---
title: "Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc. — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/stephanie-nickolson-design-inc-pfvwus-pf~1862337552
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1862337552.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc."
category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/148345a10e989bfc_3521-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "Wilmette, Illinois 60091, United States"
latitude: 42.0765
longitude: -87.7246
phone: "(847) 987-3634"
website: http://snickolsondesign.com
rating: 5
review_count: 32
best_of_houzz_awards: 10
followers: 104
last_updated: 2026-08-14
---

# Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc.

Original Houzz profile: [Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/stephanie-nickolson-design-inc-pfvwus-pf~1862337552)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators
- **Location:** Wilmette, IL
- **Serves:** Glenview, Highland Park, Wilmette, Lake Forest, Winnetka, Lake Fores, North Brooke
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (32 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2015–2026), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Star Houzzer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 100 Ideabook Saves

Full service residential and commercial interior design firm, established for over 37 years with a sub-specialty in hospitality interior design including hotel, restaurant, banquet hall,  boutique hotel, senior living, country clubs, spas, sororities and condominium common areas. Our focus is on health, wellness + sensory design with a recognized brand of juxtapositioned rustic, modern and natural elements.

### 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
- Custom Built-ins
- Design Consultation
- Floor Plans
- Project Management
- Entry Design
- Custom Bathroom Vanities
- Custom Furniture
- Laundry Room Design
- Mudroom Design
- Custom Blinds & Shades
- Custom Home Bars
- Art Selection
- Closet Design
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Universal Design
- Outdoor Kitchen Design
- Basement Design
- Custom Bookcases
- Custom Walk-in Closets
- Custom Entertainment Centers
- Custom Rugs
- Sunroom Design & Construction
- Custom Fireplace Mantels
- Home Theater Design
- Sustainable Design
- Custom Shelving
- Custom Pantries
- Custom Table
- Handicap-Accessible Design
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Custom Storage
- Home Office Design
- Hospitality Design
- Sensory & Memory Care Design

### Areas Served

- Glenview
- Highland Park
- Wilmette
- Lake Forest
- Winnetka
- Lake Fores
- North Brooke

### Typical Job Cost

No maximum cost project

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc. |
| Address | Wilmette, Illinois 60091, United States |
| Phone | (847) 987-3634 |
| Website | http://snickolsondesign.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 104 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Stephanie Nickolson Design Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/stephanie-nickolson-design-inc-pfvwus-pf~1862337552)
- **Website:** http://snickolsondesign.com
- **Phone:** (847) 987-3634

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- NCIDQ certified

- **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2015–2026), for Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 32 reviews**

*Aspect averages:*
- Work Quality: 49.0
- Communication: 50.0
- Value: 50.0

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — Mari, March 2026**

> Working with Stephanie Nickolson was an exceptional experience. She brought tremendous thoroughness to our project — no detail was overlooked, and we always felt like we were in capable hands.
>
> She was incredibly responsive and respectful of our budget and scope, and she made sure every member of our family felt included and heard throughout the process. Stephanie is also truly hands-on with vendors, handling all of those relationships directly, which saved us significant time and stress. Her network of resources is impressive and made a real difference in the options available to us.
>
> What really sets her apart is her GC license. She understands how individual projects connect to the broader systems of a home and how all the pieces fit together — a holistic perspective you don’t always find in an interior designer.
>
> We’d recommend Stephanie without hesitation.

**★★★★★ — wes1runner, Jan. 2026**

> We hired Stephanie to help us design our newly constructed sunroom.  The design was a little challenging because the room is relatively small and has many windows.  Stephanie did an excellent job of planning furniture layout to fit the space and to meet our functional needs.  She helped us select materials (flooring, paint color, and color scheme) that worked perfectly. She was easy to work with, extremely responsive, and enthusiastic, which made the design process fun rather than stressful.  We highly recommend her.

**★★★★★ — smdwater, Jan. 2026**

> What a relief it was to find Stephanie very shortly after I moved to a new townhome.  I was looking for someone who was willing to take on a relatively small project that would help me feel at home in my new space.  Stephanie helped me integrate some of my existing furniture with some beautiful new pieces to create a beautiful, functional living room.   What was one large open space is now two curated areas-- one for watching TV and relaxing, the other a cozy area for reading and entertaining.  Stephanie was able to quickly help me identify my "style" and selected options for rugs, lighting, and seating that I would not have been able to access if I was doing it alone.  She came to my. house, made me (and my partner) feel comfortable, listened to several rounds of feedback, and did it all with grace, patience, and on budget.  I look forward to continuing to work with her, the kitchen is up next!

**★★★★★ — Robert Holloway, June 2025**

> Stephanie Nickolson is a true visionary in the world of interior design. From the very start of our project, she brought an incredible level of inspiration, creativity, and innovative design ideas that transformed our master bathroom. Her ability to balance aesthetics with functionality is unmatched, and she has a keen eye for selecting colors and materials that elevated our room.
> One of Stephanie’s greatest strengths is her ability to work within a budget without compromising on quality or style. She listens carefully to her clients, ensuring that their vision is realized while offering expert guidance and fresh perspectives. Whether it was sourcing cost-effective alternatives or refining design choices, she made sure we stayed within budget.
> Beyond her talent, Stephanie is a joy to work with—professional, responsive, and genuinely passionate about her craft. She made the entire process easy and more enjoyable, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. If you’re looking for an interior designer who will bring innovation, expertise, and a client-focused approach to your project, I highly recommend Stephanie Nickolson!

**★★★★★ — Julie Kernan, April 2024**

> Stephanie Nickolson is a gifted designer with an amazing eye.  She worked with me on a kitchen update and was able to select the ideal colors and design.  She listened to what I was hoping to achieve and then guided me to a solution that exceeds my every expectation.   She is super responsive and not pushy in any way - I completely trust her and will be using her again in other parts of our house.  She is the consummate professional and I highly recommend!

**★★★★★ — Lori Kash, Oct. 2023**

> Stephanie is fun to work with.  She's upbeat, passionate about her work, and cares deeply about her projects, understanding what the client wants/likes (and doesn't want/like.)  She is very creative, bringing us ideas and little touches that really make a difference. She was very receptive to our suggestions as well and would get excited about them.
>
> She is also good working within a budget.  If she found us an item that was more than we wanted to spend, she didn't try to talk us into it but revised the search and kept going.  If something wasn't up to her standards, she resolved the issue with options for us ASAP.
>
> Definitely recommend and would use Stephanie again!

**★★★★★ — Charlene Kurkjian, July 2023**

> I live out of state and Stephanie graciously Face-timed me in order to look at my space and to give me advice on updating paint colors. I had a difficult trim and backsplash color that could not be changed so we were limited. Stephanie not only gave suggestions, but mailed paint swatches to help me decide. At the end of the day, she saved me time and money in my dining room, helped pick Stratton Blue from BM for my kitchen cabinets, which I love which brought the color and personality needed, and Silver Marlin for my sunroom for the pop of color and spa feel which looks amazing. Thank you Stephanie for helping someone who is extremely indecisive make all the right choices.

**★★★★★ — Kate, May 2023**

> Stephanie is absolutely wonderful to work with for many reasons! She is professional, responsive, brings ideas and concepts that are unique, and is a genuinely nice person. My husband and I love working with her since she has ideas that are outside our norm; that's the reason why we hired a designer! We worked with her on our bedroom furniture, adding built-ins to our bedroom, and re-designing our walk-in closet; all turned out beautiful and we couldn't be happier! We are now tackling the living room with her (and have whole list of other areas once that space is done!).

**★★★★★ — Gail Abraham, Feb. 2023**

> When I told a friend I wanted to remodel my family room but I didn't even know where to begin, she referred me to Stephanie. I'm so glad she did!
>
> Stephanie was a delight to work with. She listened to what I wanted to achieve in my room. She was careful to stay within my budget. There were a few problems (as with almost all projects) but she stuck with me until everything was resolved to my satisfaction.
>
> I love my new family room and could never have accomplished it without Stephanie's help!

**★★★★★ — Linda Tieman, Dec. 2022**

> Over the years, Stephanie has helped us to update several rooms within our home.  When we didn’t know where to begin with our projects, she came up with great decorating suggestions and ideas.  She is very helpful and accommodating, and works with many highly recommended vendors and contractors to provide quality results.  Our latest project, the total remodeling of our master bathroom, was rather involved, but Stephanie coordinated all aspects of the work with such professionalism.  We are very happy with the new look!  We will definitely be contacting her for decorating help in the future!

**★★★★★ — HU-868154810, Dec. 2021**

> We reached out to Stephanie for help converting our kitchen and living space into a more cohesive space. We appreciated that she seemed very interested in our project. Other designers we contacted ignored us or said the project wasn't worth their time. Stephanie was very patient, understanding, and  responsive throughout the entire design process until we got it just right. She also assisted us in finding a responsible contractor to do the project for us. We love the final product, we are in that space 75% of the time at home, it was a practical update. Thank you Stephanie! We look forward to working with you on future projects and will also recommend your services.

**★★★★★ — Matthew English, Nov. 2021**

> Stephanie did an awesome job with my bathroom renovation.  The colors, vanity, tub and shower fit so well together! I’m also using her for my kitchen renovation.

## Selected projects

- [City Condo Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/city-condo-remodel-pj-vj~7255489)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 9
- [Rustic Home in Wauconda, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rustic-home-in-wauconda-il-pj-vj~6704835)
  - Location: Wauconda, IL
  - Photos: 7
- [Residential Living Room Libertyville, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residential-living-room-libertyville-il-pj-vj~5847154)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 4
- [Kitchen Renovation Highland Park, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-renovation-highland-park-il-pj-vj~5847238)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
- [Private Residence Highland Park, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/private-residence-highland-park-il-pj-vj~5847217)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
- [Master Bedroom Libertyville, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/master-bedroom-libertyville-il-pj-vj~80934)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [Dining Room Barrington, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dining-room-barrington-il-pj-vj~5847194)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [Private residence Lake Forest, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/private-residence-lake-forest-il-pj-vj~5847187)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 15
- [Great Room Barrington, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/great-room-barrington-il-pj-vj~5847184)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [Kitchen remodel Grayslake, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-remodel-grayslake-il-pj-vj~5847183)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [Residential Bedroom Lake Forest, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residential-bedroom-lake-forest-il-pj-vj~5847179)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 2
- [Residential Living Room Spring Grove, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residential-living-room-spring-grove-il-pj-vj~142324)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 3
  - Description: This room speaks to my client. It is warm, inviting, eclectic, artful and incorporates a common element of a circle. It is a bit classic but practical enough so that their two young girls can enjoy it too.
- [Bathroom Remodel Lake Forest, IL](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bathroom-remodel-lake-forest-il-pj-vj~5752974)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 3
- [Residential Bathroom remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residential-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~2677627)
  - Location: Gurnee, IL
  - Photos: 3
- [Kitchen renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-renovation-pj-vj~2331128)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 4
- [Braconi's Restaurant Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/braconi-s-restaurant-bathroom-pj-vj~2222337)
  - Location: Naperville, IL
  - Photos: 3
- [Nutraway Systems, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nutraway-systems-inc-pj-vj~1085736)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 3
- [Kitchen remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-remodel-pj-vj~731839)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5

[See all 18 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/stephanie-nickolson-design-inc-pfvwus-pf~1862337552)

## Ideabooks

- [snickolsondesign's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56738716/list/snickolsondesign-s-ideas) — 11 ideas

[See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/snickolsondesign)

## Community Q&A

**Q: Counter Chairs** *(in Photo Questions)*

Where were these chairs purchased?  Or who makes them.  Thank you

A: These are great swivel chairs, aren't they? We purchased them from Ambella Home, one of our favorite makers.

**Q: What color will you NEVER find in your house?** *(in Design Dilemma)*

It's usually pretty easy to tell the colors that people love.  You'll see them sprinkled or even poured all over their homes.  BUT...what color would someone NEVER find in your home? 

Tell us!  (photos encouraged)

A: Red. It's probably terrible for a designer to say as I use it all the time for others, just not in my house.

**Q: Pillows please** *(in Design Dilemma)*

Pillow suggestions for this rug.

A: This is just one pillow suggestion of many from Pier 1. I love mixing Pier 1's pillows in along with their textured ones.

**Q: POLL: Early Bird or Night Owl?** *(in Polls)*

Do you find you are more the type that is up early at home or staying up late to enjoy the quiet in the evenings?  Which do you prefer and how does that shape your living space? 

VOTE and tell us about it in the comments!

A: I love to run or do early morning yoga. It helps me organize, focus and get more creative.

**Q: Help brightening a dark room in vacation cabin** *(in Design Dilemma)*

Hi,
We recently purchased a vacation cabin that we are updating. The house is made of stone, and all the interior walls are either exposed stone or knotty pine t&g. In most of the house, I like the wall finishes, and think I will just paint the window trim a creamy white to update it a bit. The photo below is of the master bedroom which is quite dark. I am considering painting or whitewashing the walls or the stone wall, but don't want it to contrast too much with the rest of the house. There is also some contrast in this room as it has vaulted ceilings and the rest of the ceilings in the house are quite low. How can I brighten up this room while keeping the cabin feel of the rest of the house? Also, anyone have an idea for a light fixture? The floors will be natural stone with jute or wool throw rugs, bedding will be cream and gold or mustard. Maybe an iron headboard? The stone fireplace wall is quite dirty, we are having it cleaned with acid so that might brighten the room up a bit. Would love creative ideas!

A: Hi Leanne,  I would suggest  a color such as Santa Fe Tan by  American Clay, an  eco-friendly paint that gives much depth to a space as it can look ethereal and open up a space . I would also layer a flokati or animal skin rug in a light color spread on a diagonal over a sisal or jute rug. For lighting, I would hang two or three pendant fixtures clustered in varying heights over the bed. Take a look at: Elk Lighting Dione Contemporary Inverted Pendant \#10158-5 or Troy Lighting Mojito Modern/Contemporary Pendant \#TL-F-7014-PC, both lovely.

**Q: Boring corridor** *(in Design Dilemma)*

How can I jazz up this boring corridor?

A: Artwork spotlighted with lighting and interesting carpet runners for the floor. If budget allows, a neutral hemp  or jute wall covering for  the walls.

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-14.*