To Be Designed

For years, my husband and I dreamed about upgrading our condop—a two-bedroom, one-bath home with an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area, plus a terrace. We watched countless HGTV shows, gathering ideas and inspiration, and by the time we were ready to begin, I had a very clear vision of what I wanted. After considering several options, I decided against managing the project myself or working directly with contractors or design staff at supply stores. Instead, I wanted an experienced professional who could not only create beautiful design options but also oversee every aspect of the project—from sourcing materials and coordinating deliveries to managing returns, inventory, contractors, and the many specialty services involved in a major renovation. With To Be Designed, I found everything I was looking for—and so much more. Jamel Williams is the epitome of professionalism, honesty, and integrity. He was always punctual, respectful of my time, and fully committed to making the process as seamless as possible. What impressed me most was his ability to truly listen. He took the time to understand my style, my likes and dislikes, and then transformed my ideas into a design that exceeded my expectations. He has an incredible talent for thinking outside the box and bringing to life ideas I didn't even know how to express. Every space Jamel touched turned to gold. I never get tired of saying how much I love my new bathroom, my beautiful kitchen, my stunning floors, and the unique ceiling design that has become one of my favorite features of our home. I am absolutely thrilled with the results and proud to recommend To Be Designed, and especially Jamel Williams, to anyone planning a home renovation or redesign. With so many stories about projects going wrong due to poor workmanship or lack of professionalism, I feel incredibly fortunate that we found Jamel. He made what could have been a stressful experience enjoyable, and the final result is a home we truly love. Quite simply, Jamel is the best.

I had an incredible experience working with Jamel from To Be Designed on the redesign of my home office/guest room. From start to finish, the process was seamless - and the final result is truly the space I've always wanted. What was once an underutilized room is now a beautifully designed, warm, and cozy office, while also doubling as a well-appointed guest suite complete with an en-suite bathroom and a Murphy bed. I love how the bed disappears when I don't have guests, allowing the room to function perfectly as an office day to day while still being ready for visitors at a moments notice. Jamel was exceptional throughout the entire process. He guided me through every decision, helped select a great contractor, and was consistently present during the build - coordinating, overseeing the work, and ensuring every detail was executed beautifully. What truly impressed me was his commitment to seeing the project through to the very end - staging the room, adding finishing touches that made it feel polished, inviting, can complete. I couldn't be happier with the result. The room is elegant, functional, and perfectly tailored to my needs. I would wholeheartedly recommend Jamel and To Be Designed to anyone looking for a designer who is creative, detail-oriented, and a true partner throughout the entire process.

We hired Jamel to help us with a first floor renovation that included a complete redesign of our kitchen, living room, and powder room. The project ended last month and we are absolutely in love with the final results! We never used an interior designer before but after this experience, I would never go through another renovation without one. Jamel was patient w us every step of the the way. He was sensitive to all our concerns and doubts and very responsive. He came up with great design ideas that met our needs and style wishes. Jamel was also a great project manager, organizing purchases (receipts and timing of the deliveries), dealing with vendors and our contractor. This took alot of the stress off of our hands which we appreciate greatly. We are grateful for his hard work and creativity! I wish him all the best! P.S. We already have friends asking for his number after seeing our final results:)

We collaborated with Jamel again for a bathroom re-renovation. Our 2 year old renovation of our bathroom had already started to fall apart and we knew that it would not last much longer. Jamel has worked with us before on a much bigger renovation about a year ago and we knew that this time around, we wanted it to not only be done right, but we also knew that we would call Jamel to support the process. As per usual, he analyzed our bathroom, took in our thoughts and needs, and came back with such a unique and creative perspective that complemented our already renovated space. He continuously advocated for us with our contractors and communicated with them on getting our space right. He was also able to build a trusting and collaborative relationship with our contractors. My husband and I were rarely stressed about the project as we knew that Jamel would support us all the way. Trust in his eye for style--a true visionary.

Jamel was an absolute pleasure to work with and we couldn't have been happier. He is incredibly professional, organized, detail-oriented, and has an amazing aesthetic. When we started our project with Jamel, he helped us figure out the vision for each room and provided great recommendations for every aspect of the project, always staying on budget. He managed all of the contractors, purchases, deliveries, and returns, and made sure everything was just right. Jamel was very patient with us when making decisions and gave valuable guidance every step along the way. We always felt that he was taking care of everything and that we were working with a friend. We have already recommended him to friends and family and they have loved him as well.

The only downside of completing our gut renovation was no longer having Jamel as a key player in our lives. His passion for design is holistic—he created a design that pushed our taste and vision beyond what we imagined, while ensuring it was functional and executed to his high standards. As someone who manages operations for companies and was very pregnant during this renovation, I had high expectations and needed significant support. Jamel has an exceptional eye for both the big picture and the minute details that matter. His organizational skills are unparalleled, keeping documentation up-to-date and accessible for everyone involved. During construction, unexpected issues arose, such as unknown ducts to work around. On multiple occasions, Jamel identified opportunities and missteps and proactively suggested solutions. Jamel was a problem solver, helping us make the most of our new home. He thinks "yes" before "no" when we propose wild ideas or shift perspectives. Jamel is socially adept, navigating disagreements and confusion among many stakeholders in our project. He brings a calm and infectious "can do" attitude to every situation. If he worked in my field, I would try to hire him or work for him in a heartbeat!

We highly recommend Jamel Williams as an extremely knowledgeable and talented interior designer. My husband and I recently renovated our upper east side apartment with the assistance and guidance of Jamel. He has impeccable taste, always professional and timely with his responses, providing product suggestions and clear communication and follow up on emails. He shopped with us on several occasions. Jamel was instrumental in the amazing transformation of our apartment and was an absolute pleasure to work with!

We worked together with Jamel from To Be Designed on a Brooklyn Apartment Renovation. His ideas were amazing, and his detail was meticulous and flawless down to links for each & every item. Over the years we have worked with several designers and Jamel is definitely one of our favorites. If you are looking for the job to be done right, on time, within budget and look great....To Be Designed is the company for you!

After a pretty lengthy search for an interior design partner, we decided to work with Jamel Williams (ToBeDesigned) and we’re very happy we did. The project touched virtually every room in our apartment, and while we definitely have a design aesthetic, one of the primary reasons we wanted to work with a designer was to get us out of our comfort zone a bit. Jamel worked with us to fully understand our goals, and he presented design concepts that were very thoughtful and creative. He was very flexible and open to working with existing furniture and artwork, and within a defined budget. He used the budget wisely to bring some high impact signature pieces/finishes into the space, and saved money in other areas where the impact was lower. He is very good at creating and articulating a vision, and most importantly, he executed each element precisely. Jamel is detail-oriented in all aspects; from the design phase through the project execution. He kept a log of all decisions, and a detailed purchase log with an audit of every expense. He also managed all interactions with the contractor (which was a huge plus). We remained in the space during the reno, which is not ideal, but Jamel made sure the contractor understood this and ensured we had a livable space throughout the whole project. We would gladly recommend Jamel, and would work with him again without hesitation for our next project when the time comes!

I had the pleasure of working with Jamel for a second time as he designed our living spaces, dining room, master bedroom and home office. After his work transforming our kitchen, I had no doubt in what he would be able to accomplish. He is an outstanding interior designer who truly exceeded all of my family’s expectations. From the initial consultation to the final reveal, the entire process was an absolute delight. What sets him apart is his unparalleled professionalism and attention to detail. Right from the beginning, he took the time to understand our preferences and lifestyle to ensure we had the most amazing, functional space. Every element of the design felt uniquely tailored to our taste, creating a home that reflects our personality and style, while also appreciating the history of the house. Each room seamlessly flows into the next, creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere. The selection of furniture, lighting, and accessories were not only of top high quality, but also timeless. One of the aspects we appreciate most is Jamel’s commitment to open communication. He kept us informed at every stage of the project, providing updates, incorporating our feedback, and ensuring that the final result was everything we had hoped for. The end result was a home that not only met but surpassed my expectations. Don’t hesitate to hire Jamel for your next project. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a transformative and personalized design experience.

Jamel is the epitome of understanding the assignment. My husband and I were looking to do a renovation on the main floor of our home and Jamel took the time to get to know us, asked pointed questions about our style, and the feeling we wanted to exude when people entered the space. He was very careful in analyzing our space, looking at blueprints, and being very transparent with all the phases of the renovation/design process. We had a fairly tight budget and he understood this and always provided options with a span of price ranges. We were appreciative of his extensive knowledge in not only design, but construction work too. This was very useful when we needed to make decisions during construction. Jamel was able to provide some advice so we could weigh our options. Renovations can be stressful and can feel like a full-time job, so we were incredibly grateful for his calm demeanor and transparency. He communicated with our contractor often and was able to advocate for our needs. The end result is incredible, we are so happy with our space and try to find multiple opportunities to show it off. If you want a designer that listens, supports you through what can be a stressful process, and is very communicative--Jamel is the way to go.

This was the second project Jamel has done for us, and the experience was fantastic just like the first time. Jamel did a complete renovation of two bathrooms and wetbar at our vacation home - he came up with beautiful designs and layouts, picked amazing materials, organized deliveries and kept the construction crew on task. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out, the end result was above and beyond our expectations. I highly recommend Jamel for any project and I hope we can work with him again in the future.