Carey & Co

Denise Carey made our house a home. In our main living area she gave us functionality in what is a very challenging space, along with bringing in color and the little touches that have given it warmth and beauty. We were so pleased with the project we had Denise bring her ideas and expertise to the second floor bedrooms and office, as well as advising us on the exterior of our home. Now from the moment you arrive there is a cohesive and welcoming feel. Overall, we felt Denise was respectful of our budget and the end result is a reflection of who we are and how we live.

Denise first worked with us when we purchased a home in the Santa Cruz mountains of California, in 2006. That home required a complete kitchen remodel; and a major construction/decorating project to transform an indoor squash court (really!) into an exquisite living room with a library/art loft. Denise brought an exceptional range of skills and artistry – and soup-to-nuts services – to our project. Her creative ideas produced exactly the feel and flow we wanted. She designed the details of the project and drew up the architectural/construction blueprints. (Our Santa Cruz County Building Permits rep said Denise's plans were the cleanest and best detailed he had seen -- which greatly expedited our permits process.) Denise worked closely, and well, with our general contractor. She guided me through all phases of the decorating process: floor materials selection, kitchen granite and appliance selection, the fabulous paint-and-accessories colors and a lighting design that created warmth and complimented the redwood forest that she "brought inside" via the open expanses of glass. She designed art nooks and lighting to professionally display sculptures, paintings and a variety of other artworks. She selected the few new furniture pieces needed to complete the rooms. I wouldn't have been able to navigate the overwhelming list of niggly details – like cabinet and drawer pull selection and placement -- without her patient guidance. The end product was a comfortable yet uniquely beautiful home where first-time visitors routinely gaped with open mouths! And all of it was done within budget. Having such a six-star experience with Denise, we readily asked her to do the design/decorating project for our new home in North Carolina in 2011. She understood our tastes, knew which of our artwork we wanted as a central focus, and was respectful of time and budget constraints. She flew to NC one time and then she and I managed the project from California. She was fabulous! And once again, we have a beautiful and unusual home that is functional, as well as warm and welcoming. The bad news is guests never want to leave! I enthusiastically and unreservedly recommend Denise!