--- title: "Before and After Interiors by Kathy — Home Stagers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-stagers/before-and-after-interiors-by-kathy-pfvwus-pf~2080405665 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~2080405665.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Before and After Interiors by Kathy" category: ["Home Stagers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/d0231ef602439699_7295-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Mundelein, Illinois 60060, United States" latitude: 42.2636 longitude: -88.0048 phone: "(847) 372-3784" website: http://kathytichy.houzz.com rating: 5 review_count: 20 best_of_houzz_awards: 7 followers: 48 last_updated: 2026-09-20 --- # Before and After Interiors by Kathy Original Houzz profile: [Before and After Interiors by Kathy](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-stagers/before-and-after-interiors-by-kathy-pfvwus-pf~2080405665) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Home Stagers - **Location:** Mundelein, IL - **Serves:** Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Northbrook, Mundelein, Gurnee, Round Lake Beach, Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Libertyville, Lake Zurich, Lake Forest, Deerfield, Round Lake, Lindenhurst, Wauconda, Barrington, Fox Lake, Gages Lake, Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Inverness, Round Lake Park, Volo, Lake Bluff, Lakemoor, Lake Barrington, Grandwood Park, South Barrington, Fairfield, Barrington Hills, Kildeer, Green Oaks, Riverwoods, Deer Park, Hainesville, Long Lake, North Barrington, Round Lake Heights, Fox Lake Hills, Port Barrington, Forest Lake, Bannockburn, Third Lake - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (20 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2014–2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 500 Ideabook Saves Styling homes to list or live in since 2010. Home Staging /Redesign Services ### Services Provided - Home Staging - Furniture Selection - Space Planning - Color Consulting - Decluttering - Furniture Rental - Art Selection - Downsizing - Holiday Decorating ### Areas Served - Palatine - Buffalo Grove - Wheeling - Northbrook - Mundelein - Gurnee - Round Lake Beach - Vernon Hills - Grayslake - Libertyville - Lake Zurich - Lake Forest - Deerfield - Round Lake - Lindenhurst - Wauconda - Barrington - Fox Lake - Gages Lake - Hawthorn Woods - Long Grove - Lincolnshire - Inverness - Round Lake Park - Volo - Lake Bluff - Lakemoor - Lake Barrington - Grandwood Park - South Barrington - Fairfield - Barrington Hills - Kildeer - Green Oaks - Riverwoods - Deer Park - Hainesville - Long Lake - North Barrington - Round Lake Heights - Fox Lake Hills - Port Barrington - Forest Lake - Bannockburn - Third Lake ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Before and After Interiors by Kathy | | Address | Mundelein, Illinois 60060, United States | | Phone | (847) 372-3784 | | Website | http://kathytichy.houzz.com | | Followers on Houzz | 48 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — http://beforeafterinteriors.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Before and After Interiors by Kathy](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-stagers/before-and-after-interiors-by-kathy-pfvwus-pf~2080405665) - **Website:** http://kathytichy.houzz.com - **Phone:** (847) 372-3784 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Certified Staging from Staging and Redesign Academy in 2010. - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2014–2020), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 20 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation Libertyvi, Aug. 2019** > I cannot give Kathy enough accolades. I am both a seller and a banking professional. When it came time to sell the first person I called was Kathy. She came out to the house; talked with us, inspected each room, took photos and gave us excellent suggestions. The home was sold in one day (by owner) and three buyers asked if the sellers were "Interior Designers". If you are making any changes in your home or office, interior or exterior, it is worth it to bring Kathy in on the project. **★★★★★ — Nikki Czolek, April 2018** > Having the guidance of a professional helped us sell our home within 10 hours of listing. I wish it looked this good the whole time we were living here! Kathy gave great staging advice and she was fun to work with. **★★★★★ — User, Feb. 2018** > Kathy helped make the entire staging process so simple. She took photos of every room and provided us with an easy-to-follow guide of what to do in each room. The results were fabulous as our home photographed beautifully. This helped drive a lot of foot traffic and we went from listing to pending in just four days. **★★★★★ — Phil Zurkowski, April 2017** > When we decided to sell our house our realtor suggested we use "Before and After Interiors by Kathy". With Kathy's help we were able to organize, minimize, and stage our house beautifully. After being on the market for less than 36 hours we had 6 offers! Including 2 above list price! I know that it was Kathy's knowledge and experience that made our house perfect for a fast sale. **★★★★★ — M McKinzie, March 2017** > We worked with Kathy to stage our home in Palatine. She did such a great job. Who knew that my house could look so good! > > We appreciared that she worked with what we already owned. Note: Dont pack all those decorative items until after you neet with her. > > Her ideas are so good that we plan to use them in our new home. > > PS We got an offer on the first day it was shown. **★★★★★ — VIs, Dec. 2016** > Kathy did a great job which helped to sell my home faster than I thought. Kathy perfectly planned for the stating of my home with in the budget , I was really impressed after the home was staged. > Thank you Kathy. **★★★★★ — Cheryl Black, Nov. 2016** > I call Kathy anytime I need a listing staged - or at the very least a consult. My clients LOVE her & the work she does is just fabulous. A vacant home I had listed was sitting on the market - getting stale. Kathy came in & staged it... I had it under contract less than 2 weeks later! Want to sell that home faster? Call Kathy!! **★★★★★ — jamie Bouma, Dec. 2015** > Kathy is very professional. She listens to her clients and offers wonderful suggestions. She didn't let a day go by without contacting me or emailing me ideas/pictures. If there was something we didn't particularly care for she sent new ideas asap. Kathy is very creative and offered ideas of things I would have never thought of. I would have spent hours on end searching for ideas and she was so quick. Putting crown molding in my daughters room made a huge difference. Her room is small and this made the room just open up. Kathy also suggested wallpaper on the ceiling. It looks amazing. Once we decided on the wallpaper she contacted me right away with a professional who could hang it. Kathy's attention to detail and her creativity is amazing! Kathy searched online to find the best ideas and prices. **★★★★★ — realtortinamarie, Dec. 2014** > Kathy has done my living room, foyer and family room decor in the past. Everyone at my house is impressed with her work. I like the colors and design, my kids like the comfortable furniture. My husband likes how fast she works! This year she did our Christmas decorations and we couldn't be happier. It's so beautiful we don't ever want to take the decorations gown! **★★★★★ — rohmans5, Aug. 2014** > Kathy is a wonderful stager! I would highly recommend her. She works with what you have, has an excellent eye, and is very professional and friendly. Hiring Kathy was the best decision we made when getting ready to sell our home, but I would also recommend her for anyone who wants to set up a home they just bought or revamp an existing home. **★★★★★ — Lori Rathjen, June 2014** > Kathy was excellent! She gave us up-to-date colors of paint, drapery suggestions, curtain rods, artwork and placement, and which stores have these items. She communicated to us in a way in which was both professional yet personal. When we followed her suggestions of our existing furniture placement, our home looked much bigger and really reflected it's true beauty. After our initial meeting, she answered my many emails in a timely and very helpful manner. Due to Kathy's suggestions and our sharp realtor, we have a contract above asking price in less than a weeks time on the market. We may hire her for our next home. **★★★★★ — Jamie Cisco, April 2014** > Kathy was extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. She provided me with concrete instructions and a plan to get my home ready for sale. With her assistance we were able to paint and stage our house in less then a weeks time. After I completed the suggestions she gave to us and put our house up on the market it sold in 48 hours. ## Selected projects - [Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bathroom-pj-vj~7431058) - Location: Grayslake, IL - [Vacant Staging](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vacant-staging-pj-vj~6956257) - Location: Downers Grove, Illinois - Photos: 5 - Description: Staging the first room you come into is the smart thing to do. - [Staged to sell kitchen 2021](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staged-to-sell-kitchen-2021-pj-vj~6706171) - Location: Buffalo Grove, Illinois - Photos: 5 - [Staged to sell 2021](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staged-to-sell-2021-pj-vj~6706165) - Location: Riverwoods, Illinois - Photos: 4 - [Closet Remodel 2020](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/closet-remodel-2020-pj-vj~6706163) - Location: Gurnee, Illinois - Photos: 5 - [Staging to sell 2020](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staging-to-sell-2020-pj-vj~6706158) - Location: Buffalo Grove, Illinois - Photos: 2 - [Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~6706156) - Location: Gurnee, Illinois - Photos: 4 - [Staging a kitchen 2020](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staging-a-kitchen-2020-pj-vj~6706148) - Location: Buffalo Grove, Illinois - Photos: 2 - [Staging an office 2021](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staging-an-office-2021-pj-vj~6706147) - Location: Oak Brook, Illinois - Photos: 2 - [Staging a Kitchen 2020](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/staging-a-kitchen-2020-pj-vj~6706145) - Location: Grayslake, Illinois - Photos: 2 - [Bathroom Remodel 2018](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bathroom-remodel-2018-pj-vj~6706139) - Location: Grayslake, Illinois - Photos: 2 - [Adding Glass To Existing Doors, New Marble Floors and Wallpaper 2021](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/adding-glass-to-existing-doors-new-marble-floors-and-wallpaper-2021-pj-vj~6706126) - Location: Grayslake, Illinois - Photos: 3 - Description: The entrance to this ranch home was too dark but new doors were not in the budget. We kept the doors, stained them and added privacy glass to let more light in. - [Adding IKEA closets to existing ones 2020](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/adding-ikea-closets-to-existing-ones-2020-pj-vj~6706134) - Location: Grayslake, Illinois - Photos: 4 - Description: Ikea closets are the most cost effectve way to get the most out of your closet - [Kitchen and Family Room 2016](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-and-family-room-2016-pj-vj~1744618) - Location: Grayslake, IL - Photos: 8 - [Walk in closet 2015](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/walk-in-closet-2015-pj-vj~1744653) - Location: Grayslake, IL - Photos: 4 - [Living Room Dining Room Combo 2015](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/living-room-dining-room-combo-2015-pj-vj~1744658) - Location: Grayslake, IL - Photos: 6 - [Furniture Staging in Ivanhoe 2015](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/furniture-staging-in-ivanhoe-2015-pj-vj~973468) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - [Fox Lake House 2019](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fox-lake-house-2019-pj-vj~5829174) - Location: Fox Lake, Illinois - Photos: 3 - Description: Vacant Home Staging, Furniture Rental - [Small Space Design 2019](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/small-space-design-2019-pj-vj~6069073) - Location: Libertyville, Illinois - Photos: 6 - Description: Assisted living or Studio Apartment living can be a wonderful thing. The problem is figuring out how to find the right furniture that will fit and be funtional. This small 8x10 space has everything this young lady needs in this small space bedroom. - [Optometrists office remodel 2019](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/optometrists-office-remodel-2019-pj-vj~6069100) - Location: Libertyville, Illinois - Photos: 25 - Description: New owner wanted a fresh new look and a better way for clients to see all they had to offer. New carpet, new cabinets, new desk design, etc...What a difference it made! [See all 25 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-stagers/before-and-after-interiors-by-kathy-pfvwus-pf~2080405665) ## Ideabooks - [Almost A Treehouse-Staged To Sell More Photos To Come](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18522914/list/almost-a-treehouse-staged-to-sell-more-photos-to-come) — 21 ideas - [backyard](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/47366195/list/backyard) — 52 ideas - [Abraham](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/46295375/list/abraham) — 43 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/164800480/list/wish-list) — 1 idea - [my favorite Houzz photos](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/20666672/list/my-favorite-houzz-photos) — 43 ideas - [Ingelside](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/135048551/list/ingelside) — 32 ideas - [Lynn](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/131005564/list/lynn) — 26 ideas - [ranch homes](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/34966193/list/ranch-homes) — 24 ideas - [Staged](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/127530349/list/staged) — 18 ideas - [Roof](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/128487784/list/roof) — 2 ideas - [Pak](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/121922017/list/pak) — 3 ideas - [Myra](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118066992/list/myra) — 15 ideas - [favorites](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/87264877/list/favorites) — 5 ideas - [Paul](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/114829044/list/paul) — 14 ideas - [Sue Klein](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/114491280/list/sue-klein) — 19 ideas - [Chris Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/93128054/list/chris-bathroom) — 16 ideas - [Priyas Mom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/103146116/list/priyas-mom) — 11 ideas - [Our bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/103951604/list/our-bathroom) — 11 ideas - [Evergreeen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/103249326/list/evergreeen) — 5 ideas - [Cape Cod](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/91304381/list/cape-cod) — 2 ideas [See all 88 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/kathytichy) ## Community Q&A **Q: Kitchen cabinets with white appliance** *(in Design Dilemma)* I just bought a house and I want to paint the cabinets. I have white appliances What color should I paint them? A: Copy this look **Q: Need help "stocking shelves"** *(in Design Dilemma)* We have just painted ( Behr. Wheat bread ), and put down laminate. Need to do something with the fireplace wall to make that wall look brighter or more contemporary. A: Paint the center a dark gray but the sides white to make the fireplace pop. Good luck. **Q: What would you do with this kitchen?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hello! This is my first post here! :) I'm desperate for some input on what to do with my new kitchen. A little background information. This apartment belongs to my grandmother, who is renting to me. The previous renter left with little notice and abandoned tons of his things, so please disregard all of the various items scattered about! I will be home again for the holidays and will try to get some better photos when I get it all cleaned up. I'm going to have pretty much free reign as far as redoing the place, but I'm on a very, very limited budget, so most of the large things (cabinets, tile, appliances) are just out of reach right now! Which is unfortunate, because I am not a huge fan of that flooring! Ick! Or the counters! Yikes! I do like the brassy tile behind the stove, and the big sink, and, thankfully, the stove and refrigerator (not pictured) are quite new. I also love the massive amount of counter and cabinet space, which is SO different from where I live now! I plan to pull down the wallpaper and repaint. I would love to repaint the cabinets as well and probably get new handles. My taste is sort of contemporary and bright and cheery. Think "Scandinavian homes". What I'm picturing currently is lots of white, with splashes of color. But I'm afraid of how it will work with the existing tile, in particular... Do you think there is anything (affordable) to be done about those countertops and that hideous backsplash? What about the horrid flooring? What would YOU do with this space? A: I would paint the walls (where the wallpaper is now) Versatile Gray by Sherwin Williams. Give the wall by the back door a fresh coat of white, paint the door white too.You can't go wrong with white cabinets. I can't see the counters but painting and taking that wallpaper down will make a huge difference. Hope it all works out. **Q: Furniture placement CHALLENGE (or nightmare!) ;)** *(in Design Dilemma)* I would SO very much appreciate ANY suggestions for a rearrange/remodel coming up. We have a 60 year old split level (translation: small, awkward) that I have been absolutely UNABLE to configure. It's sort of an 'L' shaped main level (walk in front door to living room/dining area). We are planning to start fresh after 15 years, planning a rustic/woodsy + traditional look? My goals are to 1) create a sitting area for at least 4 people and allow them to socialize and 2) be able to view the TV over the fireplace and 3) still walk comfortably through to the dining room area (it's all one space). I CAN NOT thank you enough for your help! I truly appreciate your creative ideas!! A: To see how much space a sectional would take move the sofa and loveseat to the other side of the room to see if It would even work. 3 feet of space is all you need for a pathway to the dining room. When you try this see if a chair would fit in the room too. You need a larger rug for sure. The one under the coffee table looks teeny tiny. If a sectional would work a nice sofa table with lamps against the wall behind it would be nice. I also agree with the above comment of getting a round coffee table. **Q: Paint help please!!!!!** *(in Design Dilemma)* We are purchasing a house and will be remodeling. I need paint suggestions! When you walk in the front door you can see the formal living, formal dining and family room at the same time. ( will include pic). We will be replacing tile with wood floor. Kitchen will have Dover white cabinets ( unless you think that's a bad idea!). Black honed granite, farmhouse sink. I was thinking of using something similar to BM tranquility in the kitchen. I really love this color. Would it be too much to have this in the formal living and dining as well? Then a neutral beige in the family room? I am open to all suggestions on colors. You might just change my mind!!! What would you do? A: I love Perfect Greige by Sherwin Williams or one step down Versatile Gray. The bedroom photo shown with PG. I use this color a lot because it blends well with most accent colors. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-20.*