Hiring Cleo with SoCal Kitchens was the best decision we made for our home renovation, hands down. We've lived in our home for 8 years now, and much of the house was stuck in the 1960s from the original owner (and the kitchen was falling apart a bit). We knew we wanted a renovation, but really didn't know where to start. We didn't have the time and energy to do all the research, shop around, watch HGTV, and to make all those decisions on our own. We contacted Cleo randomly (among several other designers/contractors), and we could tell after our first meeting that we wanted to work with her. Nobody else even came close to showing as much expertise or passion for their work. We ended up doing a full kitchen and one full bathroom remodel, plus another half bath and new floors, ceilings, and lighting throughout most of the house. It was a big job (by our standards). Cleo not only came up with the design, but also helped us hire a contractor (FS Design - whose workers were excellent!), and she basically managed the whole job from beginning to end. She genuinely considered our budget and only gave us options to choose from that fit our budget, which really helped make the selection process less overwhelming and more realistic. She helped us strike just the right balance between style and affordability. Cleo was so easy to work with, so friendly with our kids, and was sensitive to the stress of renovations and would often check in to see how our family was handling everything. Most importantly, Cleo was there whenever we needed help making decisions and to help navigate the entire process and make sure everything moved along at a good pace. read more

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We couldn't be happier with our kitchen and with the incredible work of SoCal Kitchens. From the very beginning, Cleo was professional, communicative, and truly listened to what we wanted. She is a rare combination of an incredibly talented designer and a highly skilled contractor. She helped us refine our ideas, offered thoughtful design suggestions, and created a space that is not only beautiful but also highly functional. The craftsmanship and attention to detail were outstanding. Every step of the process was well-organized, timelines were clearly communicated, and every trade she brought in reflected the same high standard she holds herself to. Any questions or concerns we had were addressed quickly and thoroughly and any changes were handled quickly and transparently, giving us complete confidence throughout the remodel. Our kitchen has completely transformed our home, and we have received so many compliments. It's rare to find someone who excels equally in creativity, execution, and leadership, but Cleo does it all. If you are looking for someone who can design a beautiful space and bring it to life, look no further. We highly recommend SoCal Kitchens to anyone looking for a talented, reliable, and detail-oriented designer/contractor. We would recommend her without hesitation and would absolutely work with her again. read more

I cannot say enough incredible things about Cleo and SoCal Kitchens. She completed two major projects for me--a full house remodel (including kitchen and bathroom) and the design and build of an ADU in my backyard--and both exceeded every expectation. Cleo has an exceptional eye for design and is impeccable in her work. Every detail was thoughtfully considered, beautifully executed, and held to the highest standard of craftsmanship. The finished results are stunning--I absolutely love my home remodel, and the studio ADU she designed and built is truly gorgeous. Beyond her talent, Cleo was a true professional from start to finish. Communication was excellent throughout the entire process, timelines were clear, and I always felt informed and supported. With over 20 years of design and construction experience, her expertise was evident at every stage. She stayed within budget and consistently went out of her way to ensure I was receiving the greatest value possible, which speaks volumes about her integrity and commitment to her clients. Cleo was an absolute delight to work with, and I would recommend her to anyone without hesitation. She is truly the best in the business. read more

Cleo with SoCal Kitchens is wonderful to work with. She is incredibly organized and efficient. She's both creative, and has her General Contractor's license. Her attention to detail was impressive. My kitchen flows better now, I have more useful cabinet space, and I can find things easier. The cabinet company she works with provided gorgeous, quality, cabinets and drawers. Cleo was always considerate about budget, pricing, our comfort, and cleanliness. We would absolutely use her for our other home projects! read more

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This was our second time working with Cleo and we can't say enough great things. She always thinks a few steps ahead to make sure every project runs smoothly. Most importantly she is a perfectionist which gives us peace of mind knowing everything is going to be done right and exactly how we want it. We love all the design work she has done thinking of how we can maximize space, custom cabinetry design and energetic oversight. It's always great working with Cleo and we highly recommend! read more

Cleo with SoCal Kitchens is incredible! We hired her for a full kitchen remodel and we are beyond thrilled not only with how our kitchen remodel turned out but also with our experience with Cleo. Her attention to detail, her level of organization, and quality of her work and taking care of the customer is unmatched! She is the perfect combination of interior design and general contractor. She is professional, has great communication skills and constantly checked in on us throughout the project to insure our satisfaction. The entirety of the project ran smoothly, was completed on time, and the jobsite was kept extremely clean! She goes above and beyond and is so kind and considerate. She is one of a kind in the industry and we are forever grateful to her for our friendship and our new kitchen! I can't recommend her enough! We will definitely be using her in the future for more home projects! read more

We had the great fortune of having Cleo design and execute a kitchen remodel and two bathroom remodels. She has an innate sense of style and is skilled at gently guiding you out of your comfort zone and showing you possibilities for your space that you would have never thought of on your own. Not only does Cleo know design, she knows construction which is so helpful because it streamlines the whole process. She has a broad network of professionals to call upon to help execute the project and is always there to hold your hand through as you work your way through the many steps and decisions that come with home remodels. Now that the dust has settled on our projects, I must admit that I do have a new eye when looking at my home and a little voice in my head saying "Hmm, I wonder what Cleo would do here?" I do look forward to working with her again! read more

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Cleo is the professional you want on your team for your remodeling project. We hired her for our kitchen reno the main reason being to order the kitchen cabinets through her. The pleasant surprise was all the additional services she was able to provide. She did all the measuring for the cabinets, 3 D design drawings for us to see what our future kitchen would look like and gave us many good pointers for general kitchen reno layout. She was there for us during the reno and for the final check in after all was complete. I don't think my cabinets design and layout would be properly done if I only used my contractor. Thank you Cleo for great service read more

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If you need someone that's more than a contractor and designer, then I would highly recommend Cleo DeMarco. She is the next level of brilliant. She's passionate about her work, involved in every component and aspect of the process, and is a truly remarkable person. She absolutely exceeded our expectations and delivered a final product that is nothing short of spectacular. Transferring your vision to reality, and within budget is not just an objective, but her goal. She absolutely hit it out of the park and I would use her again in a heartbeat. Thank you!! read more

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We undertook our third kitchen remodel in 7 years due to work relocations and new homes, and we were extremely pleased with Cleo's responsiveness, design ideas and attention to detail. She set the expectation of Covid related supply chain delays with a realistic schedule that she beat by almost four weeks even helping us with workaround ideas on owner supplied items when needed. Her team was professional, thoughtful and always on time. We unequivocally recommend SoCal Kitchens and would work with them again in a heartbeat! read more

We just finished a kitchen remodel. Cleo is an excellent designer and instantly knows how to make a space, any space the best it can be. She is a perfectionist, with an eye for detail. She snd her team are thorough in their work and I felt like I had a trusted partner and friend every step of the way. Cleo is extremely aware that while it might be a job for her it is a home for us. She works on every single detail of the project as though it was her own home being remodeled. She is absolutely the best. Project was on time, on budget and I never had to pick up the phone even once to ask when anything was going to be done! She was on point the whole time. We are enjoying the heart of our home remodeled by the best in the business read more

We recently remodeled our kitchen, complete with new cabinets and appliances. Cleo was spot on with her design and layout, capturing what we had in mind for our kitchen. Cleo was easy to work with and was always very responsive to our needs. We highly recommend Cleo without reservation. We can't wait to show off our brand new kitchen to our families. We look forward to working with Cleo on our next remodeling project. read more

The best part of our remodel has been working with Cleo DeMarco. We hired Cleo to redesign the bathroom and kitchen/laundry room of our rental house in Venice. She took the time to consider all the requirements of a rental property and not an owner-occupied house. She offered us choices and suggestions we hadn't thought of. Within those requirements, she drew up an excellent floor plan (fitting everything into a small space) and a detailed scope of work. She also helped with the selection of fixtures, colors, flooring, etc., again, keeping in mind that the demands of a rental property call for materials that are both pretty and durable. We are novice house remodelers and most importantly, Cleo went above and beyond and gave us excellent advice about finding a contractor, defining our scope, and outlining what we should expect and demand from our contractor etc. Cleo has excellent communication skills and a great work ethic. She has always responded to our texts and emails usually within minutes. Everything was delivered to us on time and with a very short turnaround. Her fees were very reasonable. And best of all, Cleo seems to genuinely care about her clients, checking in on us periodically even after her job was completed, answering questions about things that fell outside the scope of her job and generously sharing her time and knowledge. read more

Amazing work! Quick to respond and received a quote right away! I wasn't sure what style I wanted and Cleo helped me out through the entire process. Other companies I called seemed like they just wanted to work on the project and not assist in the design. They really are perfectionists! Not one single thing wrong and they even fixed a doorstopper on their way out. (Haha) Will recommend to all of my friends read more

It was a joy to work with Cleo DeMarco of SoCal Kitchens on our condo renovation. We remodeled and refreshed our kitchen, master bathroom, our boys' bathroom, and the downstairs half bathroom. It was a challenge getting materials and labor when we needed them to stay on schedule, but every step of the way, we could rely on Cleo's organizational skills, and her persistence and determination to get skilled workers over to work our project. We really appreciated how passionate and creative Cleo was to design and create the kitchen and bathrooms of our dreams. She moved the refrigerator from one side of the room to the other, which gave us more counter space and storage in our small kitchen. Cleo also helped us choose high quality materials, while keeping an eye on our budget. When we first met Cleo, she told us that once we worked with her, we would never do a renovation again without her, and I totally agree! Cleo became our partner on our project and relieved a lot of our stress during the whole process, and we now have a kitchen and bathrooms that have exceeded our expectations! We highly recommend Cleo DeMarco of SoCal Kitchens for your home renovation project. read more

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Working with Cleo DeMarco has been an amazing experience. Cleo designed and managed the remodel of my shabby and out-of-date house. She was always mindful of my budget and worked on keeping costs manageable. She oversaw every detail and made what could have been a real nightmare relatively stress-free. I couldn't be happier with the final result. Thank you so very much, Cleo, for making this rundown house into a true home. read more

Cleo is simply the best! She was so easy to work with, available for any discussion and meticulous with her design and execution. I was actually sad when the project was finished, knowing I was going to miss her. My kitchen is now gorgeous and so impressive that people are speechless when they see the transformation. I knew from the moment I spoke with her that Cleo was the one I wanted for the job, and I am so glad I chose her and this company! The workers were very respectful and efficient. read more

Wow, what can I say, Cleo is amazing! This was our first ever remodel, and we had no idea where to even begin, or what to expect. Cleo designed our kitchen and bathroom remodel, and guided us through the entire process with patience, expertise and professionalism. Cleo was on site to make sure that our job was executed exactly to the approved design. And the couple minor things that did need to be tweaked, she came up with really great alternative options to keep us within our budget. We got exactly what we wanted, and the quality of the materials she used are even better than what we expected. I am so happy that we chose to use Studio 77 for our remodel, and I would recommended Cleo to anyone who is looking to upgrade their home. She is an amazing designer and she really knows her business. read more

Working with Cleo at Socal Kitchens has been one of the very best decisions we have made. Without Cleo, we simply would not have been able to accomplish everything that we wanted to get done. Her vast expertise and creativity, along with her extensive resources have saved us countless hours and thousands of dollars. She is knowledgeable, creative, professional, and has a great attitude and an excellent work ethic. She really listened to our wishes, likes and dislikes, and helped us figure out what did and didn't work... and all within budget! She always presented lots of options which made decision making a breeze. She has a tremendous sense of style and doesn't overwhelm. The final product is amazing - warm and welcoming, tasteful and unique, and very much reflective of our personal style. We look forward to working with Cleo on our next project! read more

Cleo designed and managed a kitchen remodel for us that exceeded all our expectations. She has excellent skills as a designer, engineer, and construction manager. She is extremely knowledgeable about every trade--from plumbing to tile to electrical to cabinet design--and made the best possible use of our space within the limits of our budget and timing constraints. She has an amazing work ethic--very responsive and dedicated, totally honest and trustworthy, always on time, and a joy to work with. I couldn't give her a higher recommendation! She is an absolute professional and I would never take on another kitchen remodeling project without her. read more

I made the decision to remodel all of our bathrooms at once, and that's as far as I got in this process! A good friend recommended Cleo DeMarco, who is a designer with a general contracting background. Perfect for me. From the first moment I met Cleo, I was confident my home and I were in excellent hands. Cleo provided beautiful design ideas for all four bathrooms, everything from tile, hardware, lighting, cabinetry and more. She oversaw the project with an artist's eye, responded immediately to all questions and concerns. Cleo was an absolute delight to work with, from day one through completion. I highly recommend her and SoCal Kitchens! read more

My husband and I were looking for local talent to gut and remodel out kitchen. We called three companies and decided upon Cleo and her team and never looked back! Cleo and her team were great to work with, from start to finish. Cleo and her team were very professional. I felt comfortable with Cleo from our first meeting. She helped us with our selections and stayed within our budget throughout the process. Cleo also helped us with our design ideas. She has a great eye for design and is up on all of the latest styles. Cleo's team is great as well. They all truly care about their clients getting a kitchen of their dreams. They are all very knowledgable about every aspect of remodeling. Best of all they met the rushed time schedule. We had to move in by a certain date and they completed the job on time. Cleo and her team also redid our bathroom flooring, cabinet and mirror installs. We will have So Cal Kitchens finish the bathroom remodel when we are ready for that project. I HIGHLY recommend So Cal Kitchens. I have recommended her to family members and friends. read more

We HIGHLY recommend SoCal Kitchens for your next project. Last year when everyone was looking into home projects, we had a string of bad luck with contractors not showing up for scheduled consultation appointments to not even returning our calls. We stumbled up SoCal Kitchens through Yelp and hit the jackpot. Cleo DeMarco returned our call and a few days later we had a Zoom Meeting to discuss our kitchen refresh and immediately felt comfortable with this choice. Cleo was in constant communication through the project and went above and beyond with assistance with design recommendations regarding appliances, color schemes, plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware, etc. She is extremely professional but also warm and friendly as if we have known each other for years. We have been doing home projects for years and this is the first time it was done on schedule with no issues! Look no further - SoCal Kitchens is the choice for you!!! read more

Cleo is a one of a kind contractor. Seriously I don't know anyone as meticulous and talented in construction and design. I personally am an extremely meticulous and detail oriented person so I can't stand working with people who do a mediocre job but Cleo invests 150% into any task. Our home was damaged in the Los Angeles rainstorms and she invested so much time and attention into preparing an estimate. She covered every inch and every code requirement with extraordinary. She is extremely knowledgeable and talented at what she does. I could tell she has a beautiful eye for design. Her prices are fair and she is such a professional! She was so generous with her time and advice. We are still waiting to complete our exterior damages before proceeding to the interior but if her handling of our inquiry is anything like her building and designing skills we simply can't wait to seek her services! With so many people always looking for a short cut, there is simply a shortage of such talented and meticulous people like Cleo at Studio 77. I highly recommend them!!!! read more

Among remodeling professionals, Cleo has a unique combination of exceptional design skills, excellent problem-solving abilities, and extensive prime contractor expertise. She carefully explores what her clients actually want by listening carefully to their fledgling desires. Our home was showing its age after nearly 20 years since its last remodel. The best description of it might be eclectic contemporary, but with boring and worn-out kitchen and bathrooms and no decent lighting in any room. Nothing had standard dimensions and Cleo had to overcome many design challenges. In our view, the results are spectacular - the kitchen, the master bath, the guest bath, living room and den - all with added recessed lighting. Cleo made the project totally transparent from start to finish. In short, we felt like partners with her - although she knew what she was doing and we were basically her students! In more than 45 years working in the aerospace industry, I never met a more honest, diligent, and detail-oriented person than Cleo. Her knowledge of the best of the local building trades is exceptional. We couldn't have wished for a better experience. Rick and Diane H. read more

A friend referred us to Cleo to redesign our family room (fireplace wall, TV wall, and cabinetry) and what a joy! Usually remodels are filled with issues, but not this time. Cleo has years of experience, is creative, is a great communicator, and is so professional... something unheard of in this industry. She really listened to our wishes, likes and dislikes, and helped us figure out what did and didn't work. This took time, but Cleo was so patient with our decision making! She helped us stay in budget and one creative idea that Cleo had was to make us a mantel from staining a wood beam she got from a lumber yard. This saved us hundreds of dollars and at the same time, our mantel is so pretty and unique to our house. We did have one issue with being sent the wrong style door faces for our cabinets. Cleo took ownership of the mistake and got us new door faces right away. Cleo was not the GM on our project but she recommended a great one and then worked directly the GM from the beginning to the end. Our family room turned out just as we wanted - modern, tasteful and unique. Cleo genuinely cares about her clients and we look forward to working with Cleo on our next project! read more

Perfection! that's what you will get with Studio 77. Cleo's amazing design ideas and knowledge of all the materials and finish components really made the difference. She turned our worn out bungalow kitchen into a fresh, bright and fully capable kitchen to last many, many years. Our small bathroom now has beautiful upgrades and seems so much better! Not only is our Kitchen and bath beautiful now, but the quality of everything, from top to bottom... the floor tile, cabinets, counters, fixtures, lighting were all put together so seamlessly. Her attention to detail in the construction process assured everything was done right. I am so appreciative of the time she took listening to our needs and ideas as well as behind the scenes planning and verifying. The project was completed on time and on budget, and we highly recommend SoCal Kitchens, or her new Studio 77, which offers even more! read more

Cleo is extremely responsive, detail-oriented, and organized. She is also really pleasant to work with. When I couldn't figure out a tile choice, she stepped in with the perfect solution. I changed my mind on things a couple of times and she didn't split a hair. She hired responsible experts to handle different aspects of the job and coordinated them very well. The whole job (countertops and tile) was done in about one week. Everything looks great! read more

Thank you Cleo DeMarco for your great work, time and energy. Our kitchen is beautiful and everyday I stand in the middle and can't believe it is mine. Her skills as a construction manager really helped us through some difficult structural problems, and her team was a delight to work with. read more

Cleo increased the storage of my small kitchen by approximately 50% with her clever design and frameless cabinets. Her design, construction knowledge, eye for detail and professionalism were remarkable. Cleo knows how to "speak contractor" and kept the project moving. Our home has many quirks (uneven ceiling, uneven walls, uneven floor, large beams in odd places, etc.) and Cleo worked with our exceptional contractor to create a beautiful functional kitchen. SoCal Kitchens listened to my storage, function, and flow problems with old kitchen and designed a kitchen that works for my family. Cleo has an eye for detail that is remarkable. I would have made so many wrong decisions without her and overlooked numerous flaws and dings. With Cleo's beginning concept packet, I could feel comfortable that we had the same plan before construction began. The contractor guide packet ensured the workers had a resource to refer to for every detail. The finished project is beautiful and we couldn't be happier. Thank you Cleo - SoCal Kitchens! read more

Cleo DeMarco is a top-notch designer, project manager and client-oriented professional. Working with Cleo, we just finished remodeling our kitchen, laundry room and two bathrooms and could not be happier with the results. Cleo is a delight to work with because she listens and puts her client's needs first. To start, we discussed our general concept, likes and dislikes. She listened carefully, asked relevant questions and suggested a plan that filled out our ideas. Her design was fabulous and just what we needed. Throughout the project she worked closely with the contractor and subcontractors to make sure the finished product conformed to her design and to applicable building codes and construction principles. She also respected our budget and was professional about getting signed change orders for the few unexpected issues that arose. Plus, she kept us informed of all developments on a daily basis, told us what to expect next, and was readily available by text and telephone. Cleo is extremely talented, diligent, detail-oriented, and dedicated to doing outstanding work for her clients. We will always seek her out for any future projects. We are pleased to enthusiastically recommend Cleo DeMarco without reservation. read more

I wanted to remodel my bathroom and I was looking for a designer when a third party recommended Cleo. We hit it off immediately and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have met Cleo. Her knowledge and expertise came in very handy in getting the job done and on budget. Her recommendations for design were flawless. The bathroom remodel turned out great and I couldn't be happier. read more

My experience with Cleo was top notch to say the least. It resulted in me getting the kitchen of my dreams. It started with a planning process that was pain free and very flexible. I described what I wanted and Cleo custom designed several ways of obtaining it. She made sure that the construction started on time and stayed on schedule. As the project progressed, Cleo was very attentive to every detail from start to finish making sure that the tile , cabinets and counter top were installed correctly. She was meticulous about all aspects of the project and kept an open line of communication which put my mind at ease. Thanks to Cleo I have a beautiful kitchen with more space and functionality that truly exceeded my expectations. I can't recommend Cleo enough! read more

We could not have been happier with SoCal Kitchens and Cleo DeMarco. Cleo was fantastic with managing our bathroom remodel. We have never been so satisfied with the customer service. All crews were professional, on time, knowledgeable, and the prep and clean-up were amazing. Cleo's design ideas and sense of style helped us make some beautiful choices. And, her pricing was very competitive. We highly recommend SoCal Kitchens. read more