skip to main content
Software
Integrations
Mobile App
Expert Support
All-In-One Platform for Construction and Design
See Pricing
Schedule a Demo
Talk to Sales: (888) 316-4595
My builder uses Houzz Pro to plan the timeline and give detailed estimates and daily updates with photos of progress, and provide invoices at pre-agreed key points in the build. This made the whole experience much more efficient and stress-free.
Steve W.
Client of Cribbs Construction
Learn More
Ideas
Discussions
Houzz TV
Houzz Research
Sign In
Houzz Logo Print
MP DESIGN

MP DESIGN

Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars31 Reviews
Kitchen & Bath Designers
Write a Review

About Us

MP DESIGN is an Interior-Architecture/Design Studio. We specialize in remodels, from full house projects, to kitchens + baths, to custom built-in cabinetry designs down to paint color consultations, etc. Manuela is also a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS-NAHB) and can assist with assessing your home for modifications in order to allow a homeowner to comfortably live in their home for as long as possible. Member of the North Tahoe Community Alliance NTCA. A fun fact about MP DESIGN: One of our Master Bath designs was featured on the HGTV Bang for the Buck TV show for which it won the challenge. "Interior Design with an Italian Eye for Design." MP DESIGN is a small woman owned full-service design studio. We specialize in remodels, from full house projects down to a tiny Powder Room redo, or custom built-in cabinetry to paint color consultation. We strive to provide not only well thought through functional designs but also creative and visually pleasing spaces which blend with the existing architecture. We practice a holistic design/remodeling philosophy. Our approach is to take all project aspects in consideration. This includes use of space, furniture layout, budget, value engineering, timing, resale value, etc. We walk you through the process, explaining pros and cons along the way and answering questions while keeping your goals and budget in mind. A bit about the designer. Manuela Paparella received her degree in Interior Architecture + Interior Design from UC Berkeley, CA in 1997. She has over 25 years of experience in designing kitchens, baths, full house remodels and small additions throughout the Bay Area. Being Italian, she possesses a natural and keen eye for design, detail and beauty. She also holds a Business Degree which she received in Switzerland prior to her moving to California. She is fluent in English, Italian, and German but can also communicate in Spanish and French. Manuela enjoys art, photography, hiking, cooking, sailing, snowboarding, fitness and traveling among many other hobbies. Link to our Houzz website (copy & paste link into web browser): https://mpdesign_usa.houzz.com

Awards

Interior Architecture & Interior Design FIDER/CIDA accredited, UC Berkeley, CA-USAHGTV Bang for the Buck show for which our Master Bath won the challenge with 90 % ROI- aired on 8/28/2009

Category

Back to Navigation

41 Projects

Back to Navigation

Business Details

Business Name

MP DESIGN

Phone Number

(415) 505-8082

Website

mpdesign.com

Address

Kings Beach, CA 96143

Typical Job Cost

$20,000 - 3 million

$20,000 - 3 million

License Number

Biz Lic #02010074

Followers

278 Followers

Socials

Find me on FacebookFind me on XFind me on LinkedinFind me on my blog or other site

Back to Navigation

Services Provided

Kitchen Design

Bathroom Design

3D Rendering

Lighting Design

Design Consultation

Floor Plans

Laundry Room Design

Universal Design

Project Management

Mudroom Design

Outdoor Kitchen Design

Pantry Design

Sustainable Design

Basement Design

Drafting

Handicap-Accessible Design

Green Building

Wine Cellar Design

Bedroom Design

Closet Design

Dining Room Design

Furniture Selection

Interior Design

Kids Bedroom Design

Living Room Design

Nursery Design

Space Planning

3D Renderings

Art Selection

Attic Conversion

Color Consulting

Custom Fireplace Mantels

Entry Design

Evaluation of prospective Home

Finish & Fixture Selection & Specification

Home Office Design

Home Theater Design

House Plans

Interior Design Full Service

NAHB’s Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)

Paint Color Consultation (Interior & Exterior)

Pre-Construction Consulting

Back to Navigation

Areas Served

San Francisco

Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

Tahoe City

Truckee

San Anselmo

Kentfield

Sausalito

Kings Beach

Ross

Belvedere

Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Woodacre

Tahoe Vista

Tahoma

Dollar Point

Carnelian Bay

Stinson Beach

Belvedere Tiburon

Forest Knolls

Incline Village

Kentfiled

Lake Tahoe

Napa Valley

Olympic Valley

Sonoma Valley

Spain

Switzerland

Tiburon/Belvedere

Back to Navigation

Credentials

10 Houzz Awards
Best of Houzz 2026 - Service
Best of Houzz 2026 - Innovator
Best of Houzz 2025 - Service
Best of Houzz 2023 - Service
Best of Houzz 2022 - Service
Best of Houzz 2021 - Service
Best of Houzz 2020 - Service
Best of Houzz 2019 - Service
Best of Houzz 2017 - Service
Best of Houzz 2016 - Service
5 Houzz Badges
Houzz Pro Certified - Designer
Star Houzzer
Houzz Influencer
Recommended on Houzz
10,000 Ideabook Saves
3 Affiliations
National Association of Home BuildersMarin Builders AssociationNAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
Back to Navigation
Write a Review

31 Reviews for MP DESIGN

Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars4.9|31 reviews
Work Quality
5.0
Communication
5.0
Value
5.0
Bernadette Miller
Bernadette Miller
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Manuela was very helpful designing our kitchen for us. We were able to work several times on zoom. She had great recommendations, was flexible, affordable, and gently pushed when we needed it. We're very happy with how our kitchen turned out!
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much for the thoughtful and honest review. I very much enjoyed working with you and your husband even though we did everything without a single site/in-person meeting. I was very thrilled to see your kitchen transformation come to life. But above all, you being happy with the outcome.
DR
drseratti
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I worked with MP Design to remodel a vacation condo into a full time home. It was the first time in my life working with a designer and working with MP Design was really nice...she is patient, kind, understanding but most importantly...attentive. In other words, she really listened to what I wanted and most importantly understood our financial constraints and our project budget. We talked about remodeling this condo for years but MP Designs really helped motivate me to move forward and get the project going. She found multiple contractors for us to evaluate and helped the contractors understand the RFP in addition to drafting the the RFP. In addition to listening....she was more than willing to give me her opinion even when it was different from my own. She really pushed back on me with regard to design issues and I am glad she did because I listened to her and it made the project better! The project is complete and we are over the moon with the results.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Karen, thank you sincerely for taking the time to share your generous review—especially given your busy schedule. It was a true pleasure collaborating with you and Kevin throughout your remodeling project. I'm so pleased to hear that you're over the moon with the outcome and enjoying your beautifully refreshed home. Your enthusiasm means the world, and I'm grateful to have been part of the transformation.
KM
kmb11
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We decided to remodel the bathroom and half bath in our Tahoe vacation home. We wanted to turn the half bath into a full bath or add a second full bath upstairs. We hired Manuela of MP DESIGN to help us to explore the layout possibilities. She came back with some very creative and great solutions. After helping us to get some contractor bids, we decided to turn the half bath into a full bath vs. adding a second bath. Manuela also helped us with suggesting fixtures and tile, etc. She even gave us very helpful information regarding the upgrade of our heating and cooling system. Her extensive experience, and knowledge of current products and materials impressed us. We are hoping to be able to start the project early 2025. We can definitely recommend Manuela/MP DESIGN for home remodeling projects.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Kathleen, thank you so much for the terrfic review and for taking the time to review my business. I am looking forward to continuing and completing your bathroom project hopefully soon.
JA
jamie405
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We were interested in remodeling our downstairs garage in order to create some additional living space in our home and contacted Manuela to have her draw up a plan for the downstairs. Manuela is a talented designer with a good imagination for how a space should look and function. We were impressed with her level of knowledge, not only in the field of design, but in working with the city planning department. Manuela worked with us and our contractor to develop an excellent floor plan to create a space that is more inhabitable, functional, and frankly quite beautiful. We are very happy with the final result.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Dear Gina and Bob, it was a pleasure to work with you to transform your garage area into the much needed living space and with the added bathroom and laundry room. I love how it turned out and it truly makes my day to know that you are thrilled and happy with your new space. Thank you again for taking the time to review my services/business and for letting me assist you. All the best wishes!
LH
Lynne Hillock
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We recently encountered a bathroom leak and Manuela from MP DESIGN came to our rescue. Her hands-on approach, extensive experience, and deep knowledge of current products and materials impressed us. She correctly identified the source of the leak and provided clear instructions for potential DIY fixes. Given the cracked tiles in that upstairs bathroom, Manuela suggested replacing them with Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. This recommendation led us to consider replacing our old carpet in the living room and dining room, as well as the tile in the kitchen and half bath which we had been contemplating for a while. Ultimately, we decided to replace all those floors with Luxury Vinyl Plank and we couldn't be happier with this choice. Manuela's expertise extended beyond selecting the perfect flooring material and color. She also assisted us with finding a new vanity, sink, and faucet. She even matched our existing paint colors so we could paint the bathroom the same color. We're thrilled with our updated bathroom and the fresh look of our new flooring. Should we need any further home remodeling or improvements, we won't hesitate to call Manuela/MP DESIGN again.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to write this awesome and detailed review Lynne! I very much appreciate it. And I also very much enjoyed working with both you and your husband to get this leak taken care of asap and update your home at the same time. Enjoy your beautiful mountain retreat!
HG
Hugh Groocock
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Helpful, focused design consultation especially with regard to thoughtful use of color in a home that already had a lot of gumwood trim. Thank you, and we are very pleased with how it came out.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Hugh, thank you so much for your 5-star review. I enjoyed working with you and your wife on your kitchen remodeling project. All the best wishes.
SA
Sandra
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We have used the services of MP Design for multiple projects around our house - a bathroom remodel, an addition of a room, and an addition of a guest bathroom - MPD helped us from the sketches and design, the selection of finishes, to the completion of each project in the most professional, creative and timely manner. We highly recommend MP Design!
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much for reviewing my business and services Sandra. I very much enjoyed working with you and your husband on your various home remodeling projects. And I would certainly welcome to working together any time. I really appreciate you taking the time. It makes a huge difference to have testimonials from former clients. Thank you again!
SK
skrul
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Manuela did a wonderful job with our kitchen and bath remodel! We were first time remodelers and needed someone to help us with all aspects of the job. Manuela presented us with several layouts and helped us work through some tight space issues. She then drew up the plans and got them approved by the city. She also helped us find a general contractor, whom we really liked. She was also very involved with the kitchen cabinets -- she found the cabinet maker, designed the custom cabinets for the kitchen, helped with the paint color selection while coordinating the whole process. Finally, she worked extensively with us to find all the right finishes, countertops, tile, paint, etc. She even gave us the confidence to branch out beyond the typical and take a risk with non-white kitchen cabinets which we now adore. I definitely recommend trusting Manuela with your next remodel project.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much for the outstanding review Steve. I very much enjoyed working with you and Ann as well and guide you through the process. But most of all, I am so happy that you love how the project turned out in the end even though you were a bit hesitant to go with colored kitchen cabinets, etc. Wishing you many happy years in your remodeled home.
AS
Augusto Schoonewolff
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Manuela was the perfect fit for our kitchen remodel. This was our first remodel ever and she helped us navigate through the whole project without any stress. Our limited space in San Francisco and a year of pandemic didn't make things easier, and yet Manuela exceeded any expectations we had. Looking at the final result we couldn't be happier. She made the most out of the small space we had, and her unique sense of design sent us in the right direction. We couldn't have done this without Manuela.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much your praise and great review Augusto. I truly enjoyed working with and Rita on your kitchen remodel and making your dream kitchen come true. I'm sure you will be cooking many amazing meals in it. Enjoy and all the best wishes to you both (and your 2 cute cats).
Ricardo Balazs
Ricardo Balazs
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Manuela was fantastic to work with. She understood our style and had loads of great ideas and sources of custom and off the shelf fixtures for our kitchen and bathroom(s) remodel - we also added a guest suite to our basement. She was an incredibly helpful guide on this project and we are super happy with how it all turned out.
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Ricardo thank you so much for taking the time to review my services/business and for the outstanding review and photos. I truly enjoyed working with you on your home renovation project. I very much appreciated your good taste and patience with the whole process of a full house remodel. I am also thrilled about the outcome but above all, that you love it.
KA
Kent Allen
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed working on our bathroom renovation with Manuela. We had a challenging space (e.g., small bathroom in a San Francisco Victorian flat) and grand ambitions - and she was able to exceed our expectations. Manuela did a great job "merging" two different spousal visions into one actional plan. Lots of plumbing and electrical requirements involved and the construction team converted the plan into a really nice finished product without any hiccups. Easy to work with and a good communicator to boot. On budget and on time. Manuela also connected us with all the fixtures suppliers since we wanted to handle that side of the project ourselves. Excellent industry contacts too!
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Kent thank you so much for the outstanding review and for taking the time out of your busy schedule. I very much enjoyed the challenge and working with both you and your and lovely wife, Jane. I have to admit, I was amazed at how stunning it turned out. What a transformation!
MD
Megan Dale
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Manuela is a fantastic partner for any design project. I am so appreciative of her design sense and her dedication and patience to sitting with me to work through all of the details. We just completed a fireplace renovation project and I don't think I could've done this project without Manuela's guidance and collaboration. I am thrilled with the final result -- it has completely transformed our living room. I've got a couple other projects on my list and I will definitely be asking Manuela for her design services for those projects!
MP DESIGN
Comment from MP DESIGN:
Thank you so much for the 5-star review and your testimonial Megan. I truly enjoyed working with you. Nothing makes me happier than a happy client. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to review my services and design studio. I would be happy to reconnect in the future for any other home upgrades you may consider or if you need additional design assistance with the decks, etc. All the best wishes in the meantime.
Back to Navigation

Frequently Asked Questions

For remodels/renovations, we typically price our services at an hourly basis. We do provide a fee estimate once we have a clear understanding of the Scope of Work.

Yes, absolutely! We keep current with all the latest finishes and fixtures coming to the market, home technology tools, etc. We work with both, off-the shelf cabinetry including sold via showrooms as well as custom cabinetry. We are very experienced with custom cabinetry design to fit your particular needs if preferred.

Yes we do! And we can do turn those around faster and for a lower fee.

FAQ content may be generated based on the Pro's Houzz profile and website.

Back to Navigation

80 Ideabooks

Back to Navigation

139 Comments

Commented: Cabinet in cornerIt's a standard 12" deep wall cabinet. It's not resting on the window or window casing. It may look that way as it was a very tight space and trying to fit all the requirments in. And thank you f...
June 30, 2024
Commented: How big is this bathroom and are there additional photos?It's approximately 7' x 7' I'm estimating. The project has been archived and exact measurements and additional photos are unfortunatley not accessible as this time.
December 23, 2021
Commented: Backsplash helpGiven your photos/design, I would suggest to stick with a white backsplash in order to not compete with the countertop. A 3D white tile or a white iridescent one like suggested by Lyn Nielson above, I...
November 20, 2021 in Design Dilemma
Commented: Ceiling height and windowsCongrats Chris! Looks great :)
May 16, 2021
Commented: Can I use your image on my blog page? ThanksThank you for the reply. Much appreciated.
March 31, 2021
December 6, 2020
Contact MP DESIGN

Find Kitchen & Bathroom Designers to Help Get the Job Done

Tired of reading all the DIY tutorials? We are here to help. With over 1 million home professionals on Houzz, you’ll easily find the trusted Kitchen and Bathroom Designer for your next project in Kings Beach, CA.

Read Reviews from Kings Beach Homeowners Like You

Read homeowners reviews before hiring the Kitchen and Bathroom Designer to help with your project in Kings Beach. If you have questions, read other homeowners’ reviews or our discussion forum for a second opinion.

Easily Contact Trusted Kitchen & Bathroom Designers

If you’re browsing Houzz and have a contractor in mind, then you’ll quickly find that requesting a quote is easier than ever. From one simple dashboard, you can manage all the Kitchen and Bathroom Designer quotes you got.