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TESTIMONIALS

A Whole House Renovation

Design Coaching


I entrusted Thelma with the task of turning my house of 30 years into a new home, and I have reaped the benefits of that decision. After changing the living room and dining room into one large room; installing hardwood floors; gutting and building two new bathrooms; installing new windows in every room, including the porch; painting the entire interior; adding new lighting and fixtures; refinishing my older furniture and buying new rugs and furniture; and reframing many pictures, I have a new and beautiful living space. Thelma dealt with and coordinated all of the contractors and sales people from start to finish, making the process rather easy. I was able to go away several times during the process, with complete confidence. At every step of the way, Thelma kept my tastes, needs, and wishes as her top priority. If and when the need arises, I am 100% certain to turn to Thelma again.


–R., Sharon, MA


Thelma was never satisfied until I was satisfied.

Design Coaching


I’m a person with a lot of ideas and opinions, and with a strong sense of style and design but really with no clue how to use those opinions and that sense of style to renovate a 50 year old kitchen or redesign a small bathroom. There were lots of places to get ideas: the internet, magazines, my contractor, the designer at the cabinet store, but no matter where I turned, I felt I was being led to follow someone else’s vision of what my kitchen (or bathroom) should look like.   Enter Thelma. Thelma is a master designer but I hired her because she is a design coach. Thelma spent time with me getting to know my space and how I used it and how I wanted to use it after the redesign. She encouraged me (and helped me) to create a vision, and then she walked me through the process with as much hands on interaction as I wanted. In my case, I wanted A LOT.   We spent time in my house and talked (and she measured) and then we talked some more. We went to stores together. When I was overwhelmed with the number of decisions that went into redesigning a major center of my house (my kitchen!!!), Thelma broke down the process so that I didn’t have to think about the many, many details all at once. If I got sidetracked by cabinet knobs, she refocused me to think about the size and the function of the new cabinets first. (“We’ll get to the knobs, I promise…”). We went to tile stores and worked together with their designers. We chose granite counters together. We chose the lighting together and, yes, chose the cabinet knobs together. No detail was too small or too large for Thelma’s help because it all mattered. (“Feel the knob in your hand. Try opening a cabinet with that knob. How does it feel? Do you like that feeling?”)   Thelma was never satisfied until I was satisfied. She checked on the construction as it progressed and oversaw work for a few weeks when I was out of town. She worked with my contractor to make sure that he was building the plan that she had drawn and that we had agreed on.   But what was most important in all the talking and looking and choosing and building was that I was aware that the finished product was going to be my choice and my taste and my style. I knew I wanted something bright and colorful, and Thelma made it clear that her role was not to talk me out of my ideas, no matter how unusual. Her role was to help make sure my ideas would work together in my space and come together in a finished product that was definitely designed but not DESIGNED (if you know what I mean). With a full heart I would recommend that anyone hire Thelma to help with their project, no matter how big or how small. In fact, I cannot imagine how you could even think of doing a project without her.


–Maureen Mintz, Sharon, MA


She will surely help you realize your design dreams!

Design Coaching


We have worked with Thelma over the past 13 years as an Architectural Designer and also as a Design Coach. In 2007 Thelma helped us design our "Vermont Room". The original space was a very poorly constructed screened in porch that we didn't use very much. With Thelma's coaching and expertise, we were able to build a truly special four season room where we now spend most of our time year round. It is the centerpiece of our home and almost everyone who walks in says that they love the room and many have said that it makes them feel like they are in Vermont, hence the name. Every room needs a name!

 

 As our Architectural Designer, Thelma did all the construction plans and specifications and supervision of the project. Since working on our Vermont room,  Thelma has continued acting as our Design Coach, guiding us through several other projects that we considered and executed. She has always given us sound advice and has been a reassuring voice, helping us to chart our course and accomplish all that what we wanted. Our vision became her vision as we discussed all the details and she truly helped us create our home in our own style. Thelma has always shared her inspiration and knowledge which are born of her years of experience. If you are not sure how to proceed with your next project, we recommend you work with Thelma. She will surely help you realize your design dreams . 


–Gila and Bruce Kriegel,Sharon, MA



Her ability to listen to what we want and to how we live.

Design Coaching


Wow – What can I say about Thelma? She is AMAZING


Having worked with Thelma before (renovating 2 bathrooms), we reached out to her for our latest project; downsizing to a 2800 sf condo. 


While the bones were good, the condo was dated and not in line with how we live. The idea of re-imagining the space was extremely overwhelming. My husband and I couldn’t even decide on paint colors, never mind flooring, cabinetry, window treatments, or layout.

Thelma to the rescue! She helped finalize our layout (which included a complete rebuild of kitchen and baths), and helped us finalize all those things that make it difficult to remodel; cabinets, counter tops, hardware, lighting, flooring, carpet, paint, even at what height to hang our various light fixtures. She worked not just with us, but with our contractor, so the efforts were seamless.

What makes Thelma so remarkable is her ability to listen to what we want and to how we live. She didn’t try to force her ideas on us, but, offered ideas that met our needs.Her solutions were inspiring, creative and extremely solution driven. With her guidance, we reoriented the kitchen (the pulse of our home), moving/enlarging doorways, and adding an island and additional cabinets. We also gutted the two main floor baths. Updating the ½ bath and totally reoriented the master. We installed hardwood on the main floor. Upstairs, she helped us design a custom 12’ office space–for-two, and helped us choose carpeting that would buffer the noise.


In the living room and family room, which has a double-sided fireplace, she recommended that we replace the wooden mantels and recommended that we choose a stone surround, which bought the space much more current and stylish. In the expanded laundry space (a 9 ft expanse), she recommended that we utilize a motorized shade, in lieu of bulky doors. I must admit that I was skeptical at first, but she was SO right! What a clean look! Window treatments throughout, which included shutters and shades, in addition to custom linen drapes for the living and dining rooms, that let in light, but also offered privacy.  


What did my husband like best? Thelma understands working within a budget and not spending money needlessly.  What did I like best? Shopping with Thelma. Our shopping excursions allowed for inspiration, as well as, some spontaneous purchases.


We both agree on one thing; the results – Thank you Thelma for helping our dream to become a reality!


–Beth Levine Lappen, Sharon, MA


MORE KIND WORDS FROM OUR CLIENTS

Working with Thelma helped me avoid costly mistakes and gave me confidence in expressing myself in my surroundings. My goal for my house was to be an uncluttered relaxing refuge, one that was welcoming and comfortable with a cohesive style that reflected my tastes; I wanted to feel at home in my house. Thelma used her talent and experience to help me discover what I liked. She presented colors, textures, finishes, fabrics, lighting and artwork so I could find what spoke to me. Thelma and her team of pros recommended and installed flooring, counters, fixtures, windows and siding. Thelma shopped my house, showrooms and online with me to furnish and create an environment that provided just the feeling I was going for. Even when focusing on the details she always had the big picture in mind.Read More

Thelma did a fabulous job in virtually coaching me on my home office design. She respected my budget, was patient as I made decisions and purchases, was helpful with color choices, and strategic in moving furnishings I already had into a functional and comfortable presentation. I would absolutely work with Thelma again and highly recommend that you do, too.Read More

Thelma worked with us to design a large addition and remodel of our home. Her professional experience combined with her creativity, patience and nurturing attitude helped us to complete the work. She worked with an architect to complete the initial structural plans that got us started on our project, advised us along the way and even helped me pick the kitchen tiles toward the end. I am thankful that we had the good fortune to work with Thelma!!Read More

I’m a person with a lot of ideas and opinions, and with a strong sense of style and design but really with no clue how to use those opinions and that sense of style to renovate a 50 year old kitchen or redesign a small bathroom. There were lots of places to get ideas: the internet, magazines, my contractor, the designer at the cabinet store, but no matter where I turned, I felt I was being led to follow someone else’s vision of what my kitchen (or bathroom) should look like. Enter Thelma. Thelma is a master designer but I hired her because she is a design coach. Thelma spent time with me getting to know my space and how I used it and how I wanted to use it after the redesign. She encouraged me (and helped me) to create a vision, and then she walked me through the process with as much hands-on interaction as I wanted. I knew I wanted something bright and colorful, and Thelma made it clear that her role was not to talk me out of my ideas, no matter how unusual. Her role was to help make sure my ideas would work together in my space and come together in a finished product that was definitely designed but not DESIGNED (if you know what I mean). With a full heart I would recommend that anyone hire Thelma to help with their project, no matter how big or how small. In fact, I cannot imagine how you could even think of doing a project without her.Read More

Thelma's virtual re-design service for home office space is incredible. I provided measurements of the room and the furniture and she came up with great ways to utilize and refresh my space within my budget.Read More

I entrusted Thelma with the task of turning my house of 30 years into a new home, and I have reaped the benefits of that decision. After changing the living room and dining room into one large room; installing hardwood floors; gutting and building two new bathrooms; installing new windows in every room, including the porch; painting the entire interior; adding new lighting and fixtures; refinishing my older furniture and buying new rugs and furniture; and reframing many pictures, I have a new and beautiful living space. Thelma dealt with and coordinated all of the contractors and sales people from start to finish, making the process rather easy. I was able to go away several times during the process, with complete confidence. At every step of the way, Thelma kept my tastes, needs, and wishes as her top priority. If and when the need arises, I am 100% certain to turn to Thelma again.Read More