We found a house in the perfect location and decided to buy it—even though we never set foot in the house until we closed. After seeing it in person for the first time we knew it was going to be either a tear down or a complete gut job. We chose the latter.
This house is a completely different style than our previous home and we thought it would be a good idea to hire a professional interior designer. My inspiration for our new home was more of a New England/Nantucket type feel so I started doing research.
After searching the web and Pinterest for ideas and inspiration, I kept going back to a certain color scheme and style interiors that were designed by Casabella Interiors. I went to their website and was delighted to discover that I could potentially hire them. So I made a phone call and described the scope of the work. The rest is history!
Michele, owner of Casabella, and Shannon, interior designer, and I fit like a glove! We needed to replace everything in this house. The simple remodel we initially thought it would be turned into a massive 12 month project. They were involved in every aspect of this remodel/rebuild. They worked with our builder, our architect and team of contractors to custom design every inch of this 4,500 sq. ft. space. Michele and Shannon transformed this blank slate into our forever dream home!
I was extremely involved in the selection process with them while they meticulously managed every detail of this project. Our first home was custom, so they knew I wanted another custom designed home that wasn’t like any other in the area, and boy did they deliver! Whether it was me or the builder calling, sometimes we spoke 5-6 times a day. Our contractors relied on them to provide unique resources that they didn’t have access to — like countertops, doors and railings. They even went so far as designing windows with a manufacture as we couldn’t find exactly what we wanted. They also made a very impactful recommendation for our front porch roofline. They suggested creating an arch and a set of double doors for our entryway. They also recommended adding stone to the front exterior for another layer of dimension to the house. It’s a much softer look.
It’s obvious today when I walk through our home how thoughtful they were about bringing the best out of each room with special details. I also love interior design and because I don’t put myself in a box, we had a lot of fun exploring different colors, textures, and styles. One example was the wide plank flooring that we imported from Italy. They also worked with the carpenters to design decorative ceilings that I so wanted in my home, like the coffered ceiling in the kitchen, decorative beams in our living room, and a hub and spoke ceiling in our sitting room.
Our office had beautiful custom built-ins which didn’t leave a lot of wall space, so they added a Philip Jeffries wood veneer wallpaper to the ceiling that matched the color of the built-ins. Again, an amazing detail that brought color and texture to the space.
They also used marble tile to create a piece of artwork over my pantry sink. Their cabinet maker crafted one of a kind built-ins and custom cabinetry in the kitchen, living room, wet bar, master bath and pantry. Whether it was finishing touches like pillows, rugs, and hardware or more prominent elements like furniture, tile, and the paint scheme, Michele and Shannon were highly organized and managed every last nuance of the project so I didn’t have to worry about a thing!
They nailed every last detail—and never missed a deadline—‑so it was clear that they have years of experience working remotely with clients. They also collaborated effortlessly with my contractors—which is no simple thing in a male-dominated industry. I appreciate how Michele and Shannon listened and understood my vision, but also brought years of expertise to the table. If something didn’t sit right with her, Michele would revisit it until it was perfect.
I will never forget the day of our big reveal! I was a bundle of nerves! This was now going to be our forever home and the time and energy that we all spent on this house just seemed overwhelming! But it felt like everything conspired to make this experience magical — which it was! The snow was falling lightly outside and my husband and I stepped through the front door to find candles burning softly, music playing and the magic of what Casabella did for us wrapped around us like a warm blanket! It was beautiful and it was home! Tears start flowing and everywhere we turned was more and more beautiful! They nailed it! In every way! The personal touches with pictures just meant so much! They poured their heart and soul into this project and we could see and feel it! What more could you ask for? An amazing experience with two amazing people! I couldn’t have had a better experience and can’t imagine working with anyone else!