The Lawson Design Studio

Karen was an absolute professional to work with. She always made her schedule and other commitments even with snow and other obstacles. She and her team worked hard to accommodate our needs as homeowners living in a construction zone. We are very happy with the results and love how our home is today. I highly recommend the Lawson Design Studio to anyone thinking about a remodeling project.

It is a pleasure to recommend Karen Lawson and Lawson Design Studio. We undertook a huge remodel/rebuild project that went far beyond our original scope, and Karen was flexible, fair and patient throughout. As a designer, she met our needs perfectly, and added architectural details that truly enhanced our living space. As an architect, she patiently made changes to our drawings as we tweeked the project. As a contractor, she has a long history on the island and has developed strong relationships with excellent craftsmen. Remodeling is an organic process and Karen met with us promptly and frequently to ensure the final result is one we love. Uncharacteristically of the industry, Karen becomes a part of your family, so be sure to welcome her with open arms. You won’t be sorry

Karen Lawson of Lawson design studio planned and coordinated the remodel of our kitchen. We so appreciated her hands on coordination each step of the process. We were kept informed on the dates and times each service person would arrive. Her estimated cost of the project varied little. Karen was a delight to work with and we would consider her for any future Project.

We worked with Karen at the Lawson Design Studio over the course of a year planning and remodeling the kitchen and main living space of our home. As first time home owners taking on a pretty large project, (with a toddler and baby on the way!) Karen always made herself available to us at our convenience and was willing to hold our hands and answer questions and talk through issues with us anytime of the day. Right away, she fully understood our vision and every decision she made for the home was like she was reading my mind. She was always on time for all of our planning meetings and projects, and her subcontractors were always respectful of our space and family; and were very enjoyable to have in our home. Karen went above and beyond for us and was a great problem solver. The end product exceeded any expectations and the proof is in the reactions of visitors to our home who had seen it in its previous condition. Karen became a member of the family and we (especially our dog, whom she spoiled with treats) miss having her around now that our project is complete!

Karen Lawson recently remodeled our kitchen. We had been contemplating the remodel and thinking of ideas for about a year before we hired Karen and she was able to help us focus our vision and gave us confidence in our choices. She was patient when we felt indecisive and nudged us along. We appreciate that she always responded to our calls, texts or emails in a timely manner. Karen was our general contractor and the subs she employs (custom cabinet maker, plumber, electrician, countertop installer) all did beautiful work and an excellent job. Karen ensured everything was done properly and was a pleasure to work with. Our goal was to host Thanksgiving in our newly remodeled kitchen - mission accomplished!

Karen Lawson brings the rare combination of superior architectural design, as well as interior design and contractor services. Karen truly listened and created not only a beautiful lodge house design that captured our dreams, but also applied her expertise with materials and interior design, plus her network of quality vendors and artisans, to bring it all together. I found her knowledge, professionalism, excellent reputation and combination of skills invaluable throughout our project. I would highly recommend Karen Lawson for architectural design, new construction and remodeling in a heartbeat!

We love our house and have done many upgrades and improvements. So we have had good and not so good experiences with contractors. We interviewed about 6 contractors or bathroom remodel companies and considered many more than that. We actually did not start with Lawson Design. We started with another company who seemed very nice and promised they would do a good job, but after we gave them our deposit, they became very difficult and unapproachable. So we fired them and went to Karen Lawson, who is Lawson Design Studio. She was great. It was easily the best decision we ever made. She was very involved during the final design phase offering suggestions with out imposing her opinions on us. She and her husband and adult son did the demolition which was amazing. We expected dust to fill our house. She protected everything including the floors, furniture and our personal possessions and clothing from dust. When they finished, our house looked as clean as when she started. She has the best sub contractors I have ever worked with. They are to a man, professional, experienced, respectful and always showed up when they said they would with the proper tools and went to work. Our bathroom was a full tear out and upgrade, we used every trade that you can in a bathroom including heated floor, completely custom unique cabinets and counter top, added new lighting moved plumbing and changed the configuration of the walls and doors. The job was predicted to last about 2 months and that is about how long it took. They never left a mess and everything was equal to or better than we envisioned. Every sub worked hand in hand with the other subs, so the dry Waller, rough in carpenter, painter, electrician, plumber and tile layer worked together seamlessly without any gaps. The furniture, counter top, sinks, hardware and shower glass was ordered and showed up in a very timely manner and was installed perfectly. It was like a perfect symphony all at the hands of a great meistro. Karen was our meistro. She was on site every day and made sure that the subs were there doing what they needed to do and had the resources they needed. She spent hours researching the best fixtures and hardware and we wanted the best. She delivered even when it meant working on days when most others would not. If we had a question or concern, we could contact her twenty four/seven and she would respond almost immediately. She delivered a beautiful end product on time and in budget. I did not have to lift a finger. She did everything and did it with a great attitude. She was professional, respectful, pleasant and approachable at all times. We are proud of our new bathroom and love showing it to friends who are amazed at how beautiful it is. I can not recommend her highly enough. You can not do better. If you are lucky enough to get her to do your remodel, you will have no regrets.

As a real estate broker representing high-end properties on Bainbridge Island, the companies I work with need to be talented, creative, and reliable. The Lawson Design Studio is all of those things. Karen is always professional, thoughtful and a joy to work with. I highly recommend her.

Lawson Design arranged and coordinated the remodel of our kitchen, three bathrooms and a TV viewing room. All the cabinets are beautiful, counter tops, back splash, plumbing and electrical were completed and nicely finished. Everything looks fabulous, everything matches, we love the look. Karen Lawson is very pleasant and easy to work with, give her a call.

We were pointed in the direction of the Lawson Design Studio after seeing a friend’s remodel. Our remodel included kitchen, master bedroom, and bathroom, adding a window in the living room as well as changing the storage area into an office. Karen Lawson oversaw the full project and took care of permits and the contractors for each piece of the project. Karen was instrumental in the design and new layout of the kitchen. The added window in the living room provides more light and brings the outside in. Karen’s suggested product choices and paint colors work well in the different spaces even though at times it was difficult to visualize the end result. Since the ceiling in the master bedroom and bathroom was of a different height, Karen recommended a different layout for the master bedroom, which improved the coziness factor. Karen was quick to respond to issues and on site throughout the project to monitor the work. The duration of the project took about 3 to 4 months and was worth it.

Karen Lawson is a consummate interior design professional who worked with my husband and I to design our new living space from 2003 to 2006, and recently participated in another project for our home library (2015). Karen’s design skills are second to none – she has designed custom made carpets and furniture including a dining table and entertainment unit, two home office desks and shelving, as well as bookcases, secretary desk, and murphy bed surround for the library. We are routinely complimented by those who visit on the beauty of the design work in our home, and especially these one-of-a-kind pieces. Karen is a pleasure to work with, and was able to work productively with us even when we sometimes were not clear ourselves what directions we wanted to pursue. She is works very hard to understand the client’s needs and preferences in order to develop a design “vocabulary” to guide the vision as it unfolds. We have been very pleased with her work, with our interactions and her integrity, and highly recommend her for your interior design needs.

Karen Lawson led the design and construction of a complete remodel of our two-bedroom condo on Bainbridge Island. During the design phase, Karen listened carefully to our needs and recommended lighting, cabinets, tile and carpet that fit our style and worked well in the space. Karen created 3D renderings of the plans so that we could visualize the completed space. She updated these renderings throughout the design process so that we could understand the effect of changes to the plans. Because we planned to move several walls in the condo, we needed permission from the Homeowners Association Board. Karen did a great job presenting our ideas to the board. She explained our goals and plans in detail and addressed concerns from the board about the structural impact of moving walls in the condo. The board asked Karen to have our plans reviewed by a structural engineer and a plumber that was familiar with the condo. She worked well with both of these experts and was successful in addressing all the board's concerns. During construction, Karen hired and managed a team of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tile installers and painters. These subcontractors were always professional and we were able to watch the project come together step by step without worrying about the details of construction. One of the subcontractors mentioned that he enjoys working on Karen's projects because she is organized and communicates well. As the remodeled condo took shape, we realized that Karen's recommendations had dramatically improved the space. Specifically, her advice to remove a wall in the enclosed galley kitchen resulted in an airy kitchen and living room that is much more comfortable and useable than before. In the master bath, she enlarged the shower, added mirrors and tiled the walls to create a modern, inviting space. Visitors to the condo are impressed with the open, bright space Karen created. In particular, people comment on the attention to detail in the cabinets, counter tops and tile floors. Throughout the design and build process, Karen communicated frequently and clearly. When demolition revealed hidden problems in the 30-year-old building, Karen recommended solutions to keep the project moving forward. We feel that a key element to Karen's success is her strong relationships with excellent subcontractors who ensured that each step in the process was completed professionally. We would recommend Karen Lawson to anyone considering a similar project.