--- title: "InFocus Designs — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/infocus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1350699671 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1350699671.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "InFocus Designs" category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d6430da00086c34a_0577-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Crete, Illinois 60417, United States" phone: "(708) 769-4225" website: http://infocusdesigns.com rating: 4.9 review_count: 13 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 56 last_updated: 2026-09-11 --- # InFocus Designs Original Houzz profile: [InFocus Designs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/infocus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1350699671) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators - **Location:** Crete, IL - **Serves:** Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Plainfield, Oswego, Lansing, Chicago Heights, New Lenox, Lockport, Kankakee, Homer Glen, Park Forest, Frankfort, Mokena, Homewood, Matteson, Bourbonnais, Lemont, Richton Park, Highland, Sauk Village, Flossmoor, Steger, Willowbrook, Lynwood, Glenwood, Crete, University Park, Orland Hills, Monee, Olympia Fields, Beecher, Peotone, South Chicago Heights, Hammond, Bradely, Cedar Lake, Dyer, Griffith, Lowell, Michigan City, Munster, OakPark, Saint John, Saugatuck, Schererville, St John, Valparaiso - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (13 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2016), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves We offer a new look for less. We use the term interior stylist, because we believe everyone deserves a comfortable and beautiful home filled with things that are loved, honored, and cherished. It doesn't matter if it's a North Shore lakeside mansion, a Chicago bungalow or a south suburban tri-level. Most designers put their personality into a project, we put the homeowner's. Our specialty is taking what you own, rearranging it all, and giving the homeowner a new look and feel. Ready to sell the building you've called home? We will reverse engineer it by removing your personality and rearranging the furniture in your rooms. This will make the house shine and ready to be bought by a new family so they can put their belongs and personalities into it. Staging is more than what TV shows or a Realtor will tell you. Already moved out - empty doesn't sell well. We have access to a large inventory of furnishings, accessories and art to properly stage your house to sell it faster & for closer to asking price. Our team is made up of Susan Powell, who has worked in the Interior Design field for over 20 years, was the former President of RESA - Chicago Chapter, and is a design graduate of Prairie State College. Her daughter, Sam Powell, has been working with her since she was old enough to hold a drill. As Sam would put it, " Mum's the brains, I'm the brawn". We're different, but then again, so are you. ### Services Provided - Interior Design - Kitchen Design - Bathroom Design - Living Room Design - Bedroom Design - Color Consulting - Space Planning - Furniture Selection - Kids Bedroom Design - Dining Room Design - Custom Cabinets - Lighting Design - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Home Office Design & Construction - Entry Design - Floor Plans - Playroom Design - Project Management - Custom Bathroom Vanities - Laundry Room Design - Mudroom Design - Nursery Design - Custom Blinds & Shades - Custom Home Bars - Art Selection - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Closet Design - Universal Design - Basement Design - Custom Bookcases - Custom Rugs - Custom Fireplace Mantels - Home Theater Design - Sustainable Design - Home Staging - Downsizing - Attic Conversion - Decluttering - Historic Building Conservation - Interior Design Photography - Kitchen Remodeling ### Areas Served - Chicago - Joliet - Naperville - Orland Park - Tinley Park - Plainfield - Oswego - Lansing - Chicago Heights - New Lenox - Lockport - Kankakee - Homer Glen - Park Forest - Frankfort - Mokena - Homewood - Matteson - Bourbonnais - Lemont - Richton Park - Highland - Sauk Village - Flossmoor - Steger - Willowbrook - Lynwood - Glenwood - Crete - University Park - Orland Hills - Monee - Olympia Fields - Beecher - Peotone - South Chicago Heights - Hammond - Bradely - Cedar Lake - Dyer - Griffith - Lowell - Michigan City - Munster - OakPark - Saint John - Saugatuck - Schererville - St John - Valparaiso ### Typical Job Cost $175 - 100,000 Consultations are open-ended and are a flat rate. It's over when we cover everything. One-Day Makeovers & Staging is $150/per hour. Minimum 4 hours We travel anywhere within 100 miles of 60417. Additional fee of $25-50 for areas out of that range. Hourly design fee starts at $75/per hour Project/rehab management $50/per hour on site - $30 in office ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | InFocus Designs | | Address | Crete, Illinois 60417, United States | | Phone | (708) 769-4225 | | Website | http://infocusdesigns.com | | Followers on Houzz | 56 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/pages/InFocus-Design/283891487085?ref=tn\_tnmn ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [InFocus Designs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/infocus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1350699671) - **Website:** http://infocusdesigns.com - **Phone:** (708) 769-4225 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - President of the Chicago Chapter of RESA International - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2016), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 13 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Nikki Kimsey, Nov. 2015** > Susan with InFocus Design, has wonderful design skills, She has a vision like no other designer I have worked with. We use her repeatedly with our different investment properties. She works really well with the contractor. Truly a team player and works in the best interest of her clients. **★★★★★ — ks46383, Sept. 2015** > I found Susan through an online search for interior decorators in northwest Indiana. Although based in Illinois, she covers this area as well. Her web page gave me an idea of work she had done for others, and it seemed compatible with my own tastes. I received a prompt reply to my initial email and we set up a date for her to come to my house. I was looking specifically for paint color ideas and arrangement of wall art in my great room. She perused my living spaces and talked through what I liked and what I didn't like. She never pushed her own ideas; rather, she offered gentle suggestions to try this here, move that there... When it came to paint colors, she had a very discerning eye. The colors we tentatively settled on were a bit of a departure for me (Sherwin Williams' Khaki, Koi pond and Copper Wire). She ordered large-sized samples from SW (which came within a week) and also left a fan deck with me. Having the large color samples confirmed that the choices she helped me make were good ones. The new look of my great room is so pleasing to my husband and me! I would highly recommend Susan Powell for interior design work. **★★★★★ — all12roses, Sept. 2014** > Susan is so easy to work with. She has great ideas, is very professional, and you will be very happy with her design ideas. > Highly recommend her. > Rose **★★★★★ — feliciagunby, Sept. 2014** > Highly Recommend! InFocus Design is amazing. Working with Susan was a great experience. I now have the kitchen and living room of my dreams. **★★★★★ — badwithcolor, Aug. 2014** > I'm terrible with color selection and very reluctant to go "beyond beige." Further, I have been looking for the right backsplash for nearly three years. So I decided to get help from a professional. My first time working with an interior designer and I am so thrilled to have found Susan at InFocus. Susan met with me on very short notice. Came out to the house on a Sunday. My house is really a very simple home in a working class neighborhood. The kind of hood that you would not normally see interior designers working in. Susan was so easy to work with. Very easy to talk to and someone I anticipate keeping in touch with as my house undergoes a number of upcoming changes. Within three hours, Susan was able to find a color that worked in my house, took me shopping to a local tile store, and helped me to select a beautiful backsplash. Further, her followup and responsiveness is second to none. During the two days following my appointment with her, she was able to find out that her tile distributor can get me my tile for nearly $8 less per square foot than if I had bought directly from a retail location. This will result in huge savings for me and it will nearly make up for the what I paid to Susan for her help. While I'm absolutely sure Susan is fully competent dealing in the more highend settings, she was perfect for a first-timer like me living a small and humble cape cod on Chicago's southside. She saved me from a lot of fretting and indecisiveness. Further, she saved time for me. She is very professional, knowledgeable, understands color very well, and is incredibly down to earth. I look forward to continuing my relationship with her. **★★★★★ — lauriebakerfoster, Aug. 2014** > Susan Powell of InFocus Design does really wonderful work. She helped sell my listing in Wilmette quickly a few years ago. She has helped me counsel clients on ways to improve the look of their homes in a positive and helpful way. Susan has a great eye for color as well as a fresh approach to staging homes. She can do as little or as much as you want to get your house sold. Susan has great organizational skills and is a wonderful resource for additional people who can help fix items around the house. Susan is enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Susan to you! **★★★★★ — Colleen VanderHye, Aug. 2013** > Susan has presented many programs at the Matteson Public Library over the last 7 years. Sue's specializes in organizing, color, staging, decorating on a shoestring, room redesign. She was able to customize her topics to fit our programming theme. > > Sue provides libraries with affordable and entertaining programs that last 90 to 120 minutes. She include folders with informational handouts, samples, and stays as long as needed to interact with the audience. Sue is a very talented Interior Stylist who also does cooking and craft programs. > > Several people still comment on how she got them started on the path to organizing and less hoarding. > > Sue is great! > > > Colleen Vander Hye, Head of Outreach > Matteson Public Library **★★★★★ — msabathne, Aug. 2013** > Susan Powell/Home Stager-Interior Designer, just staged our condo for sale. She brought in minimal furnishings to appeal to all people and in a style to allow us to still live there. Fascinating how she laid everything out to engage the showings to travel around the whole condo...using a dominant color with neutrals which led them from one area to another..it was like taking them on a journey of our condo. Our realtor said he never had such a great well done staged unit. Our unit had multiple showings and sold in three days..sold for the highest price a 2-bedroom ever got in our building. > > We began our relationship with Staging/Susan Powell 6 years ago from a Chicago Tribune article. We asked her to do our condo in comfort and style to enjoy until we were ready to sell in future years. Susan created using our furnishings and art that we loved most and made sure she found places for it all. She guided us on pieces/styles, that in future years, we would want to purchase if were replacing something. With her talent of colors and staging, she quickly designed/created a haven for us that we enjoyed for all those years until she came back to stage us for sale. > Mary and Bill S. **Comment from InFocus Designs:** > Thank you. A great apartment, wonderful downtown location made my job to stage it all the more easier! Love working with you and Bill. So excited to be helping design your next chapter in life - retirement to the country. Your new custom home will be amazing. **★★★★ — Allen Yu, Aug. 2013** > Susan did a great job for us and helped us sold our house quickly. > > Not only she has a great idea on how to design the house to match the house style, but also she use most of the existing furniture and photos/pictures to create a very attractive, comfortable taste. > > We really enjoy working with her and highly recommend her if you have a need for house staging. **★★★★★ — bi3sisters, Aug. 2013** > Susan came over and talked to me about my likes, interests, hobbies,etc. Than she looked at the furniture I had already and the colors I tend to use in my home. Based on this she came us with a wonderful design plan for both furniture layout, color scheme and adding accessories where needed. She even found places both online and stores that I could buy merchandise really inexpensively. She even helped move furniture and hung pictures with me. She is a very friendly and easy to work with. Her enthusiasm for her job and for helping me was very evident. She even incorporated things I had in my storage closet and pulled them out and suggested they be used all the time. Our home was on a Housewalk and we received compliments on how everything was pulled together nicely and looked very professional, but yet very homey and inviting. I highly recommend Susan to do any decorating or organizing job, whether big or small. **★★★★★ — littlelefty325, Aug. 2013** > Susan did a fantastic job of supervising a complete gut rehab and redesign of a lovely property in Wilmette. The home could have been sold to a builder but it had good "bones" in an excellent neighborhood. Susan directed the entire project from hiring construction crews to staging the home for sale. Susan has a great sense of color and design. She has vision to see what can be done to enhance a home and make it a real beauty. The home was entirely transformed and sold quickly to a delightful young family. I would recommend Susan for your home remodeling or staging project. She is tireless, organized, creative and is a pleasure to work with. **★★★★★ — francenesher, Aug. 2013** > If you are looking for an experienced, helpful decorator, Susan is the one! Not only is she excellent, but Susan will go above and beyond to help you until you are comfortable with your choices. Her services are so reasonable that it would have been foolish of me not to use her expertise to help me choose my paint colors. Susan is a good listener and she can work with all kinds of personal tastes and requests. Mine being transitional and a mixture of all my worldly travels! > As we speak the painters are almost done and the end result is wonderful! > Thanks Susan! ## Selected projects - [Family Retreat with Hidden Surprises](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/family-retreat-with-hidden-surprises-pj-vj~5684563) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 47 - [I Love Lucy](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/i-love-lucy-pj-vj~2276977) - Location: Schererville, IN - Photos: 18 - Description: New custom home, designed for a grandmother that loves to cook and gather with a large extended family. Single story resident designed for aging in place, but a fun haven for the grand children. From fantastic kids playroom made in the bonus space above the 5 car garage to the 2,400K sg.ft. family room/entertainment mecca in the lower level. Style was supposed to be a pure Craftsmen/ Arts & Craft, but the builder has his own agenda. Luckily the homeowner was pleased enough. - [Frankfort Occupied Staging](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/frankfort-occupied-staging-pj-vj~1804349) - Location: Frankfort, IL - Photos: 13 - Description: Occupied staging for a custom home in a semi-rural setting. Featuring two massive master bedroom suites - [Stately Dwayne Manor - Flip, Stage & Sell](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stately-dwayne-manor-flip-stage-and-sell-pj-vj~1318831) - Location: Olympia Fields, IL - Photos: 28 - Description: An investment property that was transformed from an abandoned, bank-owned has-been into a stunning, classic beauty. Staged to sell with an eye to architectural details, it went from listed to contingent in two days and sold for over listing price. - [Bill & Mary's Most Excellent Adventure](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bill-and-mary-s-most-excellent-adventure-pj-vj~1708133) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 13 - Description: Staging - Empty nesters fly to the city from the burbs and now after a decade of living the fun urban lifestyle retirement beckons a migration to the countryside. Exciting condo in a great setting. Lots of window - Beautiful vistas and a re-styling to attract a lucky buyer. Simple, tasteful selections to show off the space with 'pops' of color to lead the visitor from view to view. A visual carrot, if you please. It's all about the space... - [Northbrook Flip & Stage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/northbrook-flip-and-stage-pj-vj~1612476) - Location: Deerfield, IL - Photos: 12 - [Lincoln Park Townhouse Staging](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-park-townhouse-staging-pj-vj~954912) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 13 - Description: Beautiful 3 story single family townhouse in the exclusive Lincoln Park neighborhood. Original owners - original fixtures, and style from the 90's. Vacant home staging to show off the grand one of a kind massive space that is unheard in the urban area. Empty for a year, then staged and sold in a week. Staging is necessary to show and sell a house - no matter where it's located or amazing the layout. - [Tiny - But, Wow](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tiny-but-wow-pj-vj~2268790) - Location: Kankakee, IL - Photos: 10 - Description: Cramped & tiny main bathroom. Window in the shower and very dated. We removed the exterior window from the bath/shower wall and made it a walk in shower. We added a skylight light tube for natural lighting. For extra comfort, we added a heated floor in the entire room, including the shower. From dated 1950's main bath to a 21st century cozy retreat. - [Downtown Lakefront Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/downtown-lakefront-condo-pj-vj~301650) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: A one-day-makeover of a Chicago lakefront condo. With views on two sides of the lake and river, we wanted to accentuate the view while making it a comfortable living space. - [Sold in 24- occupied Staging](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sold-in-24-occupied-staging-pj-vj~1998933) - Location: Schererville, IN - Photos: 21 - [Flipping Elk Grove Village](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/flipping-elk-grove-village-pj-vj~808842) - Location: Elk Grove Village, IL - Photos: 3 - Description: Post WWII ranch track home comes into the 21st century. - [Sold in 48 hours - Occupied Staging](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sold-in-48-hours-occupied-staging-pj-vj~1998918) - Location: Shorewood, IL - Photos: 4 - [Flipping Evergreen Park](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/flipping-evergreen-park-pj-vj~1318568) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 31 - Description: 50+-year-old bungalow in an established, quiet neighborhood flipped and rehabbed into a lovely up-to-date house for a whole new generation to love. - [Staged to Sell - Vacant](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staged-to-sell-vacant-pj-vj~301673) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - [Downtown - First Apartment on a budget](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/downtown-first-apartment-on-a-budget-pj-vj~301666) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: A one-day-makeover for a young professional single woman & her dog's downtown apartment. - [Home Office](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/home-office-pj-vj~301691) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: A one-day-makeover of a downtown hi-rise condo spare room/home office, using what the home owner already owned. - [Quilt Lady Makeover](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/quilt-lady-makeover-pj-vj~301697) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: An elderly quilt lady wanted to add some color to her life. We used her existing furniture and her handmade quilts to showcase her talent and make her living spaces truly hers in a one-day-makeover. - [Color... Please](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/color-please-pj-vj~301683) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: A traditional south suburban Georgina house in need of color- white is not a color! After living with the four options, they chose the yellow one and then we did a one-day-makeover. - [Staging a Bear](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staging-a-bear-pj-vj~301792) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: Staging of a 5,000sq.ft.+ North Suburban home using what the homeowner already had with additions of art and accessories to replace the personal items once displayed. Celebrity home, so privacy & identity was an issue we had to protect. - [North Shore Hoarders Home to Showcase House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/north-shore-hoarders-home-to-showcase-house-pj-vj~153543) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: A North Shore Hoarders Home to Showcase House- for years this house had stood neglected and full. When our team started we gutted and ripped it to the studs to be built anew. It was re-built and re-designed with the original architectural bones at the forefront. Any details that could be salvaged were, for example, the fireplace in the living room was original to the house and the wood floor in the dining room is the original as well. After the construction and design were complete it was staged… [See all 21 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/infocus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1350699671) ## Ideabooks - [Bill & Mary's Most Excellent House Building Adventure](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/69686415/list/bill-mary-s-most-excellent-house-building-adventure) — 49 ideas - [Jan Burger](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/71530604/list/jan-burger) — 4 ideas - [Molina](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/71154749/list/molina) — 2 ideas - [Dyke](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/70331695/list/dyke) — 23 ideas - [Camp Grandma & Grandpa](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/68414259/list/camp-grandma-grandpa) — 6 ideas - [Garcia](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/70334933/list/garcia) — 10 ideas - [C2 Basement Wonderland](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/59759253/list/c2-basement-wonderland) — 36 ideas - [Out of the country in Bourbonnais](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54290900/list/out-of-the-country-in-bourbonnais) — 1 idea - [Crete](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/43846658/list/crete) — 3 ideas - [Channeling Santa Barbara](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16941288/list/channeling-santa-barbara) — 2 ideas [See all 10 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/infocusdesigns) ## Community Q&A **Q: is that a solar tube?** *(in Photo Questions)* Where can I get a solar tube in eastern PA? A: We actually just purchased this at a big box store. They are available everywhere in the US. A Google search should find the closest source to your location. **Q: Bigger?** *(in Photo Questions)* This is a brave use of color and it works. The sofa is inviting without being overbearing. Is there a larger picture of this somewhere? i'd save it if I could. A: Thank you, this client was very into color. This is the only picture I have. **Q: What type of flooring is that?** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi, I love the flooring in this kitchen- what type is it and is there a brand or name or style? Thank you! A: Hi Lia, That is a porcelain tile. The color is in a grey striation I do not have the brand name/style information, but I believe it was purchased at Home Depot. It does look amazing and helps transition small rooms into each other. I had it laid throughout the kitchen, sun porch, hallways and into a downstairs bathroom. Went perfectly with the hardwood floors in the LR & DR. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-11.*