Universal Designers in Monroe

“Housewright Construction did a great job on our kitchen. We had a wall removed, the ceiling had to be patched and painted, and we had new cabinets refinished. They did a great job, we are very happy with the results! You can't tell where the ceiling was redone and our cabinets are beautiful!”

“Randy searched me out for the rare furniture genre I make and that she envisioned for a recent project: redesign of the lobby of an architecturally and historically prominent hotel in Portsmouth. The lobby has an early 1900's fireplace with a 48 inch brass horseshoe sculpture and English horse scenes in relief in the terracotta walls that frame it. I make English club fender fireplace benches. Among designers I know, Randy has an exceptional depth of knowledge of the style and function of club fenders. In this case our collaboration added seating that celebrates the artistry and English influences in the fireplace, and the coziness and intimacy of a club fender on the hearth complements the more formal conversational areas of the lobby. Interior design should blend historical relevance, beauty and function. Randy's design does this.”

“Our company has had the pleasure of partnering with Andrew Volansky on multiple construction projects, residential and commercial, and most recently with the Volansky Studio, on a lakeside traditional Scottish style cottage. Andrew’s attention to detail and open-minded approach to design, guided the project, along with his ability to problem solve and communicate effectively. Upon completion, the home’s fine architectural details and finishes, combine modern convenience with cozy 17th Century charm. We hope to continue collaborating with the Volansky Studio on future projects and highly recommend their professional services to home owners.”

“Smith & Vansant is a phenomenal architectural firm. In fact, working with them renovated not only my house, but my life! After 15 years or so of living with the property more or less as I found it, my tiny 1850 Cape needed long-overdue renovations -- including improvements to all major systems, solutions to a big water problem in the basement, a new kitchen, a new roof, adding working and living space, and a home office, along with extensive site work and landscaping. From a design perspective, they are simply brilliant. They have a fantastic aesthetic sense; know how to integrate old and new in a way that is pure genius; and are skilled problem-solvers. I wanted the house to be more liveable and comfortable, while still honoring the antique details that had drawn me to the property in the first place. Pi Smith and Stephen Branchflower in particular not only listened to me all along the way, but heard me. They gave me exactly what I had hoped for. From a practical perspective, I needed to live in the house while this was going on, and they were sensitive to my need to carry on amidst the upheaval. They worked closely with the contractor, Lud Leskovar, to assure that I was comfortable and inconvenienced a little as humanly possible while the work was being done all around me. Smith & Vansant, Lud Leskovar and I worked closely as a team. The kept me informed as to costs all along the way and helped me make decisions that took into account my both budget and my dreams. They were endlessly patient and always kind. Everyone in this close-knit firm is a pleasure to work with, operates with the highest integrity, and knows what they are doing. I can't recommend Smith & Vansant highly enough. For photos of this project, see "Houzz Tour: Beautiful, Hardworking Cape Renovation" on this site.”

“Working with Mo and Bibi was a pleasure. They provided me with just enough guidance and goods to bring my new kitchen and redecorated bedroom to life. Mo's great taste and product lines at Addison West were perfect guardrails against my outdated aesthetic taking me down the wrong path or into dense forests of indecision. And Bibi's organizational and drafting skills proved to be invaluable in getting the job done efficiently and without too much duplication of labor on the contractor's side.”

“I have worked with Cheryl on several projects over the years, first as a Decorative Painter and more recently as a kitchen designer for Crown Point Cabinetry. Cheryl is easy to work with and has a great eye for detail. I would highly recommend her for you projects.”

“We had never worked with architects and designers nor had we been through this type of home renovation project. We asked Brown and Davis to explain the process to us and help us understand exactly how it would work. They exceeded our expectations in that regard from introduction to construction finish. The design that they came up with took 100% of our functional needs and aesthetic direction into consideration and turned it into a modern, practical and livable space that we never could have imagined on our own. We couldn't be happier with our home and look forward to renovating a few more spaces in our home in the future with the Brown & Davis team.”

“We worked with Chris on the design of our new home build in Stowe, Vermont and it was a very pleasant experience. He listened to our design ideas and worked closely with us to mold our dream into a workable reality. He provided useful suggestions to improve cost efficiency without sacrificing aesthetics. I highly recommend.”

“I renovated my 1905 home in downtown Hanover, NH in 2009. The renovations included new bathrooms, but the challenging changes--and the ones most important to me--were the ones that transformed my kitchen and the adjoining dining area. I hired Haynes and Garthwaite to plan the project, do the drawings, and supervise the work. I worked closely with Andrew Garthwaite. I was, and remain, so pleased with what was done and how it was done that I am hoping to persuade Andrew to do the designs for my condominium in Cambridge, MA. The Hanover renovations achieved what I wanted them to achieve, stayed within the limits of the budget Andrew and I had established, and were more exciting than stressful to live through. Before the work, the first floor of the house was relatively dark. The spaces were cramped and impractical for whatever activity they were supposedly destined (cooking, entertaining...). The kitchen was an awkward L-shaped thing with dreadful cabinets, appliances in illogical places, and basement stairs in an unfortunate spot. The dining room was too small to accommodate even eight people comfortably. I showed Andrew the open-floor layout of a recently-built condo and basically said: reproduce this effect in my house--without destroying the character of the house. Amazingly, that was exactly what he did. A useless outdoor porch became part of my new dining room/kitchen. The basement stairs were moved to an outside wall, where they were out of the way (and also easily accessible, through a new outside door, to plumbers and electricians and other people with muddy boots). Lovely, well-designed cherry cabinets and drawers complemented grey-black granite counters. An island separates the kitchen from the dining area, where I recently fed ten people comfortably. New windows mean that the entire kitchen-dining space catches first the morning and then the afternoon sun; recessed lighting and attractive hanging lamps take over after sunset. I have two armchairs, a coffee table, and a large Bijar rug between the dinner table and the kitchen island. Even though the house has two studies, I now tend to work sitting in one of the chairs in the dining area, simply because the aesthetics of the space are so pleasing. Three old bathrooms--each with its own set of problems--are now thoroughly updated. Everything works, and the bathrooms look attractive. In the bedrooms, closets and built-ins have enhanced storage space without making the house look like a victim of identity theft. Thanks to Andrew's skills and dedication, we started with excellent and precise plans. But Andrew was constantly available during the project, watching for unanticipated possibilities as well as problems. The results were really terrific. I recommend Andrew and his firm without reservation to anyone embarking on a renovation project.”

“I was able to have the pleasure of working with Ardolino Design & Development. He was exceptional. Every detail was discussed and written prior and every question was answered. I was very happy with his services.”