Designs for Living, Inc.

Wendy Johnson is a jewel! She understood quickly what our needs and wishes were for the new bathroom we were building as part of a master suite. She gently guided us through the process of design. Wendy hand drew several detailed, scaled sketches of possible layouts which made it easy for us to see different ways the space could be used. Once the design was finalized, Wendy sheparded us through the process of choosing tile, counter surface material, lighting, sinks, etc. She works with top-notch craftsmen and the result was beautiful cabinetry and tile work. On a personal level, Wendy is easy to work with, very professional, full of ideas, and stays within the budget. We had a great experience with her and would use her again in a minute!

Wendy is wonderfully creative and a delight to work with. She is responsive and punctual. She took the time to get to know us and create our "wishlist" for our Kitchen remodel. Wendy presented many different design ideas for us to choose from for our space. We are delighted with our new kitchen.

Back in 2016 I broke ground on a custom timber-frame lake house. I had found a local cabinet maker with an outstanding reputation who could build custom cabinets to whatever spec I provided.. The problem was figuring out exactly what I wanted. I needed help with all the details and decisions. Once getting started I learned a kitchen is a very complicated part of a house from a design perspective. I knew I would spend a lot of time in the kitchen (the party always ends up in the kitchen next to the food) and I needed it to be well thought out. Since I don't design kitchens for a living I needed to find someone who did. After a lot of research I found that most kitchen designers required you to buy your cabinets from them to get access to their design services. Finally, after a lot of searching I found Wendy from Designs for Living in Vermont. She was very excited to help with just the design. The fact that she took on my project told me she was passionate with her work and that was just the kind of person I was looking for. After working with her off and on for over a year (house took 3 years to build) I found her design skills and insight to be invaluable when navigating the many decisions that need to be made when building a custom kitchen. Her cost was very reasonable and her hand drawings (she provided views from multiple perspectives) where spot on and included all the required detail to inform the cabinet maker. She wasn't afraid to bring new ideas to the table and had immense patience with me since I liked to view many ideas before selecting a winner. She helped with all aspects of the design including but not limited to cabinet design, wood selections, finishes, lighting, counter-top selection, faucet, sink, appliances selections, flooring, etc. I was so happy with her help with the kitchen design that she also helped design the cabinets in our 6 bathrooms, 2 laundry rooms and our pub. I think she is a gem among designers and can't recommend her enough.

Wendy is a true design professional. She has a wonderful eye, excellent resources and creativity in problem solving space management. She is very budget conscious but does not cut corners in quality or design. A couple of years ago she helped with a small but tricky Kitchen upgrade. She is currently helping me to remodel 3 Bathrooms: a master, a powder room with laundry and guest bath. .

Designs for Living/Wendy produced a lovely and very useful bar for our ski Condo in Vermont. As our family has grown our tiny kitchen refrigerator was unable to accommodate both food and drinks for a crowd. Not to mention that we needed a bar area to get guests out of the kitchen when we had gatherings. We now have a wonderful and attractive solution to both problems. The bar looks like a piece of furniture and houses a wine refrigerator and a beverage refrigerator as well as bar glasses, liquor bottles, coasters and bottle openers.

By far, the best designer I have ever encountered. Great ideas and always presented with a smile. Wendy has always been there for us form the beginning to the completion. Highly recommend her if you want it done right.

We started off with the most unattractive, 1980s kitchens in a very odd, narrow space and today, after working with Wendy, I start the day thinking I’m the luckiest person, with the most beautiful, relaxing kitchen space anyone could ever have. Before meeting Wendy Johnson, I knew nothing about remodeling, appliances, counter top materials, the process, anything! Wendy worked with me, but also successfully managed to navigate personalities and ideas, sometimes conflicting, coming from many other of my family members. She absorbed all our needs and wishes, including budget, and managed to come up with kitchen that is beautiful and makes great use of the light and the outdoor views, but it is completely usable to three cooks who like to make a mess in the kitchen on a daily basis! A few key thoughts about working with Wendy that are most memorable to me. 1) is the planning. Wendy’s designs are stunning hand-drawn plans that are a work of art themselves. As I watched the kitchen come from the design page to real life, I was so impressed at the accuracy and meticulous detail and expertise Wendy needed to have for this to come together. 2) With Wendy, there is no judgement of your space or your budget. She sees possibilities in every situation and enjoys the challenge of working within the parameters whether it be the size and space or budget allocation. It’s also refreshing that Wendy would always looks to us first to find out what we like for the space, colors, styles, or materials and then just runs with it and helps us make the best decisions. She would never steer us towards anything in particular that might be a current trend vs. something we actually like or need. And finally 3) Wendy has more energy and dedication to ensuring EVERYTHING is perfect, down to things I would never have known would matter…but in the end, she knows they do, and the final product shines because of it. Wendy is a pleasure to work with and I look forward to working with Wendy again soon!

I know Designs for Living on a professional level. As a fellow designer, I rely on Wendy for her attention to detail and knowledge of the kitchen industry to answer all my questions. She is easy to work with. Her quick wit and gentle way never make me feel my questions are too stupid!

Wendy Johnson, of Designs for Living is a pleasure to work with. She designed a magnificent bathroom for our Vermont townhouse. There was not a lot of square footage, but Wendy made the room spacious and unique and most of all well functioning. When we moved a larger home, Wendy helped us update our kitchen and a bathroom. It wasn't a large project or budget, but Wendy treated us as though our project was the most important one she was working on. I look forward to working with Wendy again in the future and would recommend her most highly!

Wendy has designed several kitchens for me, both in Martha’s Vineyard and Colorado. She is very easy to work with and a talented and creative designer. She listens to the homeowner’s opinions and does not impose her own views. I would definitely use her again.

Wendy Johnson is a wonderfully talented kitchen and bath designer. She did a fabulous job on our project - kitchen, kitchenette, laundry and 4 bathrooms. Her designs were both beautiful and functional and she was on top of every detail - from design to ordering to installation. Wendy is a consummate pro.

We used Wendy (Designs for Living) for our entire kitchen and bath design and bath and kitchen cabinets when we built our 5 bedroom, 6 bath home 10 years ago. When it came time to update our pantry and recycling area, we called her again. She had unique, innovative ideas for each project and high quality cabinets for us to choose from. She is extremely helpful and knowledgeable and we would and have recommended her to others with no hesitation. (Note project date and cost listed below are for the most recent updates, not the original project)

This is the second time I worked with Wendy! The first kitchen renovation had a generous budget for my "long-lived-in home". This second project involved a move to a smaller gutted home that needed a kitchen that opened to the living area, and a laundry/mud room. The project began with a healthy budget., but as the unrelated plumbing or foundation surprises presented, the budget was adjusted downward...and Wendy always accepted the news and challenge with humor and a smile! The message here is that Wendy works with you through thick and thin! During both renovations Wendy attended to every inch (literally!) and listened to my best wishes for each home. Her kind spirit combined with her vision and attention to detail has not just resulted in attractive and functional kitchens. More importantly, friends and family enter the kitchen, pause to look around, and immediately feel at home (and sometimes say as much!) in the space.

I have worked with Wendy on many projects and love her work. She is always upfront and knows her stuff.

Wendy Johnson and I worked together on a number of projects ranging from traditional, transitional, and contemporary in nature. Wendy's talent and creativity transcends any one particular 'style'. Wendy is a consummate professional who understands, and enjoys, the collaborative process. She is a pleasure to work with.

Wendy was terrific. She worked with us in designing exactly the type of kitchen I wanted, even though she started with a empty room in an old building, she made it come alive. We haven't completed the work yet due to other complications with the building. I would recommend Wendy to anyone who wants a totally professional designer who listens to her client wants and needs, but is also able to tell the client that something will not work.

Master bathroom remodel. Wendy provided several design plans, assisted in locating an excellent contractor, and worked with me to select tile and paint. Additionally, she was careful and diligent about staying within the budget and was a pleasure to work with!

We can't speak highly enough of Wendy and Designs for Living. Wendy helped us design our kitchen and pick out products. At every level she was the consummate professional, exceptionally easy to work with, and highly knowledgeable about the options available to us. Her showroom was set up such that she was able to actually show us the various options. She listened to our wants and needs, drew our our tastes, helped my husband and I reach a consensus in the face of divergent views, and sought our input at every turn. She thought of things we hadn't even considered, was respectful of our opinions and indeed welcomed and valued our input. She met our builder's deadlines and our budget. We had sought her out after a very dissatisfying experience with another designer and were thrilled with the results.

Wendy provided incredibly personalized service. She gets to know you and the way you operate before she she even begins designing your kitchen. The results are nothing short of stunning. The attention to detail was an order of magnitude beyond ours. She misses nothing!

Wendy Johnson did a spectacular job working with my wife and with our contractor seamlessly to create a unique bathroom whose outstanding rugged Vermont beauty is complimented by its comfort and practicality.

Wendy Johnson is amazing. Personable, caring, thoughtful, and best of all a fantastic kitchen designer. We hired her for our kitchen, and her design is innovative and far better than what we would have designed on our own. The kitchen works beautifully not only for cooking, but as a hub of activity for our family. I only gave her five stars because that is the limit. If there were 10, I would give her 10!

I have known Wendy Johnson for more than 20 years and hold her and her talent in the highest regard. Having worked as a co-designers on several recent project, I'm always impressed by her wealth of knowledge, her intelligent design, and her beautiful and detailed hand drawn plans. Always the professional, Wendy puts the client and the client's interests first at all times.

In 2014, I had the privilege of working together with Wendy and the Designs for Living Team on a remarkable renovation project. Wendy did an amazing job of designing the bathroom renovation including the custom cabinetry, trim, tile and fixtures. I found her to be a truly rare talent and extremely professional. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking a professional to assist them in the design of their project!

We worked with Wendy on a new kitchen and living space in our 19th century traditional Vermont farmhouse. We wanted a functional spacious kitchen incorporating elements of contemporary design whilst preserving the historical integrity of the space. From the outset she understood and appreciated our aims and produced plans which accurately reflected our desire and intention. We used local soapstone both in our countertops and wood burning stove, existing elements of the house structure were employed and melded sympathetically with contemporary equipment. The layout also satisfied my husband , who is a talented cook's need for practical utility in the use of space. The result is sensational.

Wendy Johnson provided us with kitchen and bathroom designs for new home. Wendy is a very talented designer who executes both functional and aesthetic designs to the highest level. Her plans are both accurate and detailed. And best of all, she is a pleasure to work with - always up-beat and engaging. I would recommend Wendy to anyone who cares about the design of their kitchen and bathrooms - and enjoys the design/build process.

Updated Review - December 2015 Wendy was the designer for our first home renovation project in 2014. (See review below.) We were so thrilled with the results that we decided to do further renovations on our kitchen and dining area. As we have come to expect of Wendy, she developed a fantastic design with a beautiful color palette, made excellent use of our limited space, added features that improved the functionality of the space that we never would have thought of (like a charging drawer for our mobile devices, a water filtration system, and unique storage cabinets). She then assisted us in selecting an outstanding contractor and helped us review the contract documents. The project is now complete, and we are overjoyed with the results. If you are thinking of a home renovation project—either large or small—you could not find a more qualified, professional designer, who is a joy to work with, than Wendy Johnson at Designs for Living in Manchester, Vermont. Original Review - October 2014 About five years ago we happened upon Designs for Living, Inc., in Manchester, Vermont. We talked with the owner, Wendy Johnson, and were very impressed with her design style, her interpersonal skills, and the displays in her store. A few years later we decided to do some renovations in our home, so we went back to Wendy at Designs for Living. After speaking with her again, we concluded that we wanted to have her design our renovation—if she was willing to take on an out-of-state project. She was, and so we started the process. The project consisted of a complete renovation of the master bath and the walk-in closet off the master bath. In addition to updating the finishes, we wanted to make the shower larger and increase our storage space. During the design process, Wendy developed elegant cabinetry options that increased storage, and she also showed us how we could add an additional closet in an existing loft that would greatly compliment the upgrades that we wanted and make our second floor function much more efficiently. Wendy developed a complete set of drawings that accurately captured her design vision; provided the cabinetry, the countertops, the wainscoting, most of the molding, and the decorative lighting; and assisted us in selecting tile for the shower and floors. In addition, she helped us select a local contractor and provided project follow during the renovation. The project is now complete, and the results are spectacular. Wendy’s incredible sense of style and extensive design experience added so much to this project that we don’t know how we could have gotten such impressive results without her. She was so much more than just a designer, and she worked seamlessly with the contractor to ensure that the installation and all the other details that you never think of until you are in the middle of the project went off without a hitch. In fact, we are so pleased with the results that we have decided to have Wendy design a new kitchen and dining room for us. Renovation is a very trying experience—especially when you are living in the house during demolition and construction. However, when you have a designer like Wendy leading the team, you can be sure that the final results will be well worth the inconvenience.

In 2011 I was general manager of southern Vermont's newest small luxury hotel. The property's main house had undergone a complete renovation in 2007 and we were tasked with bringing the historic buildings up to speed. We contracted with Wendy to design and manage the renovation of two bathrooms, bringing them from vintage 1970s motif (just dreary and drab) to fresh, crisp and contemporary. Her vision for these smallish spaces was just brilliant. In one (pictured) we raised the ceiling and the floor, rearranged electric and plumbing and installed a beautiful custom shower and soaking tub. The end results were gorgeous, easy to maintain and a clear improvement from every perspective. Happy property owners, ecstatic guests. And we truly appreciate Wendy's ability to have us participate in the process. She offered choices and resources for the contents (mirrors, fixtures, art) so that we could brand the baths with their bedrooms, and the overall feel of the hotel. Would recommend Wendy again and again.

Wendy Johnson designed the most functional, beautiful and unique kitchen and baths for our new home that I could imagine. She was a delight to work with, listened and full filled all of our requirements, which were many. We have been in our new home now for four months and Wendy's designs have proved them selves over and over again. My husband and I designed our own energy efficient timber frame home. The project has lasted several years and when we found Wendy's firm we were delighted. Wendy was familiar with all of the latest environmentally friendly materials and appliances. She was a help with almost every aspect of the project and always a pleasure to work with. Wendy oversaw the total installation and was available for even the smallest questions, at any time. We can't recommend Wendy strong enough, every client will be grateful that they were able to find such a treasure.

Wendy oversaw a complete gut renovations of our kitchen and master bath in our ski house, and later the kitchen and bath in our pool house in New York. She is a delight to work with in planning the space, designing the cabinets and throughout installation. She remains upbeat through inevitable glitches along the way, also works cooperatively with the contractors and interior designers. I can't recommend Wendy and Desighs for Living high enough.

Wendy Johnson did an outstanding job when we remodeled our kitchen in our home in Dorset, Vermont. She spent a lot of time before, during and after the project, making certain everything was as we wanted it to be. She has great attention to detail. She also sells very good cabinets that are made to last. She was helpful in choosing everything we needed for our new kitchen. I highly recommend her for any new project that you are considering for your home.