Do not waste your time or money with this unreliable design team!!!! We spent 10 weeks working mainly with Toni's partner, Alex, to get a precise plan for a laundry room/bathroom remodel all with the promise of great contractors and ease of project management. After all this time we have a design that cost thousands. We have a drawing of the space and not one recommendation for a reliable contractor, and no recommendations for tile, cabinets, doors, any finishes at all. We spent thousands for a plan that contractors say is too detailed, unnecessary and confusing. The entire time both Toni and Alex insisted they had reliable contractors that they regularly worked with which we had been having difficulty finding. Alex insisted on coming out to our house to measure and remeasure at least three different times so we would have completely accurate plans to share with their contractors to get us the best and most accurate bids. Alex never took notes when he would meet with us, despite our requesting that he take notes because he was NOT getting our ideas or requested changes down accurately. We asked that he take notes so that he would get our requests correct the first time we made them. Instead he went back multiple times to make corrections for his lack of completing plans the way we had originally requested they be made (if he took notes this might not happen). He would regularly have to make additional corrections because he didn't do what we had originally asked...this was all at a cost to us. When he finally brought in a contractor that was supposed to give us a very accurate bid based on the very detailed plans Alex charged us thousands to create, the contractor said he didn't even give estimates or bids, he just charged for whatever time was spent and gave receipts to the client for any materials purchased. Oh and he couldn't give us a timeline for work, he would just be working us in on Saturdays. Are you kidding me?! What had we wasted all this time and money on, if Alex doesn't even have reliable contractors that need his ridiculously detailed plans? In the meantime, Toni was supposedly looking into finishes according to Alex, which we never saw. By the time we cut our losses and ended working with Alex & Toni, we had never received any finishing design help. The two minor finishes they looked into and information they did share was for a glass shower door (that apparently took 30 minutes to send an email for a quote) and a bathtub that took 35 minutes to discuss with no quote attached and the mount requested was wrong (undermount when it was supposed to be overmount) - I know, shocking, another example of not taking notes and remembering incorrectly. In addition to our overall disappointment with working with Alex and Toni, they also have some annoying logistical challenges to overcome in this digital age. They have no way to take electronic payments (no credit card payment, no Venmo - checks only), they do not utilize email nor text as an efficient mode of communicating with clients and Alex talks way too much when you do have a phone call or in person meeting with him and doesn't listen nor take notes, causing your bill to increase and you to make little progress on the project. We had multiple conversations to try to get on the same page with communication and electronic communication being our preferred method as we both work but it never improved. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE! We have been working with a new designer that has given us ideas on finishes in one day and made changes to the design we received from Alex to make it easier for the contractor to use. read more

A small but mighty interior design firm that can take your project from concept to completion. Toni has flawless taste and can design in any style - from sleek and modern to old world classic, and Alex is a brilliant architect whose attention to detail leaves no room for error. We first hired Toni Palmer Designs in 2007 to renovate the entire first floor of our 20-year-old home, taking it from cold and blah to warm and welcoming. Once we agreed on the design and budget, they guided us through product selection and coordinated all of the contractors. We came home from vacation to a completed project, which looks as timeless today as it did 10 years ago. Last year, we used TPD to renovate two bathrooms. Although it was a smaller project, we experienced the same great level of service and attention to detail. read more

Toni and Alex, I can't thank you enough for your hard work on our bathroom. You made our house go up in value just because of that. Your knowledge and professionalism is outstanding. Birgit W. read more

We used the architecture and interior design services of Toni Palmer Designs for a 2017 home renovation project. Toni Palmer and her partner, Alex Orkow, are talented designers of interior spaces with wonderful attention to detail. When beginning our project Alex thoughtfully designed several space concepts so that we could explore our options and settle on the layout that best suited our lifestyle, our project goals and our budget. Once we chose the design with which to proceed, Alex patiently produced the detailed renderings, layouts and elevations for our space. Alex hand-drafts his plans, which can take longer to produce and refine, and we took this into account when setting our overall project schedule. Alex and Toni are very receptive to input and ideas from the homeowner and see the entire design process as a partnership and collaboration. As design layouts completed, we worked with Toni to find the perfect fixtures and finishes for our spaces. We went on many outings to look at tiles, stone, plumbing fixtures and cabinetry to choose the style and colors that we liked best. Toni understood our tastes and preferences and took that into account when selecting destinations and materials to show us. Toni has access to designer selection at discounted rates, which improves the cost to the homeowner. Toni also has relationships with a wonderful framer who produced custom mirrors for a fraction of the cost of retail. The suppliers stood behind the quality of their product and on the rare occasion that there was an issue, they were addressed quickly. Online retailers and wholesale outlets may cost less for comparable products, but we found that the quality of the service and warranty, the personalized attention, the care taken in shipping and handling, and the extensive selection to find what suited us were generally worth the premium. Alex rendered incredibly detailed layouts for tile placement, cabinet designs, light fixture placement, etc. This allowed us to purchase only the quantity of tile that we needed and resulted in a finished tile installation and plumbing fixtures that were carefully aligned. Alex participated in the construction bidding process and developed a working relationship with our chosen contractor. Alex regularly visited our job site throughout the construction process to check in on progress, advise on on-site decisions and validate specifications. It was very helpful and welcome to have Alex visit regularly. He was also very responsive to phone calls and text messages. We always felt like we were Alex's number one priority. read more