I have hired 1st Stage for multiple properties over the years. In the past, they generally did…read moregreat work and I was impressed with their staging style, professionalism, availability, and pricing. That said, my most recent experience was disappointing. I had them stage a modern townhouse in Costa Mesa near the beach. Unfortunately, the staging style they chose did not match the aesthetic of the property at all. I am not a designer, so I typically trust their vision and let them take the lead. This time, I reached out to their team and simply asked if we could swap out a few items to make the space feel more modern or beachy. I was told I would need to pay a restocking fee. That response was frustrating. I had referred them many jobs and clients in the past, and while the fee itself was not a large amount, it felt unnecessary and left a bad impression. They did eventually waive the fee, which I appreciated, but the situation already felt mishandled. Fast forward a bit. The property did not sell, and I requested that it be de-staged. Their team came out a few days later and removed the furniture. A few months after that, they emailed both me and my client, who was the actual party to the staging contract, claiming there was a prorated balance due for a few extra days the furniture remained in the home. The amount was under $400. The contract was between my client and 1st Stage, not me, so I was confused as to why I was included. Shortly after, Mark Sutton emailed me directly asking if I could take care of the payment by the next day. I found that extremely unprofessional. Agents are the ones who bring them business, and asking me to personally pay an invoice that had nothing to do with me showed a real lack of business judgment. I expressed my disappointment with their customer service, and the only response I received was a payment link. If you are looking for a stager who truly feels like a partner and values long-term relationships, I would think twice before using this company. In my experience, once an issue arises, you are treated like just another number, and preserving relationships does not seem to be a priority.

What an amazing experience we had with Janice and the entire team! Not only are they creative, hard…read moreworking, and professional, but they have the most beautiful and quality items! You can put your complete trust that they will stage your house to perfection so that it will look great for the photos and the tours!! Our home went into escrow 4 days after listing and we received $100,000 over asking price! The 1st stage service is a great value and will pay off tremendously in the end.

I can't recommend Lindsey enough! From the very beginning, she was professional, responsive, and so…read moreeasy to communicate with. She was always on time, listened carefully to what I wanted, and really understood my style and vision. She helped organize and decorate my business studio in a way that feels both beautiful and functional. She had a great eye for detail and made the entire process feel effortless. I never felt like she was pushing her own ideas--instead, she took the time to understand my taste and brought it to life even better than I had imagined. Working with her was such a positive experience, and my studio is now a space that I genuinely love walking into every day. If you're looking for someone who is talented, organized, reliable, and truly cares about creating a space that reflects you, I highly recommend her!

Lindsey recently helped stage a listing of mine in Murrieta and she was such a delight to work…read morewith. She was friendly, communicative, thorough & incredibly detailed-oriented. She also went above and beyond the original scope of work after noticing a few additional items needing attention. She transformed the space and it was no surprise that we ended up with multiple offers within days of listing -- undoubtedly due to the transformation she made on the home - in a neighborhood where listings typically sit for weeks at a time. Not only did she impress me, but my client loved her as well - which makes me look great in the eyes of my client. I would 100% recommend her for design and staging services and will be calling her for all my local listings & client needs in the future.

Kristen is the best designer I've met. She pays attention to the small details, has great supplier…read moreand contractor contacts, keeps a light positive attitude throughout the entire experience, follows up regularly, quick to respond to texts or emails, and is just an overall great support during the remodel. We ended up remodeling our entire house, taking out walls, new kitchen, 3 new bathrooms, new floors, paint, closets, replaced doors to 8' solid wood doors, and Pinkys Iron Door french doors to the office. I mean honestly, our house looks totally different inside, all brand new. All of the finishes and touches flow perfectly together making the house feel airy and light. I think Kristen's pricing is a bargain for the service and involvement she gives. Having her help with the remodel reduced our stress levels by 1000% by helping us find the finishing items and make decisions that we'd get stuck on. She has a great eye for this stuff, and you will not regret hiring Kristen. I'll update my posting with more pictures soon, still need to get some art on the walls and wrap up a few minor things.

What a great experience working with Kristen Bradshaw Interiors from the initial consult to the…read moredesign boards to carrying out the design! I needed to make updates throughout the house from floors, painting, living room and bathroom remodel. She not only had great design ideas but always incorporated feedback to come back with an even more spectacular design. Working with Kristen and having her manage the project was a load off the shoulders. She managed the contractors and project follow ups and was always responsive. I couldn't have done it without her. Everyone that comes over is so impressed!

was looking for a design element to lighten up a kitchen that was in danger of taking on a…read more"dark-and-cave-like" appearance (especially with the expresso colored cabinets) after ALL the walls turned out to be load-bearing and had to stay -- so much for the original open-kitchen concept. at Mastercraft's showroom in Murietta (the company charged with actually doing the work), noticed the reclaimed wood from Poppa's Barn, and decided to use it to side the kitchen island. like everything else in the remodel, came out even better than expected. picked up a Poppa's Barn brochure for ideas for the rest of the house. will keep you posted.

Had my completely reclaimed wood accent wall installed today and couldn't be happier! Has truly…read moretransformed the room. The quality of the reclaimed wood is exceptional and I highly recommend this company!

Finally! I am excited to share my review of Tarra after a long remodel finally has come to…read morecompletion. I don't think I have enough space to express in words what a wonderful woman and decorator Tarra is. Being kind, patient, knowledgeable, understanding and creative are some characteristics needed when working with clients in the emotional business of home decorating. Tarra encompasses every one of those and more. One of the most important attributes I was looking for in a decorator prior to starting a large remodel was someone who would not push their own tastes on me and would value what was important to me while also providing the style and look I wanted. Again, Tarra is exactly that and is why I feel we worked so well together. Another part that I found amazing was her vision to see an outcome that was totally different than my original look, and it came out perfectly! Her taste is flawless! Besides the undeniable talent and creativity, I would like to speak specifically to her patience and professionalism. I found it very difficult to decide on pretty much anything during the remodel and needed her handholding every step of the way. She did so without fail and was consistent and patient throughout the entire process. She gave more than 100% each and every time, always responding to my texts and making herself available to me even for a quick thumbs up on a picture. Tarra was the most instrumental piece in the phenomenal outcome of our newly remodeled and upgraded home. If you want a customized designed project for an expert, you should definitely choose Tarra, she is truly the BEST!

Never having hired an interior designer, we decided on Tarra as my wife and I simply could not…read moreagree on how to bring all of our thoughts and ideas together. Hiring Tarra was without question one of our best decisions throughout this entire process as she merged our ideas with her expertise and unique flair. Our remodel included coordinating a full kitchen, dining and living rooms design all while being mindful of costs and time constraints. Tarra addressed all of our needs to include, but not limited to: design layout, construction alternatives, lighting needs, painting/color needs, furniture selection throughout, cabinet style/stains/paint, flooring alternatives, etc. She was amazing to work and collaborate with throughout the entire process, and when complete had transformed our single-story ranch style home just as we had envisioned. In addition to being patient and listening well to our wants and needs, Tarra was extremely accommodating, made the selection of materials very easy and in the end blended comfort and style that suits our lifestyle perfectly.

I worked with the Dattilos when they were located in San Jose. Tamara has a great eye for design…read moreand so many ideas. She is a creative energizer bunny. Combine her creativity and construction know how with the fact that she is such a good listener, so she really understands the client's personal aesthetic and you get a finished project that is your heart's delight. My projects were relatively small ones, but she treated me and the projects like we were her only clients. The construction crew was excellent, so speedy and respectful of my home. One last thing, Tamara loves a challenge. So if you have a design project that require some ingenuity and problem solving, she is a great designer to have on your project.

There are so many great things to say about this design group. Tamara is a professional in every…read moresense of the word and a dream to work with. Not only will she listen to your vision, she also has Creative and innovative design ideas to amplify that dream and make it even more stellar. She has a beautiful eye and demands perfection (lovingly) from her crew to achieve the results the client desires. Although they specialize in high-end projects, there are design options for every budget. My husband and I worked with her on a large job in Wailea, Maui, and it was a true delight. When under deadline, the entire crew came in early and stayed late to make sure the project was complete in time for move in. Highly recommended!

Laura is so incredibly talented. Her eye for design and her desire to bring your dreams to life is…read morewhat really sets her apart. I hired Laura to design our Master Bedroom and WOW did she deliver!! She created a beautiful space that encompasses exactly what we described to her.. she brought our vision to life! She is thorough, professional, dedicated, and kind.. she will listen to you and deliver exactly what you are looking for. Save yourself time and go directly to Laura for all of your design needs. I can't wait to do the rest of the house this year and show off all of her amazing work!! Thank you Laura for all that you do!

Laura is amazing! She took my dreams and vision and made them even better than I could imagine. Her…read moreeye for details on everything from start to finish is immaculate. She thinks of every little detail and makes sure the contractor executes flawlessly. She created and managed our complete kitchen remodel. It's a dream come true. Can't say enough great things about Laura. Can't wait for my next project!

Had such a wonderful experience from beginning to end. My consultant, Ana designed to perfectly…read moresuited closets for me. I had no clue where to begin and really no idea of what would work best for me. She was able to come in look at what I had, ask a lot of questions and come up with two perfectly designed closets. The installation was fast and pleasant. The two guys that came out were a delight to work with! Asking me questions along the way to make sure I liked everything they were doing. I am beyond happy with my new closets!

I reached out to Closet Factory through Yelp and scheduled an in home consultation for that…read moreSaturday at 11:00 AM with Anahita. When no one arrived, I texted at 11:15 AM to see if she was on her way. She responded, first saying she assumed I wasn't able to meet. Later, she explained she had a severe migraine and had gone to urgent care. I completely understand that medical emergencies happen. What I don't understand is why I wasn't notified before the appointment. We already had a scheduled appointment, so I was disappointed that no one reached out to let me know she wouldn't be able to make it. Instead, I waited without any communication. I also reached out to the company at 11:15 AM, but four days later I still had not received any follow up. I was ready to move forward with designing three closets, but the lack of communication from both the designer and the company did not give me confidence to trust the process

Kathy has done two bathrooms and a kitchen in my home. I highly recommend her. She is prompt and…read moreprofessional. She takes all of your desires into consideration when coming up with a design plan if I had anything left to do in my house, I would use her again.Lol

We worked with Kathleen Ann Designs to renovate our guest bathroom in February 2023. It was an…read moreabsolute privilege and we couldn't be more happy with the end result, and how her vision came to life through the renovation. We wholeheartedly recommend Kathleen Ann Designs for anyone seeking an exceptional interior designer! From the outset, Kathy (owner and operator of Kathleen Ann Designs) displayed an extraordinary level of understanding and collaboration. She truly grasped our vision, goals, preferences, time constraints, and budget, and throughout the process, she delivered on every aspect with utmost dedication. Kathy's hands-on approach, combined with her innovative ideas and fresh perspective, resulted in a modern, tasteful, luxurious, and open design for our guest bathroom - a remarkable transformation from its previous state. Our small guest bathroom now stands as a fabulous and relaxing retreat for our guests, all accomplished within budget and directly aligned with our design aesthetics. We could not have dreamed the end result would come out as exceptional as it did, and that is thanks to Kathy's extraordinary vision and design ideas. When working with Kathy, you have a few different packages you can select from ranging from basic consultation to full design and even coordination with the contractor. Opting for the full package, which included project management and coordination with EDW Construction (a company that Kathy works with frequently on many of her projects), proved to be a very wise decision, and well worth the minor additional expense. Kathy skillfully managed the entire renovation, ensuring timely deliveries, meticulous inspections, and seamless coordination with the contractor, resulting in exceptional results within the agreed timeframe and budget. One thing that really distinguish Kathy from other companies we looked at is that she really listened, and she really cared. We weren't just another project for her. She was just as excited as we were as the transformation of our guest bathroom progressed. Kathy is an expert communicator listener, and brings fresh perspective and fabulous design and attention to detail. There is not one oversight under her watch in the end result is exceptional. We are thrilled with the overall experience of working with Kathleen Ann Designs and eagerly anticipate our next renovation where we can partner with Kathy again for another marvelous transformation. We would highly recommend Kathy/Kathleen Ann Designs to anyone interested in transforming their space through exceptional design. No

Sarah Garofalo at California Interiors LLC Recommendation…read more My wife and I have been very fortunate to have worked with Sarah to design a remodel of our master bathroom into a space suitable for a handicapped person. We originally engaged with a different interior designer. That turned into a big mistake as we were not able to communicate with them effectively. The original design did not meet our needs and Email, text, and voicemail messages went unanswered. We eventually found Sarah and made the change to work with her. Our project turned into a bit of a nightmare as our original contractor came down with COVID and had to walk off the job after completely demolishing our bathroom. When we finally found another company to complete the bathroom Sarah's plans and drawings for the space were critical in working with the new contractor. Sarah listened to our needs and wants for the space. She communicated with us in a timely and effective way as the project had to be modified while we worked thru the process with our contractors. Sarah made timely changes to the drawings as the project required them. She was always positive and flexible. She took every challenge in stride and was always willing and eager to help and offer advice. Sarah helped with the bathroom layout, tile selection and placement, color coordination, faucet and shower hardware selection, custom linen closet design, toilet selection, and every other design aspect. She also helped advise us where the selections could be purchased. We are eager to recommend Sarah for any design services you may require. We absolutely loved working with her. Sarah will be a professional and valuable partner in developing your project. John Vrolyk

Sarah helped with the design of my kitchen. Her eye for design and knowledge of the industry was of…read moregreat help. I will use Sarah for any design needs in the future.