Contacted Shawn after reading reviews here on Yelp and after seeing photos of his work on Houzz. I…read morewanted to update my kitchen to make it brighter and fit in with the style of the rest of the house but needed help with what to do. Shawn took a look around, listened to what I had in mind, and thankfully told me what would or wouldn't work. He picked a beautiful quartz counter top, gave me options to choose from for the paint, faucet and hardware. He has a great team working for him. They were respectful and trustworthy. The refinished cabinets look like new. They do high quality work. He made his best effort to get things done within the time frame discussed but, as with any renovation, there were some unexpected issues that led to minor delays and affected cost. I really appreciated how his main concern was that I was happy with the end result. Before and in process photos attached (forgot to take a picture of the final product and don't want to clean the kitchen right now).

4.5 stars We did a…read morefull kitchen remodel soon after moving into our new home (before we got too settled). Due to unusual circumstances, we had a very tight timeline (see below for more details) so they were able to finish in 2 1/2 months. Overall, we are very happy with the end result and love our new, open layout! TL:DR version: - GREAT construction team/vendors and Fadil is the BEST project manager. Also the flooring contractor, Izec, is amazing. - Loved the design recommendations made by Shawn, like the floating shelves and bench by the window. - Pricing is competitive. Quality of work is fantastic. Designs are beautiful. - Area of improvement: better communication throughout the project. I had to be proactive and ask a lot of questions and follow up often. They offer both design and construction services, all under the same owner. This was convenient in that I only had to deal with one company and they took care of everything. Our project was unusual in that I was 6 months pregnant when we started the project. Typically, they don't start on construction until all materials are in stock but we needed to get things moving and completed quickly, so we ordered mostly standard sized and in-stock materials. The owner, Shawn, kept his promise on adhering to our timeline to the best of his ability, even as we ran into challenges with plumbing, structural, and electrical. His team worked tirelessly--even on weekends--to meet our deadline, without sacrificing quality or details. With any major construction, nothing is flawless. The one challenge I had, which may be unique to my circumstance, was getting proactive updates and just overall communication. At times, the construction team didn't even know what they were working on. Some of the designs didn't match the materials ordered. There was some miscommunication on which materials we were responsible for vs. what they would get for us. These were minor issues that eventually got resolved but it did cause me some stress and unrest. Highly recommend being proactive, with any big construction project, and staying close to the details... At the end of the day, despite some bumps, we now have our dream kitchen! And it was completed in record time! Last but not least, if you're told that any materials are "stuck" at the Oakland port, GET SOMETHING ELSE that's in stock. There is no ETA on when things will get unloaded at the dock...could be weeks or even months.

Kathy Bate is a gifted designer. She was able to help us make the best decisions for our home…read morerenovation including the most important details for the kitchen and bath. She was able to work quickly and followed up with digital plans showing our options. The project is off to a great start with our budget in tact. Kathy Bate knows how to help you get the best quality working with the funds available. Already we have saved money on the project by having Kathy 's helpful guidance. She is a warm hearted person who knows when to take charge. My husband and I enjoyed working with Kathy Bate Designs.

Kathy is an amazing and talented designer; smart, savvy, and experienced, very much in tune with…read morethe clients needs. She did a great job designing our kitchen.

We had the pleasure of working with Jill Finn of TANGERINEdesign LLC when our longtime designer was…read moreunavailable -- so she walked into a situation where we were already feeling a bit off balance. But from day one, Jill exceeded our expectations. The project involved tearing down an old, dilapidated screened-in porch that had never really worked for us -- too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer -- and transforming it into a usable interior room. We wanted to keep the light and airy feel of a porch while gaining insulation, comfort, and year-round usability. We also wanted ideas for built-ins: maybe a window seat, maybe bookshelves -- we weren't quite sure. Other contractors over the years had taken one look at the porch and declined to get involved due to its age and condition. Not Jill. She had ideas right away. Jill brings so much energy, creativity, and practical knowledge to the table. Even while juggling big personal commitments (like her son's graduation across the country), she delivered several strong design ideas within a few weeks -- and they were fresh, inspiring, and budget-conscious. She collaborated easily with our civil engineer, adjusting her drawings quickly to meet his needs. She also understands our local codes and regulations really well, and met directly with our contractors to make sure her designs were realistic and executable before we got too far into the process. On top of all that, Jill has a fantastic personality. She made the experience fun and engaging, and she brought a sense of momentum and confidence that really helped us move forward. I can't recommend Jill highly enough -- her creativity, responsiveness, and enthusiasm make her a true gem. If you're considering working with TANGERINEdesign LLC, you're in excellent hands. Karen & Greg Marriner 6/22/25

My fiancee and I met with Jill to explore building an ADU in our backyard from the ground up along…read morewith a home expansion. We were glad that we chose Jill; she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in all facets of the construction phase, and she was very friendly and easy to talk to also! Most of the time we would ask her a question, then just let her talk, as she was very detailed with all of her answers and did a great job teaching. We also appreciated that Jill also has no problem telling you if your idea is a bad idea, but will provide the context and reasoning why. Lastly, we loved tapping her creative mind; she has the ability to look at a space and give you plenty of ideas for it that you might not have even thought of! We would definitely recommend her and would work with her again.

Disappointing experience…read more Not a good experience Purchased an expensive wool and viscose area rug that was recommended by one of their designers. They neglected to inform me the material the rug is made of cannot be professionally cleaned. If it is cleaned it will never look as good as it did when it was new, and the overall quality will deteriorate much faster compared to a wool or synthetic rug. Evidently the viscose shrinks and the rug can shrivel. I found this out today when I scheduled professional carpet cleaners to come out to clean it. They refused to clean the rug. I have pets and the designer knew this. If I had known this I would have NEVER purchased the rug. I have also experienced issues with communication. I purchased a painting that ended up not working for me and asked if they had recommendations on where I could resell it. I never got a reply.

Thank you, Shannon! She has been a huge help. Over the course of a few months, we bought a new…read moredining set (Saloom brand); a new sofa, swivel chair/ottoman (Robin Bruce/Rowe) and a lovely new bedroom wool rug (Jaipur Living brand). I'd been putting off these purchases for about two years, because the thought of figuring out West Elm, Crate and Barrel, vs. online-only retailers was so daunting, and I wasn't looking forward to spend money on stuff that could be a total dud. Pros: -- Saves a TON of time. I had already spent hours on websites with no idea what I really wanted. I took a few ideas from Instagram, pics of our actual spaces to Shannon, and in a few days, she narrowed it down to 2-3 amazing options that totally fit our requirements and budget. (She was VERY respectful about budget- she was frank about what spending less or more money would get us, and was honest about what budget was realistic or not, and for stuff that was over budget, provided great cheaper options) -- **If you can afford West Elm et al, you can afford Countrywood** and get even more bang for your buck in terms of quality. I'm sitting on COMFY GORGEOUS DOWN-FILLED COUCH CUSHIONS as I write this for the same price as a sofa with a thin piece of latex cushion from Article. -- Great, expert advice so you get colors, materials and construction that actually makes sense for your life, not just whatever is cool on Instagram Cons: This is actually more of an FYI. They work with a lot wholesale-only furniture brands that only sell through decorators/retail, and anything custom will take a few months(!!!) especially because of COVID. Shannon does know which options are easier/faster to get, but if you really fall in love with a certain piece, be prepared to wait. But honestly, I've read online reviews of people ordering West Elm for a chair, and it taking MONTHS with NO actual updates. In my case, I emailed Shannon, she calls the factory, and I got shipping updates by the next business day.

Working with Emily was a great experience during our year-long remodel and addition. Emily's…read morebiggest value was in helping navigate the execution side of the remodel process -- coordinating timelines, advising on ordering, connecting us with trusted vendors, and helping facilitate communication throughout the project. She was also an excellent sounding board when I needed to validate decisions or talk through options. Having someone experienced to pulse-check ideas, help with all the little details (like selecting grout colors) and support in managing all the moving parts made the process feel much smoother and less stressful.Highly recommend!

I recently worked with Emily and her team, and I cannot recommend EJ Design enough! She has an…read moreincredible eye for detail and a natural talent for transforming a space. She took my vision and elevated it in ways I never could have imagined. The textures, lighting, and layout have completely changed the energy of my home. Her team was highly organized and thorough. My space finally feels curated and sophisticated. Exactly what I was looking for. 5 stars!

We figured these slow times were the perfect opportunity to tackle an overdue project: our master…read morebath remodel. After consulting with a couple of others we decided to go with HQR Design. Ron had great ideas was flexible and his quote was competitive. Once our plan semi final we got the recommended 3D rendering. Makes a difference for visual help and allowed us to make a few adjustments which make all the difference in the end The result came out great - see pix. Highly recommend. Thanks.

We hired HQR to renovate our very dated 1960s kitchen, which included removing a load bearing wall…read moreto open up the kitchen to the dining room. As part of this process, HQR sat down with us to go over our design ideas and created incredibly realistic 3D renderings of the kitchen. We were blown away when we saw the 3D renderings because it gave us the confidence that the kitchen would look just as great as we imagined it would be. The 3D renderings also helped us make some small design revisions to the plan, which we wouldn't have thought to do without the renderings (such as two pendant lights vs. three). All in all, I highly recommend getting these realistic renderings done ahead of time.

I worked with Itay on a complete renovation of my San Francisco condo -- new bathroom, kitchen,…read morefloors, lighting, electrical, and everything else in between. Renovations are never simple, and unexpected things will always come up. What's important is having a contractor that you can trust. I appreciate that Itay does things by the book and is committed to keeping his clients happy. Whenever an issue came up, I knew I could always talk to Itay to figure something out. That made the process much more manageable. I am very happy that I chose Itay and his team to partner with on my project. They did a very high quality job, and I'm very happy with the work they did. Thanks Itay!

I cannot recommend TRD enough! We recently hired them to remodel our kitchen and dining room, which…read moreinvolved knocking down walls to create an open-concept space. From start to finish, the experience was fantastic. What really set them apart was how they handled the "unexpected." As with any major remodel, a few hurdles popped up once the walls came down. Instead of delaying the project or overcharging, Itay and the team came to us with creative, out-of-the-box solutions that actually ended up improving the final design. We are so happy with our new space!

I love this dea! She has serious style and personality. She is extremely talented, kind, thoughtful…read moreand professional. She helped us with the daunting task of picking the perfect colors for the interior of our house. She meticulously went through each room and picked up on so many tiny details that we never would have thought of, which made all the difference. Also, helped us to decide to paint over all the original wood (doors, moldings, etc) in our 1920's French Normandy house... not something we took lightly. The effect is stunning and has given us an entirely new and contemporary look, which everyone who enters the house comments on. And most importantly we absolutely love!

Anna is a very talented designer, and also very patient with those of us who are clueless! She was…read moreamazingly helpful with color selection, recognizing things that never occurred to me and helping us to creat spaces with symmetry and flow. She helped make my remodel even more worth it! I look forward to working with her again.