Get matched with top residential (interior space planner) designer in Portsmouth, VA

"We had Suping and Yang come to our house to conduct their 6-hour design workshop to develop the initial design for the remodel of two of our bathrooms. We live in a 1969 ranch house that has an overly large hall bathroom spread out over a very awkward space with lots of non-90-degree angles. We want to convert the space to two bathrooms. We knew that the conversion was possible from a square footage standpoint, but we couldn’t wrap our heads around how it could work with all the awkward angles. Suping and Yang were able to draw several options for us, all of which were great, creative design ideas. After we settled on the option we liked best, Suping and Yang made a more detailed drawing of that option. We love the design because it makes the conversion possible and it uses all of the awkward and unusual spaces for closets, built-ins, etc. We also had them create a drawing to reconfigure our master bathroom, which currently contains a walk-in closet that absorbs excessive moisture from the bathroom. We were hoping somehow to create a new entrance to the closet and to separate the closet from the bathroom, but without losing bedroom wall space for the new entrance to the closet. Again, Suping and Yang produced a design that we loved – which involved using a barn door entrance into a walk-though closet that is accessible from the bedroom, but is also separated from the bathroom - and does not utilize any additional bedroom wall space. In other words, they designed exactly what we’d hoped for. Suping and Yang were prompt, professional, highly-skilled and personable. We like getting immediate results, so we loved the concept of the 6-hour design workshop. It was a seamless, interactive process that accelerated results. By the end of the workshop, we had design drawings that we loved and that we can now take to our contractor for feedback. Suping and Yang were great. We will definitely use them again and would highly recommend them to anyone in need of design services."

"Good submitted project ideas and nice designs were provided"

"Deborah of U and I Decorate helped me decorate a new home. This is the fourth job I have use U and I for and again Deborah did not disappoint. This job was done remotely through Facetime, texts, and phone calls and it worked out so well. Deborah helped me select furniture, rugs, paint, window coverings, linens, wall art, etc. Her taste is wonderful and the results are proof."

"This company is so professional and so efficient. My room went from clutter everywhere to a beautiful, organized space. If you are ADHD and overwhelmed, call these people. If you are disabled or have mobility issues, call these people. They do all of the work. You just have to say, “Keep, recycle, donate, or trash.” Maybe a little on the pricey side, but really so worth it. They inspired me to keep the space organized and clutter free. So happy with the results."

"Went so well, Ana has great design ideas & hits the nail on the head with suggesting a color scheme. <br />"

"We just finished a spectacular custom home project in McLean, VA and we are so very grateful to Seth Ballard and his team! If you are considering hiring his firm, look no further. There can be no better architect in the DC/VA/MD area – and his pricing is more than fair. We first picked Seth because we loved his architectural style and heard that he had a reputation for ensuring that his plans are executed with impeccable precision and attention to quality. Also, his references were stellar….without exception, his former clients offered glowing praise for his talent, diligence, and follow-through. And now that we are former clients, we understand why. We always knew we were going to have a gem of a home with Seth at the helm. What we did not fully appreciate at the beginning was his proven ability to help us STAY ON BUDGET and his deep bench of connections with first-rate contractors and subcontractors who were prepared to bend over backward to meet Seth’s exacting standards. Here are just a few highlights from our experience: CONCEPT PHASE: During the initial meetings at our home, Seth went the extra mile to learn all about our lifestyle, future needs, architectural likes/dislikes, and budget. During this stage of the process, he would effortlessly make freehand drawings to help us visualize potential styles and layouts. We ultimately elected to go with a craftsman design, with lots of wood features inside and out. PICKING THE RIGHT PROPERTY: Seth joined us for car rides through the local neighborhoods, helping us to scout out the property that was best suited for our construction plans – free of any potential HOA or permitting snafus. DESIGN: With Seth’s guidance, we iterated on different design options. The design phase was high-tech and highly visual. Lots of 2D and 3D elevations, plus 360-degree videos. At each step, Seth clearly identified the estimated construction cost, and we would make decisions about what to dial-up and what to dial-down. For example, we elected to go with a cheaper asphalt roof (rather than slate), but with a more premium window. There were literally dozens of choices like that, and Seth did a superb job of helping us to make the right trade-offs and to “value engineer” the house. PICKING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR AND SUBS: One of the things that distinguishes Seth from the competition is that he works closely with a handful of contractors and subcontractors who have already been “pre-screened” for excellence. Seth connected us with a general contractor who was not only honest and diligent, but whose carpentry was truly “artisan grade.” Seth also drew upon a stable of outstanding subcontractors – in areas such as HVAC/plumbing, electrical/lighting, structural engineering, cabinetry, tile, drywall/paint, countertops, hardwood flooring, landscaping, etc. It was perfectly clear that these subs were striving to deliver the highest quality and exemplary service. Why? Because Seth was an important source of repeat business for them. This made them extremely responsive. BUDGETING: Seth developed detailed spreadsheets estimating costs for every aspect of the project, as well as options for “enhancements.” Once we made our choices, he was instrumental in securing a FLAT FEE CONTRACT with the builder (inclusive of subs) for everything we wanted. To provide even more control over the cost, the agreement specified that certain items would be “owner provided, contractor installed.” This meant that, regardless of whether we bought pricey appliances or tile or flooring, it would have no impact of the builder’s fees. To his credit, Seth’s estimates were quite accurate, and the project stayed on budget. ARCHITECT FEES: We negotiated a flat fee for Seth’s architectural services, and got way more than we bargained for. We had no idea Seth would stay so engaged throughout the project -- micromanaging every detail, and even offering interior design suggestions (e.g., stains and paints, cabinet and window designs, furniture layouts, etc.). It became clear that, regardless of how much we had agreed to pay in fees, Seth was “all in,” and was committed to ensuring that the end result was perfection. To be sure, in any large construction project, there will be some hiccups. But this was yet another area where Seth shined. Rather than being indifferent, or pointing the finger at those who were actually at fault, he would step up to “own the problem” and take charge until the issue was resolved. In one such case, he developed a design tweak that saved us money and produced a more beautiful result in the process. We never had to stress too much, because we knew Seth was 100% engaged and we could trust that the final work product would be a treasure of a home. One final thought. While Seth’s tremendous talent is obviously perfect for large custom projects, we have no doubt that he can deliver outstanding value for smaller home renovations too. When we did kitchen/bath renovations in our prior home, we naively thought that a “design-and-build” firm would deliver the best solution. With the benefit of hindsight, we could have done so much better hiring Seth as the independent architect and separately hiring a builder who would be accountable to the architect. The result would have been better quality construction, a better value, and far less stress. So whether you are about to embark on a modest remodel or getting ready to “dream big” with a new custom home, look no further than Ballard Mensua Architecture."

"Love how everything turned out. Cant wait to have Nina come back and work on our personal space."

"We had a wonderful experience with Closets of Virginia. We were looking to transform a small nook in the playroom into storage but didn't know exactly what we wanted. Steven came for the consultation, I told him what our needs were, and he had great ideas on what could and could not be done with the space. I trusted his expertise on dimensions and they ended up being perfect. I love that the shelves are adjustable so you don't feel like you are locked into a permanent decision. He gave us our quote very quickly and he was very responsive whenever we reached out. Zack, the installer was extremely professional and had great attention to detail. He noticed that one of the pieces would end up leaving a bit of a gap due to our walls being uneven. He had a new piece cut to be picked up and still completed the job promptly. Would highly recommend working with Closets of Virginia!"

"<p>Lloyd Stephens, his employees, and all his subcontractors were extremely professional, well-qualified, and respectful. They were hard-working, reliable and cleaned up well at the end of each work day. The contractor had no reservations about getting into the action and helping when he saw the need. This company truly focused on customer satisfaction and took pride in its workmanship. We are so happy with the quality of the work and the additional living space that we now enjoy.</p> <br />"

HVAC contracting