I was looking to redo my 2-bedroom condo in Brookline. (Besides my kitchen and bathrooms, the project was a complete overhaul.) I narrowed down my search to three designers in the Boston area. After speaking with Beth by phone, I knew I wanted to hire Casabella.
A few weeks later, Michele and Beth came to Brookline for my in-home consultation. We talked about the space, I showed them a handful of pictures I ripped out of a magazine, they measured everything, and took pictures. There was one image I showed them that I was especially drawn to – and Michele and Beth zoomed in on it. That picture became our design inspiration – partly because it captured a feeling as much as a look. After that meeting, I was expecting a lot more back and forth for us to get on the same page. I thought I’d have to push back too. And it just wasn’t like that at all – which was a big relief since at the time I was going through a lot personally and my daughter was having a baby. I was expecting to be overwhelmed. Thankfully, it was surprisingly easy. Watching the whole project unfold turned out to be a welcome distraction. And working with Michele and Beth was fun.
A month passed and I went to the Casabella shop for their design presentation. Over the course of four to five hours, I looked at fabric, touched rugs, and reviewed everything they selected for the project. Beyond a few pieces that Michele kept in the design – including a mirror that I adore— my living room, bedrooms, dining room, and hallway were completely reimagined – down to the smallest detail. From the wall paint and draperies to the bed linens, accessories, rugs, and furniture, everything would be new. I was excited because they just got me.
When I came home to the final reveal a few months later, it was very close to what I imagined…only better. The pieces we picked out looked even more beautiful in my space. All the design elements came together so one room flows into the next. It’s stunning and polished, but comfortable. When Michele asked if I had a favorite room, I said I didn’t because I loved them all.
The most unexpected part of this process was that they picked up on what would make me happy better than I could. When I think about what I provided to Casabella in terms of what I like (input) and what they produced (output), it’s very surprising. I wasn’t good at articulating what I wanted so they had very little to go on. Yet in return, they gave me everything I hoped for and more. There were ideas they came up with that I would never have thought to do on my own. And pieces that I never imagined would look perfect in my home, but to my surprise, they do. My biggest takeaway? Don’t experiment on your own. You’ll waste money, and you won’t be happy.
If and when my friends and family are ready to hire a designer, I’ll recommend Casabella with confidence.”