that everything could come together in the way we wanted. Terri has an amazing "superpower" for the placement of objects. She was more aware than us of alternative ways the furniture could be arranged in each room, and it was so easy for her. It would have taken us a much longer time to figure so many things out by ourselves. She asked us to bring into one room all of our art so that she could see what we were working with. And within minutes she had made suggestions for which objects would best blend together, in what combinations, in which room, and on which wall. The way she chose and placed several of our art pieces above the fireplace has continued to draw praise from guests who come to our home. For us, one of the most wonderful things about Terri is how she really seems to understand and to share the same interests and energies that we do. The same love of beauty and how it can be expressed in individual ways. We came to treat her not just as a valuable vendor, but like a friend. Terri has done numbers of "big things" in the field of design, including being on television. But what we value her for is not as much her "credentials" as it is a valuing of her herself -- who she is, and what she brings of herself to the job, so instantly and freely. If there were an "extra" star to give her, we would assign to her as many stars as there were possible. read more

In matters of design, Terri Wise is true to her name. She is very wise. We moved into an older home that I inherited from my parents. We really wanted to update it with our own tastes and desires, but in order to do it well we needed some help. Terri's gifts were wonderful to have through three phases of our project. In each phase she was quick and responsive, she honored our own particular vision of the project, and she brought a deep wisdom to the choices and selections she helped us to make. She is very easy to work with. We are generally adept about design, and I have had training in Feng Shui. But we found that compared to us, Terri can bring forth beauty and harmony in a completely new octave. 1st Phase was to remodel our bathroom on a budget. We were living out of the area at the time, so we met Terri at the house to show her our vision of the job, and to share our budget. She then met us at the store and helped us choose the materials and fixtures, from tile to toilet and tub. 2nd Phase, Terri helped us choose a harmonious color palette, one that accented the architectural details of our simple home, and blended with the pre-existing tile in the kitchen. The outcome of the colors combined together was stunning, and more beautiful than I could imagine. 3rd Phase, Terri has an amazing talent for the harmonious placement of objects. (Pieces of furniture, pieces of art, and where we could put our piano in a rather small living room.) Her placement ideas were surprisingly original, and they worked together to create a cozy and beautiful environment in each room. Her understanding of balance, harmony, and beauty is truly inspired brilliance. We now live in a beautiful, harmonious home that we can revel in each day. When our friends and family come to visit, they similarly enjoy and respond to the atmosphere that we created as a sacred living space. It is possible we could have done this without Terri ... I am trained in Feng Shui and have a knack for interior design. But in no way could I have done this project as quickly or as creatively as it was done with Terri's assistance. Terri is simply in another class of interior design. She was a godsend for us, and I highly recommend her! read more

I have worked with Terri twice. The first time she helped set up and stage my wedding at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in Old Town. The second time she helped re-assemble my condo after a major remodel. She is pleasant, very affordable, and not afraid to roll up her sleeves. The Wedding: Terri gets stuff done! We were tight on time (the Cosmo let us in to decorate at 8 a.m. and the vows were said at 11:30 a.m.) because we wanted a morning wedding because brunch is delicious. Terri was able to work with and around all the staff, the florist, the coordinators, and nosy family members with ease. She took down funky lanterns and moved potted plants so the pictures would turn out flawless. If you have ever been to the Cosmopolitan, you know there is a lot going on in there. She helped to ensure the table decor didn't overwhelm or overshadow the gorgeous green setting. She also helped to ameliorate some of the (totally natural) tension between a bridezilla and a momzilla with simple suggestions that everyone could agree on. It's always nice when reason prevails. The Condo: Terri helped me to put things back in order before the dust had even completely settled. Previously, I had the place arranged in a utilitarian fashion. Couch against the wall, kitchen table parellel to the window, etc. Boring! I am also a bit of a garage sale enthusiast so my treasures really run the gamut in terms of color and style. (No exaggerating, I have a carved Balinese goddess statue, an Egyptian brass tea table, a Plains Indian headdress, and hermetically sealed butterflies in a bell jar in my living room). Terri took all my existing stuff (that's kind of her calling card - I only had to buy three throw pillows and a fake plant) and put the pieces together in such a way that it not only looked cohesive, but served to guide the eye (and the person attached) around the room in a way I had not been able to manage on my own. It took her four hours to achieve a "look" I had been going for for four years. read more

Terri came over to consult for an afternoon. I ask many questions about an upcoming energy/solar project that we are planing and after talking to her had confidence that we could use her as a resource to make sure our Modernist home keeps its character. While there for an afternoon, we also moved furniture, made decisions, picked some paint colors. Terri left me with a list of vendors to help with small projects that we planned. This is the first time I have worked with Terri and she was fun to work with, enthusiastic, motivating and I felt she really has a talent for making a house into a real home. Having a set of fresh eyes to see what I could not see and an ability to prioritize projects was just what I needed to get out of being stuck. She helped me get a new rug which was the inspiration of a whole new living room arrangement and "feel" to our home. I now do yoga in the living room which I did not do on the wood floors. Most of all she was able to get me out of being stuck and paralyzed to make decisions. I have worked for designers and architects in my life and Terri is very talented at looking at what you have going already and building on that. Terri suggested some re-purposing and some changes that caused us not to have to buy furniture. Now we can spend that money on our energy conservation/solar projects. Any money you pay her for consulting is money well spent because it saves mistakes and spending money where it is not needed. Terri understood the character of our modernist home, That was important to us. This is the first time we have met Terri but I highly recommend her. read more

I cannot say enough about Terri. If you are looking for design assistance in your home,rental business or staging she can do it all! She is so talented, creative and has such great ideas and does all this without breaking the bank :). I first hired her 13 years ago when we moved into our new home, Our new home had high ceilings and was a larger scale so my furnishings from my previous home looked very small. It was not in our budget to refurnish the house. Terri came and incredibly made my old furniture look amazing. She also gave me tips and ideas on a few new pieces I needed. Since then I have hired her to decorate my home for special occasions and most recently to give my house a new lighter and brighter look. She helped me select some new furniture and accessories. The new look feels so much more updated! I also learned that she is also very talented in the commercial/business design as well. After a flood in my husband's office we had to select new hard surface finishes ASAP including cabinetry design, flooring, carpet, wallpaper, and paint. Some of these we had to select from some very small samples.She saved me from making several costly mistakes. Now it is all coming together beautifully. Terri will make your space beautiful and save you $$. She is a true professional and so much fun to work with as well. read more

I am a dentist in east county San Diego and recently hired Terri to be in charge of my office remodel and could not be happier with my decision. Terri was fully committed to my project from the first meeting and made the entire process so smooth and easy on me. It was so nice to have her listen to my desires, requests, concerns, and goals. I was on a budget in a leased space and not only did she understand the situation, but, she came in way under what she quoted me. Terri is one of those people who just has a knack on where to find items to fit the space and finds them at the best price. I know that whether anyone needs her to be frugal in their budget or to find the best high end decor...Terri can meet your needs. She took all the worry out of my project and once hearing my goals, I didn't have to think about anything. She did all the work, found the best deals and when it was time to put it all together, she blew me away with how wonderful my office looked. Terri completely changed my office and took it from the 80's to a modern, warm, calming, contemporary look that is pleasing and soothing to be in. I have been so happy with how she completely transformed my office that I will also bring her to my home to do the same and I recommend her highly to anyone looking for a home or work remodel or update. read more

We have relocated to San Diego over a year ago and after purchasing the new house we immediately embarked on extensive remodeling projects due to the condition of the house. Since we were unfamiliar with the remodeling works, this became a daunting prospect as we need to learn and get our feet wet very quickly. Fortunately our realtor friend recommends Terri Wise (from Interior Makeovers) so we have immediately contacted Terri for assistance and that is one of the best decisions we have made with our remodeling. From day one, Terri has been a tremendous help and up until when our projects completed, Terri provides invaluable insights at various stages of the projects. Terri listens to our ideas and always provides feedback & guidance on anything we need help with, from conceptual design, materials purchasing & vendors selection to color coordination etc. It took us about a year (painfully at times) to get both the Master bed/bathroom & the kitchen projects completed but we definitely couldn't have done it without Terri 's help. I can't say highly enough of Terri 's professionalism & dedication and we would certainly engage Terri assistance again in our future project. Thanks Terri for all your help and I highly recommend Terri Wise (Interior Makeovers) for any interior designs & remodeling needs! Rob N. read more

Terri is AMAZING. We just bought our home and were getting ready to host a big family gathering to welcome our new baby girl. Needless to say, I didn't have a ton of time to decorate. Terri came over and I showed her a few pictures of different styles I liked and didn't like. Over the next week or two, Terri would send me pictures of things she saw and ask how I felt about it and I would do the same if I was out. We scheduled a day for her to come back to my house and put it all together. I left for the day and when I came back, my house finally looked like a home! The reveal is the best part about working with Terri. She finds ways to use your own furniture and decor in ways you never expected. I love working with Terri because she is super creative, conscientious about your budget, and can do it ALL. She finds the perfect touches to add to your existing decor, hangs the heavy mirrors you can't, moves furniture around to maximize your living space, and so much more. I wanted our home to look great, my husband wanted comfort and, with a new baby, it had to be practical. She made it all work seamlessly. Plus, she's a blast to work with! She really enjoys her job and I found myself getting more and more excited about what she had in store for us. We'd work with Terri again in a heartbeat! read more

Terri was recommended to me help in the sale of my mother--in-law's home, that was wall to wall furniture which was overwhelming to me. I so enjoyed talking with Terri, she was full of ideas. She transformed the house by opening spaces, letting in light and showcasing all its assets. I was out of town while Terri was working on the house. When I came back, I was so pleased, way beyond my expectations. She truly has a talent for space design and rearranging furniture. Terri is a very hard worker and always went the extra mile to make sure everything was right. Terri was always open to me as a customer, following through to make sure everything was what I had in mind. She was easy to work with, kind and sincere, and has an amazing work ethic. She is very knowledgeable in her field and has great recommendations. I would highly recommend Terri at Interior Makeovers. It was a great experience. read more

I worked with Teri 11 years ago after a friend recommended her. She was so helpful in selecting paint colors and in providing great advice regarding furniture placement. Fast forward 11 years to my new home. Teri came to provide guidance once again about furniture placement. I am challenged in this department. She is an absolute delight! So knowledgeable. Really took the time to find out how we live and use the rooms in our home. She had great ideas and helped move furniture so I could grasp her vision of how the space could be used. I am thrilled with the results. Teri provided great resources for where to buy fabric, rugs, and furniture. She is a savvy consumer and gets it about getting the most bang for your buck. I highly recommend her services. Worth her weight in gold! read more

We initially worked with Terri on our first home purchase. It was a pleasure working with someone with such great vision and energy. She is very personable allowing her to really hone in on your wants and style. Terri is a great listener which ensures the finished design is consistent with the owner's vision. She is great at incorporating your ideas with new trends and color pallets you may never have thought of. She is skilled at pulling together different taste to create a unique personal design for each client. Terri is very organized which enables you to be able to relax and enjoy the experience without stressing. My husband and I enjoyed Terri's talented insights that really brought our house to life! read more

After numerous attempts at trying to give my mom's somewhat "dated" living room the Wow Factor, I went online to find a professional to take over this task. This is when I found Terry, and boy am I pleased! She came in, sent mom away for the day and brought some much needed life into the home. Mom was so pleased and cannot just walk by the room without stopping to look at it. We are so pleased with Terry's work and will definitely be using her again. She gave us ideas that we would have never thought about. She is also very fun to work with. I personally had so much fun shopping with her. You cannot lose by hiring her for your interior makeover. read more

I am a real estate agent who recently got an amazing listing in Mount Helix. However, the home was in need of some updating before placing it on the market. I called Terri, had her meet with my client and she was hired! Terri worked miracles! She not only improved and updated the interior of this home, but also staged the outside as well. Terri knows what Buyers are looking for and she has an amazing gift at preparing the property for market. She can see the diamond in the ruff, polish it up and set it out to shine. Terri is gifted and so much fun to work with. Thanks again Terri for your hard work and dedication to what you do! read more

I have worked with many interior designers for our homes and office buildings in both California and Utah. Terri is the only designer that I would recommend. She listens to her clients needs and desires and designs according to their expectations. So many designers design based on what they want to see. Terri has done several projects for us and has never disappointed. She is able to envision many different styles based on what the client is looking for in atmosphere and design. It always comes out better than imagined. You will not be disappointed working with her. She is such a delight, warm and personable. read more

Terri was a pleasure to work with and very professional and was a tremendous help in in ways I never thought were possible in staging our home. Her placement with the furnishings we already had and using a simple and tasteful concept made our place feel and look more spacious then ever before. I would highly recommend "Interior Makeovers" if you were going to sell your home and needed the extra pop that will make it happen. I used "Interior Makeovers"when we got into our new place and felt right at home with the new surroundings Terri created for us. Exceptional work and a very professional owner............S. Fusco read more

After 60 days of our home being on the market without any offers, I decided it was time to call an expert. Terri, owner of Interior Makeovers, was referred to us to stage our home and give it a fresh look. She came in without buying anything new and re-arranged our furniture. She even bought in her own art, plants, decor etc...for the finishing touches. WOW! what a difference. Within 2 weeks we had an offer and sold our home. I recommend Terri for staging and all your designing needs. She's going to help with the arrangement of our furnishings when we move into our new home. read more

I have worked with Terri twice. The first time she helped me with my kitchen remodel with the arrangements of cabinets and paint colors which was so helpful. Second was a re-model of my master bedroom. With her expertise she turned a dark blue wallpapered bedroom into an absolutely beautiful bedroom suite we enjoy every single day. Her design knowledge and patience was outstanding. She also changed some things in the living room that added that touch. She is wonderful to work with and would recommend her highly. Ortie K. read more

We had a houseful of furniture and pictures and I just didn't have the time to settle in. So I called Terri. What I like best is that Terri first listened to what I wanted. I hired her to do the work and I'm glad I did. It was fantastic. I walked into a fully decorated living space and it felt like home. She's got a gift. Thanks Terri. Really I love what you did, especially the chair by the window. i would have never thought of that. Tonina read more

I had Terri Wise come to my home for a consultation & was so very pleased with her service. She appreciates a bargain, as I do, and so I felt very at ease with her suggestions & recommendations. She was extremely helpful with paint color choices and had referrals for any service provider that might be needed. I would highly recommend Terri to any homeowner that is planning to decorate or re-decorate their home! read more