Universal Designers in Pawlet

“Paul Rovinell and I first worked on a project together over 10 years ago. Paul hired me to design a kitchen. He has since hired my firm to collaborate on many more kitchens throughout New England. I always admired his restrained aesthetic and his efforstless falir for modern spaces. When it came time for me to transfrom my UGLY 1960 time capsule Paul graciously accepted the challenge. We had so much fun designing it! He listened and delivered. My husband and I were THRILLED with the result. Paul is an architectural force. So orignianl and creative - I cannot say enough - Paul is a true talent.”

“Designed a screened porch with small deck and steps from the second to the first level. Completed all drawings for load limits on the roof change from different angles of the location.”

“I have worked with Charity on decorating several rooms (paint, window coverings, furniture arrangement, lighting, etc.). She's a pleasure to work with. Good about working within your budget. Creative. Beautiful fabric choices. Always timely with input and answers to questions. I would definitely work with her again on future projects.”

“We had long admired the work of this talented duo (Ann McCallum and Andy Burr) and had especially enjoyed the success they had creating the Porches Hotel in North Adams, MA, which had a decidedly Mid-Century vibe. When we bought our little 1950's Cape in Williamstown we knew they'd be the perfect choice to update the house and convert it into an idyllic weekend and Summer retreat. Our goal was to remain true to the building's original mid-century roots and add a contemporary vibe at the same time. Working with a very modest budget, Burr & McCallum came up with a wonderful (and affordable) way to add a shed dormer, open up the interior, create a master bath and utilize standard materials (like Pella windows and IKEA kitchen cabinets) that gave us the look we wanted, yet stayed within our agreed to budget. They helped us identify and work with a great local contractor (Vince Martel) and were shoulder to shoulder with us throughout the process. They even brought a colorist in to ensure we got the bright, fun, cheery palette for the house that we desired. It was a really great collaboration -- they were wonderful listeners and always found a way to take our input and ideas and make them even better. In the end we got exactly the house we had hoped for and we credit that to the vision, talents and thoughtful approach that Ann and Andy use. I'm pleased to say that even though the house is a renovation and very modest in size and scope, it's been featured in Boston Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and elsewhere. We can't say enough good things about this firm and recommend them highly.”

“Michelle has done multiple projects for me starting with staging my house for sale and then helping me with my new house and then helping me with decorating my salon. Her ability to put a place together on a budget never stops to surprise me. Then she walks into a high end furniture store and knows exactly where things are and who to talk to for quick delivery. I love how beautiful my space has turned out to be and the endless compliments.”

“Working with Jenna at SAS Interiors was wonderful. We are a busy family and she worked with our schedule. Her ideas were fantastic! Jenna was also very open to hearing our ideas, as well. Jenna worked with us on our dining room, living room and stairs. She has excellent taste and very willing to go the extra mile. She also shared some cost saving tips too, which was very appreciated. It was an absolute pleasure working with Jenna. I would hire her firm again.”

“Since purchasing a second home in Vermont several years ago, Mary Jo has done a phenomenal job putting together great finishing touches as well as doing a complete design and decoration of our basement! We absolutely love it!! What I appreciate most about Mary Jo is her ability to proactively seek out options and keep our projects moving forward even though we are not in the same state. She sends us samples and puts together a completed vision board so we always know where we are headed and what the final look will come out like. I personally like taking a very hands-on approach to these types of projects and Mary Jo has been extremely willing to participate in the collaborative nature of that process. I also appreciate The combination of quality and affordability that Mary Jo is able to source in the vendors she chooses. Mary Jo has great ideas and is very talented. She is brace in her use of color, texture and pattern while not going over the top. Mary Jo has been excellent to work and any issues were dealt with promptly and professionally.”

“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.”

“Amanda did an AMAZING job on our renovation project! She was accessible 24/7 & stayed within our budget and project deadline 100%. We could not have been happier with her services and would highly recommend her firm to anyone needing any type of design project - from large to small!”

“Greg and Cliff did a spectacular job from start to finish. Greg's design of the mud room addition and garage brought out the best of the original house and provided a very functional, inviting and warm curb appeal. They were always punctual and met deadlines. Attention to detail and follow up was phenomenal. Having the architect oversee the job in every phase of the build is tremendously valuable.”