---
title: "Thornton Design — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/thornton-design-pfvwus-pf~562696643
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~562696643.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Thornton Design"
category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/34f3cd0c02d59d62_3270-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "8849 Lakeside Dr,, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States"
latitude: 40.0497
longitude: -105.2143
phone: "(303) 449-0449"
website: http://thorntondesign.com
rating: 4.8
review_count: 20
best_of_houzz_awards: 5
followers: 169
last_updated: 2026-08-12
---

# Thornton Design

Original Houzz profile: [Thornton Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/thornton-design-pfvwus-pf~562696643)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators
- **Location:** Boulder, CO
- **Serves:** Boulder, Longmont, Broomfield, Lafayette, Erie, Louisville, Superior, Gunbarrel, Niwot, Paragon Estates, Pine Brook Hill, Eldorado Springs, Sunshine, Seven Hills, Valmont, Hygiene
- **Houzz rating:** 4.8 out of 5 (20 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2015–2017), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Star Houzzer
- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 10,000 Ideabook Saves

Thornton Design has been co-creating homes in the Boulder/Denver Metro area for over 25 years, and has a portfolio brimming with over 500 successfully completed individual projects. Our services include all aspects of the design industry, from progressive interior design to architectural consultation and custom furniture and art. Backed by a team of dedicated artisans, artists and subcontractors, Thornton Design ensures that your personal aesthetic reaches its full potential.

With each new project, Julie first endeavors to understand and nurture her clients’ personal aesthetic values. Working side by side with you from initial planning to completion, Julie guides every project with enthusiasm and expertise in order to create your own unique and precious space.

### Services Provided

- Interior Design
- Kitchen Design
- Bathroom Design
- Living Room Design
- Bedroom Design
- Color Consulting
- Space Planning
- Furniture Selection
- Dining Room Design
- Custom Cabinets
- Lighting Design
- Custom Kitchen Cabinets
- Home Office Design & Construction
- Custom Built-ins
- Floor Plans
- Custom Bathroom Vanities
- Custom Furniture
- Laundry Room Design
- Custom Home Bars
- Closet Design
- Basement Design
- Custom Bookcases
- Custom Entertainment Centers
- Custom Fireplace Mantels
- Custom Shelving
- Custom Pantries
- Kitchen Remodeling

### Areas Served

- Boulder
- Longmont
- Broomfield
- Lafayette
- Erie
- Louisville
- Superior
- Gunbarrel
- Niwot
- Paragon Estates
- Pine Brook Hill
- Eldorado Springs
- Sunshine
- Seven Hills
- Valmont
- Hygiene

### Typical Job Cost

$10,000 - 1.3 million

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Thornton Design |
| Address | 8849 Lakeside Dr,, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States |
| Phone | (303) 449-0449 |
| Website | http://thorntondesign.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 169 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Thornton Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/thornton-design-pfvwus-pf~562696643)
- **Website:** http://thorntondesign.com
- **Phone:** (303) 449-0449

## Credentials

- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2015–2017), for Design, Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 — 20 reviews**

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — Brie Doyle, April 2017**

> It is without reservation that I would recommend Julie Thornton on any house related project, large or small.  Julie is as professional as she is artistic.  We spoke with numerous designers, design-build firms, as well as independent builders and Julie's skills and experience stood out far beyond them all.  Her talent is unparalleled and I will use and recommend her always in the future.
>
> We did a very large remodel and she walked us through every step of the process.  She came for an initial consultation and after having similar meetings with at least 4 different groups, it was Julie who came up with the vision for our house that we loved the most.
>
> She is a true artist.  She is able to walk into a space and sense what is lacking, what should be highlighted, what feel a client wants to give off, and then deliver on her creation of that space.
>
> Julie helped us find an affordable architect who could draw up our shared vision as well as put us in contact with our builder.  And she was as involved as we wanted her to be throughout the process.
>
> Julie's prices are very fair for the incredible guidance she offers throughout the course of a rebuild.  She is graceful and kind to work with, always listening to the needs, spoken and unspoken, of her clients.  Yet she has the ability to be firm and commanding with the numerous contractors we came into contact with.
>
> Julie was our advocate throughout our entire project.  If something went wrong on the builder's side, it was Julie who often made sure things were sorted out.  Her creations are incredible and we are so happy in our beautiful house that she played such an important role in creating.  I cannot say enough great things about this woman and her company.

**Comment from Thornton Design:**

> This project was such a delight to work on and I could not ask for a sweeter family!
> We will provide photos soon!

**★ — kathleenweigand, Aug. 2016**

> We hired Julie, based on Houzz reviews, to furnish and decorate 4 rooms in our new home.  I asked her how she got paid - commission or hourly rate.  She advised that her sole payment was hourly and that we would nearly recover our fees by getting her discounts on purchases!
>
> The day we hired her, she showed us her home.  I asked her what one leather headboard cost - to get a feel for her discounts.  She told me approximately $600.  Only later, when looking to buy a headboard, did she let me that the $600 did not include the leather materials, which she had.  I guess she felt she could leave that information out and hoped I would not ask for something similar later!
>
> I accidentally found a rug she recommended I purchase at a cost of more than $2700, for $1700 on Wayfair.  I also purchased a console table through her at the Denver Design Center.  However, Wayfair had the same thing for more than $1000 less!!  You will only overpay and never save using Julie, no matter what she tells you!
>
> Julie asked if she could use an associate to expedite things as she had travel plans.  We agreed, on the basis that we would not be double charged.  In the end, the two of them met and talked frequently, and we were charged for these meetings/calls at a rate of almost $400/hour.
>
> She came up with a great design for our study, but after months and months of waiting, we could not get a total price for the project.   She kept pushing us to move forward to get the project scheduled, but could not provide us with a total cost.  Remember, I am paying her by the hour!!
>
> She recommended that we engage directly with her "recommended" vendor for blinds, as she did not want "to get involved."   We gladly hired him and 4 months later are still struggling with the blinds.  At one point, she asked me to call her if I was able to reach HER recommended vendor!!!
>
> In the end, we spent a fortune for dining chairs and a console table.  The fees I paid her could have easily furnished an entire dining room and more.  My husband and I terminated her as we could not trust her,  We found her unethical and lacking integrity - to say the very least!

**★★★★★ — Berlin Flooring Inc, Dec. 2015**

> I am a hardwood flooring contractor and I’ve had the pleasure of working with Thornton Design on many projects.  Julie is simply one of the best interior designers in the area, not to mention one of the friendliest, easy-going person I’ve ever met.  She not only listens to her clients to complete their vision, she listens to the various craftsmen working on her projects too.  It’s when everyone has input and everyone works together that projects turn out the best, and that’s what Julie excels at.  And her project management skills deserve an A+.  Remodeling often has frequent schedule changes and Julie handles them with ease.  I never get a last minute call from Julie because she forgot to schedule the finishing of the hardwood floors on her job; we always get notice well in advance.  In my experience, Julie has some of the best ideas if you’re looking for modern, contemporary design.  She definitely keeps up to date on the latest design trends, as she was the first designer we worked with that incorporated grey-stained hardwood floors into her projects.  I look forward to working with Julie for many years to come, and I highly recommend her if you need any interior design or design/build work in your home.

**★★★★★ — hankfineberg, March 2014**

> We are a carpet dealer and contractor, having been in business for 46 years, twenty plus in Miami, Florida, and twenty plus here in Boulder, Colorado. In that time, I've worked with hundreds of interior designers, and I rate Julie Thornton one of the top one to five designers I've ever known.
> It goes without saying that she is a true professional, with impeccable taste and style, but she is also a kind, considerate, caring person, who goes far beyond what most designers do in looking out for her clients best interests.
> My experience is that many designers try to force their own tastes and ideas on a client, but Julie never does that.
> She always takes into consideration her clients needs, tastes, style, budget, etc, including the use of the area, kids, pets, clean ability, and durability.
> Carpet being the last thing that goes into a project, we see the final results, and hear the comments of the clients, both good and bad. With Julie, the comments are always good!
> They all love Julie and her work, come back to her over and over again, and refer all their friends to her.
> We've been doing Julie's carpet for about fifteen years, and feel very proud and fortunate to be able to work with her
> Thornton Design is the best!
> Hank Fineberg
> Alpine Carpet

**★★★★★ — liefsorensen, March 2014**

> Julie was a pleasure to work with.  She takes time to get to know you and then is very respectful of your interests in her design recommendations.  She is readily available and prompt in her responses to questions.  She is extremely experienced and connected.
>
> Using Julie (Thornton Design) to assist us with design of our new home was hands down the single best decision we made in this process.  I would recommend Thornton Design to anyone needing design assistance.  We are extremely pleased with all of her work in our home.

**★★★★★ — Ted Warm, March 2014**

> I had a wonderful experience working with Thornton Design on a recent kitchen and great room remodel.  Julie Thornton has great ideas and a fabulous eye but she also listens carefully to the client to make sure that the finished project reflects their personal sense of beauty.  She was so easy to work with because she was prompt, patient and thorough.  I would highly recommend her to others and would definitely hire her if I were to do another project in my home.

**★★★★★ — wetherbl, March 2014**

> Julie Thornton is by far the best designer I have ever worked with!  She makes things unique.  She has done two kitchens, several bathrooms, some built in features, picked colors, carpet, furniture and and a number of other projects for us.
>
> You can be in a hurry as she is a perfectionist and her guys are too.

**★★★★★ — marytlacy, March 2014**

> Thornton Design was absolutely wonderful to work with on our home remodel.  Julie Thornton spent time reviewing our priorities, made perfect suggestions, and followed through on all aspects of the design and remodel in a detailed and timely fashion.  Julie is a delight to work with and her contractors were excellent.  We are very very happy with our home remodel.  We will be using her soon to help us with our winter home in Arizona.  She has great ideas and great taste!

**★★★★★ — treetop258, March 2014**

> Julie has become an invaluable asset to my team as a remodeling contractor.  We have worked on many projects in the past few years and I have come to depend on her creativity and innovative ideas from the initial planning stage through the completion of each project.  One of the things that I respect most about Julie is her willingness to sit down with a client and get a sense of their taste and style and then come up with designs and ideas that reflect the client’s personal taste.  In the end, each project is fresh and unique!  Whether working on a simple one room remodel or a whole house renovation, her ideas and input with layout, trim details and finishes are superb.  Her warm personality and commitment to excellence are obvious and makes her a pleasure to work with.

**★★★★★ — fred\_thrall, Feb. 2014**

> Julie Thornton dba Thornton Design designed the remodel of our moderate home in Boulder, CO.  My wife and I are extremely pleased with the work that Julie did.   Her ability to see beyond the limitations of the original architecture allowed us to transform the house into a particularly livable but stunning home that we are very proud of.  Her recommendations were bold yet cost-conscious.  Upon final inspection, two of the building inspectors separately commented, “Wow!  The woodwork in this house is exceptional!”  Her recommended contractors were all high quality and honest.  Her creativity and technical expertise were exceptional.  In addition, her gentle caring manner guided us through the process with a minimum of stress.  We are solid members of Julie’s fan club!

**★★★★★ — jossline, Feb. 2014**

> Julie did an AMAZING job with our office expansion and complete remodel. She not only assisted with providing us with input and ideas during the architects drafting of the construction plans, she also found us the perfect color schemes, carpet, fabrics, furniture, artwork etc. She took our concerns about our space and budget into consideration and found us the items that brought our office up to the next level of professional appeal and comfort with light fixtures, staging and the little details. She connected us with other companies who could meet other needs of ours such as blinds, floor mats, etc. Julie is extremely talented, pleasant to work with and made the entire experience enjoyable.

**★★★★★ — wertyuiopkngds, Feb. 2014**

> We hired Thornton Design for design advice in preparation for listing our home to sell.  The owner, Julie Thornton, was unfailingly professional and accurate in her advice about changes we needed to make, which included adding one bathroom, completely renovating two other bathrooms, and making significant changes in the other rooms of the house.  Ms. Thornton's design choices were beautiful and in some cases saved us money by updating a room using relatively simple changes.  She managed the various workers well, the project was completed in a timely manner, and best of all, the house sold just a few weeks after it was listed.  We didn't hesitate to hire Thornton Design to assist us with building our new house.  We recommend Thornton Design without reservation.

## Selected projects

- [Boulder Sanctuary](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/boulder-sanctuary-pj-vj~465004)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 14
- [Roaring Fork Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/roaring-fork-renovation-pj-vj~465164)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 5
- [North Boulder Contemporary](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/north-boulder-contemporary-pj-vj~465088)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 16
- [Sunny Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sunny-addition-pj-vj~465094)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 10
- [Kincaid Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kincaid-renovation-pj-vj~465031)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 10
- [Juhls Lake Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/juhls-lake-remodel-pj-vj~428446)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 21
- [Wonderland Hill Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wonderland-hill-remodel-pj-vj~465352)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 6
- [Open Space Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/open-space-condo-pj-vj~465345)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 2
- [Idlywild](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/idlywild-pj-vj~465318)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 4
- [Contemporary Cress Court](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-cress-court-pj-vj~465175)
  - Location: Boulder, CO
  - Photos: 5
- [Traditional Norwood Court](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-norwood-court-pj-vj~641371)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11

[See all 11 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/thornton-design-pfvwus-pf~562696643)

## Ideabooks

- [Cathy](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/182116907/list/cathy) — 4 ideas
- [fireplace ideas to show David](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/120321074/list/fireplace-ideas-to-show-david) — 9 ideas
- [arbors and gazebos](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/27979507/list/arbors-and-gazebos) — 39 ideas
- [Henderson front porch](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/173318927/list/henderson-front-porch) — 7 ideas
- [mirror with windows](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/165571957/list/mirror-with-windows) — 12 ideas
- [Roaring Fork](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/160828188/list/roaring-fork) — 24 ideas
- [Tahoe](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/149688419/list/tahoe) — 43 ideas
- [Marana](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/156134635/list/marana) — 7 ideas
- [garage doors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/154060380/list/garage-doors) — 6 ideas
- [powder Sunlit Bridge](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/138358593/list/powder-sunlit-bridge) — 9 ideas
- [Willow exterior](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/117826620/list/willow-exterior) — 35 ideas
- [bathrooms for Willow](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118821488/list/bathrooms-for-willow) — 16 ideas
- [farm tables](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/86670197/list/farm-tables) — 7 ideas
- [Smith's exterior](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56219511/list/smith-s-exterior) — 19 ideas
- [corbels](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/55952597/list/corbels) — 6 ideas
- [Dianne's fireplace](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31015290/list/dianne-s-fireplace) — 13 ideas
- [vanessa's house](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54391434/list/vanessa-s-house) — 3 ideas
- [deck](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/27238087/list/deck) — 2 ideas
- [front doors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/26159576/list/front-doors) — 2 ideas
- [basements](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23470478/list/basements) — 2 ideas

[See all 20 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/thorntondesign)

## Community Q&A

**Q: where did you get chandelier** *(in Photo Questions)*

Where did you get Chandelier?

A: Restoration Hardware!

**Q: Piano Table** *(in Photo Questions)*

Where did you get table next to piano?

A: It was a family piece that my clients owned.

**Q: Solving the TV dilemma above fireplace** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: I just love this room!  We had placed beautiful leather recliners (that didn't look at all like recliners!) about 12 feet from the fireplace/TV wall.  With the angle of the chair and the tilt of the TV, the viewing was great.  Also, as this TV was viewed from the kitchen, the height worked very well.  The 11" deep mantle protects the screen from heat.

**Q: where is the chandelier from?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Restoration Hardware

**Q: What type of floor is this?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Great design!

A: The flooring is actually 4"wide red oak with a custom stain.  I mixed a deep gray stain with walnut.  so glad you like it!

**Q: floor** *(in Photo Questions)*

what kind of floor is that?

A: this is a laminate flooring material over concrete

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-12.*