To Be Designed

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.

Jamel is a consummate professional who delivers what he promises and listens to his clients. I first hired Jamel to help me with some finishing touches on my apartment and helping me source a several custom items including a bed, entry items and shelves. He worked with me to find both custom and non custom items within my budget to complete the project. I liked Jamel's philosophy and style so much that I hired him to design and renovate my parents kitchen that hadn't been touched since the 80's. The kitchen redesign was phenomenal, my dad in particular is very picky and never satisfied but he has been raving about and showing off the kitchen renovation since it was completed. The design he created and the craftspeople he hired delivered an exceptional finished product that my parents are delighted to cook in. Jamel delivered big time, handled all the details with care and we are overjoyed with the results.

Where do I even begin? Prior to my most recent renovation, I had never been able to work with an Interior Designer. Jamel set the bar high and I will never look back. He was always stylish, knowledgeable and above all, customer service oriented. Renovation and design is difficult and long but Jamel helped to make it a pleasure every step of the way. Without hesitation, I would recommend him for any scope of work although I know he positions himself as a luxury/high end designer. 10s across the board.

We have had the privilege of working with Jamel on two occasions: for our apartment in NYC and most recently for our house in Westport, CT. To get to the answer first, Jamel’s work is truly exceptional across every dimension. Jamel has been nothing short of excellent in all aspects of the design, purchasing and service. Design - Jamel did an amazing job designing our house from soup to nuts. He helped us create an optimal layout for a new basement, and designed over a dozen rooms in our house. Jamel offered great options across various price points to help us stay within our budget yet allow us to splurge if we really loved a particular suggestion. Purchasing - Jamel offered unparalleled service with regards to purchasing and delivery. He took care of everything. He sought out discounts, and even in one case a floor sample we wanted, to save us some $$. With regards to delivery, Jamel took care of everything. He works incredibly hard to make this process seamless. In the rare instance of a delivery snafu, Jamel took care of everything until the issue was rectified. Service - Jamel is unbelievably kind, gifted at what he does and easy to work with. He is unbelievably responsive and willing to go the extra mile to make sure you’re happy. He was collaborative throughout the entire process and is just a great human being overall. We could not be more enamored with Jamel and his work and strongly recommend his services.

Jamel is an exceptional and creative designer who was extremely flexible and thoughtful. His attention to details, responsiveness to my expectations, and his flexibility were some of the best parts of my experience with him. Jamel helped me create a living space of which I am proud and excited to return to every evening. From his sharp eye for color schemes to his deep appreciation for the ways shapes and designs create emotions, he is truly a curator of a personalized experience. Thank you Jamel for everything. I’m looking forward to you designing my next places!!!

Jamel worked with us to make some modifications and put finishing touches on our newly purchased apartment. From the beginning, he was reliable, organized, thoughtful and thorough. He maintained great communication during the project, set expectations for when to expect things to be done, liaised with all contractors and manufacturers. He was able to hone in on our personal design aesthetic, as well as bring in fresh ideas. He balanced being collaborative with our own ideas as well as standing by his own opinions and making our apartment design more creative and interesting than we would've done ourselves. He custom designed some elements and we're beyond happy with the results. He also made a lot of the spaces in our apartment more usable. We're really happy with Jamel's work and would happily work with him again.