Design for Change

Overall, working with Kathleen Soloway of Design for Change was very easy. She brought good skills, a discerning eye, several sources for materials and above all, patience with me to the project. The project, redecorating the interior of my house, began during the pandemic. The goal was to change to a more tailored look for the space and coordinate the furnishings with some carpets already in place. We accomplished this through acquiring new pieces, upholstering existing pieces, getting rid of some existing pieces, and suggesting paint colors. Kathleen went with me to several showrooms to choose fabric for love seats and carpet for the second floor and offered suggestions but was never demanding. Each supplier was a source that I was not familiar with. For drapes, lamps, and mirrors she made excellent suggestions again from various sources unknown to me. When deciding on paint colors, she was able to order large samples from the manufacturer that made the decisions easier. When I found a piece on my own, she was helpful when I asked her opinion on my decision. I am happy with the outcome of the project. Working with Kathleen was important to the success of the project. I have since worked with Kathleen on second project, which also had a positive outcome.

I worked with Kathleen on my primary bedroom and dressing room and on a few elements in my guestroom. I'll start this review by saying she is one of the nicest people I have met. She is kind and thoughtful and wants to ensure that you have incredible options for your design. I came in with clear thoughts on what I didn't like and Kathleen went with that while gently challenging me to consider additional options. The quality products she suggested were wonderful and she even helped me to find an excellent contractor to help me with some of the install. Her ideas are fresh, she listens carefully and works very hard to help you achieve your vision. I would definitely work with her again.

I originally contacted Kathleen for help with an update to the living room and master bedroom of my century-old Capitol Hill townhome. I needed help displaying fine arts, storing of hundreds of books, and blending important family heirlooms into our home. By the time my original project was completed, I was calling Kathleen for additional assistance with other rooms in my house. We could not be happier with her work, and highly recommend her to others. Kathleen suggested unique floor plans for the bedrooms and creative storage solutions for the entire house. She encouraged me to use books in many rooms of our home and she found special places throughout the house for artwork, heirlooms, and things that made me smile. I found her sense of scale to be invaluable. Kathleen knew which pieces would work well with my existing items. Throughout the project, I felt that Kathleen ensured that my personality and that of my husband and daughters were reflected in our decor. Kathleen was especially helpful in managing my budget, helping me decide which items to keep, which to replace, when to use thrift store items, and when splurge on more expensive items. She helped me select carpet, window treatments, bedding, furniture, and many other items. She found unique fabrics and decorative items that I loved. On a personal note, I found Kathleen a pleasure to work with. She was patient, thoughtful, and has a great sense of humor.

Kathleen was excellent, across the board! Aside from having impeccable taste, she is creative and always up for a challenge. Kathleen gave us many ideas and options, and helped us narrow things down. She was also incredibly easy to work with - timely, patient, and unfazed by our very active children. In fact, she prioritized them in her family-friendly design choices, recognizing that things will change over time and helping us plan for that. Highly recommend!

A few years after my husband died, I knew I needed to “refresh“ my Capitol Hill living room so that it would once again be a place of comfort and peace. I dreaded tackling the redo, until Kathleen Soloway of Design for Change made it a joint project of renewal and joy. She was amazingly adept at translating my needs and wants into a gorgeous palate—actually, four different palates with subtle differences of hues and emphasis. I had a very difficult time choosing! The fabrics in my renewed room range from elegant to bold and together make a beautifully harmonious space. One of my goals was to keep the room open to the daytime natural light from the large bay windows while blocking out the garish and intrusive nighttime light from new construction across Garfield Park. Kathleen’s solution of fabric Roman shades that can be opened from either the top or bottom is perfect! During the day, the room is open to the sun, and at night it is a cozy and serene hideaway. As it happened, Kathleen and I met just before the Covid-19 lockdown descended in March 2020. Despite the sudden closure of key vendors and myriad shipping interruptions, she found ways to advance the project. Throughout, I benefited greatly from Kathleen’s network of close professional relationships. Best of all, Kathleen was a joy to work with. She knows how to really listen, and I learned so much during our collaboration. She has become a valued friend!

We couldn't be happier with our experience with Design for Change! Kathleen is both warm and professional. She transformed our living room and kitchen in a way that we would not have been able to do ourselves. The process also was more cost-effective because with Kathleen's help we didn't make mistakes and had the guidance and resources to make good decisions with our design choices. Take a look at the before and after pictures of Kathleen's projects and prepare to be blown away. Her work simply speaks for itself. I am happy to leave a glowing review for Design for Change and finally give Kathleen some credit. Normally, I now get so many compliments on Kathleen's design ideas and I say "Oh, thank you!" like I came up with them myself. Kathleen and Design for Change are this area's best kept secret!

Kathleen was a joy to work with! Except for a new bed and dresser, my daughter's room had not been updated since she was 2. It was messy and disorganized and definitely not the room of a soon to be 10 year old. But she did not want to make any changes. I worked with Kathleen, setting the budget and sketching out a high-level vision for the space. Kathleen then worked with my daughter to understand how she uses the space. Together they created a design board from items that Kathleen had pre-selected (and run by me!). Kathleen sent me a list with all the links for my purchases. When everything was delivered, Kathleen helped me to put the room together. It looks wonderful! My daughter LOVES it, and shockingly, has keep it totally organized and neat! The room is full of fun details. The reading nook under the bunk bed is a huge hit. Kathleen kept the process and the pricing completely transparent. The contract was clear. She kept me on budget and on time, and her design recommendations were spot on. I cannot recommend her enough.

The care and attention to detail I received in helping me to achieve the look and atmosphere I wished to create in my home much exceeded my expectation. Additionally, Ms. Soloway was very respectful of my rather limited budget and helped me to maximize every penny of it for a delightful and splendid result. My home has never looked better and I have never been happier in it.

Design for Change has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid Atlantic on multiple room renovations for non-communicative children. Each and every time, expectations were exceeded and each family was over joyed with their end result. Design for Change particularly excels with the highest quality of customer service. They are incredibly considerate of special needs requests and take it upon themselves to become familiar with each clients unique situation to ensure that they are providing tailored service every time. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a passionate, considerate and professional company who provides the highest quality of work.

Kathleen Soloway was a true gift to our family when we were faced with the daunting task of moving from a three-level house--with garage and off-site storage as well--to a tiny two-bedroom apartment. Downsizing was a bit of understatement. We married later in life, and had never combined all our stuff. We had two full lives full of possessions, and needed to mesh into one, simpler existence. Kathleen was definitely part social worker and part design consultant for us, and we needed exactly that. She listened, organized, created schedules, kept us on task, managed third-party vendors, helped with design decisions, measured new spaces, created a beautiful floor plan, came over with garbage bags, helped pack -- well, it's impossible to list all that she did. We would recommend Kathleen to anyone downsizing, but also anyone in any kind of transition who needs understanding and listening ear along with a great design eye. (You should see the fabric samples she resourced for reupholstering our sofa. We love our new look!) She understands and get to the heart of WHY you are in change, and that is the most fulfilling at the end of the day.

Kathleen Soloway of Design for Change helped us design and furnish our 16 unit apartment building. She has been a volunteer since April 2009 to the present and has always been self-directed, timely, and sensitive to our budget constraints. Open Arms Housing, where I serve at Executive Director, provides apartments for Homeless Women who are experiencing mental illness. For many this is the first home they have had in a very long time. Kathleen made sure that each unit was comfortably and beautifully furnished with designated spaces for eating relaxing and sleeping. She chose colors for the drapery, furniture and bedding that were uplifting and comforting. Artwork was both cheerful and tranquil. She created two lovely lounges for residents to gather and an upbeat, highly functional office and conference room. The most amazing piece of this work is that Kathleen was able to do almost all of this using donations. She is extremely creative and loves to fashion the unexpected. For example one art installation was several funky radiator covers painted in bright colors. Kathleen has continued to assist in room makeovers as residents leave the program. Her recent re-do of our lounge elicited rave reviews from our clients and is now the most popular room in the building. Kathleen was able to fully understand the emotional needs of our clients and created homes where they could feel comfortable and flourish. Her work contributed to the community adjustment and life-satisfaction of our clients, and we could not be more grateful.

I used Design for Change to provide a new living/dining room layout. I am a difficult person to work with because I am reluctant to change, although I want to do so desperately. Kathleen Soloway understood this, understood my preferences and fears, and gently guided me. I love the results. She is great with color, and is extremely practical in terms of where to put what. I highly recommend Kathleen.