Calm Designs

I worked with Chris on a huge remodel job on a home we purchased in Yarrow Point. The project was very challenging in terms of making a very unusual layout feel cohesive for our family. Chris was very professional, creative in her thinking & very easy to work with. I loved how she was able to help me transition from the style of my old home (traditional) to a much more contemporary, cleaner look, while still making our home feel warm & inviting. She was very knowledgeable about resources, companies & contacts in the area & went with me to make numerous selections on surfaces throughout our home, ranging from tile, granite, hardware, carpet, paint colors, etc as well as new furniture purchases. I loved also that Chris was able to also help me keep a sense of humor & positive attitude about the project even when at times the process was stressful. Overall she was a pleasure to work with & I would highly recommend her.

Chris was fabulous! She was patient listening and helping me determine the difference between my needs and wants for my kitchen remodel. She worked with my budget requests and offered creative ideas. Everything turned out beautiful, I can't recommend her enough!

We utilized Chris @ Calm Designs as a sounding board for the design of our kitchen and master bath remodel. Chris identified many considerations we had not thought about, and she was instrumental in the design of kitchen layout, especially the kitchen nook with built-in window seat. Chris helped us with down selection of counter-top materials and helped us select all our tile and back splash. After expressing my idea for alternating different sized tiles on master bath floor, Chris proceeded to design and draw out the floor as instructions for our tile installer.

My girlfriend and I did a complete remodel of our home from top to bottom. We felt very comfortable in our first meeting with her as she was very in tune with what our challenges were, as my girlfriend and I had different design ideas. From there she supported the entire design project with the utmost professionalism. Her energy and design style is incredible. Without her ability to blend our separate visions and put together an amazing outcome we would still be living in an unfinished home.

Calm Designs provided interior design solutions, starting with an in-home consultation to become familiar with legacy pieces (furniture, art, etc.) and discuss budget and timing. This was followed by a presentation of color boards (fabrics, finishes, colors, photos, etc.). Once items were approved a spreadsheet with web links was provided to me and the general contractor. Furniture and decor was ordered and delivered on time. Any quality issues were dealt with quickly and to my satisfaction. I first worked with Calm Designs in 2007 for our main residence and rehired them in 2010 for an initial recreational residence redesign, followed by a remodel this year (three contracts total). Budgets have ranged from $25k to $175k, all inclusive.

I love working with Calm Designs because Chris has a creative touch and creates realistic solutions with the client in mind. She doesn't try to oversell you and is very respectful of the current aesthetics of your home. She helped us with everything from wall color to throw pillows to recommendations for a complete bathroom re-model. No project seems to big or too small for her to come in with great ideas to make your house your home.

We live in a house that was pieced together; built in 1928, moved to a new location and added onto in 1962, it had a split personality that needed a style to call it's own. We bought this house in 1994 and began demolition and rebuilding shortly afterwards. Once the bones were in place, we ran out of steam. When you live in your construction zone, sometimes it's hard to see the big picture. We contacted Calm Designs owner, Chris Simons to help us bring our project into perspective. She is one of those rare people who listens to the client's dreams and then brings those dreams into reality while holding on to budget constraints. Everything great starts with a master plan. Being happy with an end product is not just about what your design ends up looking like - it's about the journey along the way and the functionality of your home.Our house now has a design theme that works with our lifestyle: French country with a modern twist. We are in the beginning of our transformation and moving forward at our own pace; there is no pressure from Chris to hurry; she respects our need to take it slowly. The first change we made was to hang sliding barn style doors in our kitchen area, changing the feel immediately. The next step was to update our mudroom; adding marine lights and new trim. We removed an outdated hanging light from the dining area, adding canned lights and wall sconces on dimmers for atmosphere. As we move into the next phase of our overall plan, we move with confidence. Adding built in cabinetry and updating furniture is next on our list. We are moving towards what we know will fit with our lifestyle while keeping our budget well in check. We can't wait to post pictures of our remodeled French Country cottage - with it's modern twist.

Chris at Calm Designs really focuses on what the client wants and then uses her design skills to come up with new and innovative ideas for the project. She brings options for you to choose from and will go in the direction you are looking for. Chris is also great at repurposing things within your home, she has a great eye for placement of furniture and decorations. I have worked with her on two projects and she is professional, personable, fun, and realistic. Chris stays within your budget and communicates with you all along the way. I highly recommend Calm Designs.

When you say "let's hire a designer" to your husband you get that look…you know, that look. The look that says "you are about to spend some seriously frivolous money, aren't you". So it's not nothing that my hubby will now say, "call Chris!" all on his own. Chris Simons of Calm Designs is a design savant. Seriously! She listens to your thoughts and ideas and also shares a few of her own that you'd never think of ( I inevitably like hers better!) but she will take the tangle of design thoughts in your head and bring them to life gorgeously! She loves to repurpose pieces you already have (my hubby loves that part since it generally saves him $) Her taste is elegant, stylish, green. She will consider your room from all perspectives, from how much natural light you have and how that might affect say, paint color, to how the room is used, to your budget- which she completely respects. What you'll end up with is a beautiful marriage of beauty and practicality. Plus, she's just a cool lady... you will want to hang out over glass of wine!

Hiring Calm Designs was one of the best decisions I made after purchasing my home. Chris was incredibly fun and easy to work with, at the same time she was able to determine the perfect look for my living spaces. I trusted her to make decisions on my behalf and the end result was perfect for my family. I look forward to hiring Chris for my next design project!

Calm Designs did a fabulous job helping me work on a house that had so many different designs. My house had italian, beach, middle eastern and mexican influences. Chris found a way to work with what we had to work with and come up with great solutions. She picked very neutral colors for the walls and carpet. The lighting fixtures she choose were very classic and simple. Chris was fun and easy to work with. She was always available, eager to help out and reliable. My experience was wonderful.