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KAREN CRONIN DESIGN

Interior Decorator, Building Service Design Service, Bathroom Designer Service,

About us

Sole Proprietor with a Fine Arts back ground. Over 15 years of experience. We can create a "Design Team" for your project by recommending various Contractors and Trades People - or work with those of your choosing. Patient and detail oriented with excellent communication skills.

Business highlights

30 years of experience

Services we offer

Flooring, Full Scale Interior Design Services. Purchasing Services. Expert Color, Furniture Planning and Specification. Custom Cabinetry Design and Specification. Kitchen and Bathroom - Remodel to Full Scale Design. Lighting and Home Automation. Organizing and De-Cluttering - Storage Solutions., Textile and Finish Consultant. Window Treatments

Reviews
5.020 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
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Showing 1-20 of 20 reviews
Susan W.
Mar 2018
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
extremely well. Karen is very organized, keeps track of deliveries and service repair and provides workmen and helps with decision making. She is great!!

Susan F.
Jan 2018
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
We are moving from a traditional large 100 year old home in the heart of West Chester Boro to a contemporary home in a wooded setting. The new home has a significant mountain house flair but we wanted to have a more sophisticated look. Our current furniture does not match the style of the home. We had a color specialist from Sherwin Williams get us started in the consideration of flooring and paint color choices. Karen was able in her initial 2 hour visit to create a great overall plan for the development of an interior presentation that brings sophistication and style that we were not able to pull together on our own. She spent time assessing the assets of the home itself and then build a plan for displaying the architectural design the home has to offer and accentuate that without being too trendy. Not Pottery Barn or Renovation Hardware. It was a very individual assessment of the home and what to do for paint, flooring, railings, furniture, lighting and accessories that would bring out the best in the home for what it is. And that was just in the 2 hour initial meeting. We were very impressed with Karen and look forward to working with her in the future. If you want an individualized approach to maximizing the assets of your home using a very sophisticated palate, Karen is the perfect choice.

David N.
Sep 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Karen is a very professional and thoughtful designer. Due to our lack of readiness for a project, we decided not to hire Ms. Cronin.

JEREMY M.
May 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
Recently she designed a kitchen island for us, saving us thousands of dollars, by not needing to completely trash the one we have. The before and after pictures on our kitchen are below. She took me to the best vendors for the project, (quartz, cabinet, tile). She was responsive to emails and texts with follow-up questions, and most importantly, she designed the spec. for our island redesign that our handyman was easily able to build.
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"[Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed], it was my pleasure to work on your kitchen with you! The updated tile back splash, new pendant lights and re-configured island will all serve you well, and add value to your home. Best wishes for many delicious meals and family gatherings! I look forward to our next collaboration! Karen"

Ben K.
Apr 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Amazing. Karen is a true professional. From consultantion to follow-up, Karen owns it. She makes the overwhelming, commonly disappointing process of home decorating fun, easy and rewarding.
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"Thank you. [Member Name Removed]! It is hard to believe that this is our fourth project together over the past 5 years! Time flies.... It has been a pleasure, as always, to work with you. Each new project allows us to get you closer to your dream home! All the best, .... until next time! Karen"

Bruce D.
Feb 2017
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Karen is a delight to work with. She designed a beautiful built-in bookcase and credenza that completely transformed our living and dining rooms. She guided us on numerous decisions regarding paint color, drapery fabric, light fixtures, floor coverings, and furniture placement. She is patient, thoughtful, and brimming with inspirational ideas.
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"Thank you, for your kind words, [Member Name Removed]! It was my pleasure to work with you and [Member Name Removed] to bring your ideas into reality. The rooms look fantastic, and may have even exceeded all of our expectations! I look forward to our next collaboration... Now, on to the Kitchen and Breakfast Room! Best regards, and see you soon! Karen"

Grace B.
Jun 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,000
unknown
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"Your kitchen went through quite a transformation! I wish you many years of good use and delicious meals! Thanks for the opportunity to work with you and your family."

James H.
May 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,100
unknown
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"Thank you for the positive feed back! I look forward to seeing your Master Bathroom and then Kitchen transform into the beautiful and functional spaces we designed especially for you...."

DANIEL D.
Feb 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$450
If I could give Karen an A+ I would. 
I'm refinishing my basement and was having troubles with picking out my final selections for cabinets, counter tops, lighting, fixtures and back splash for my bar, all bathroom finishes, and paint for all rooms.  I gave her ideas of what I wanted and we met at a showroom and she helped me pick out everything.  Even after we were done we still communicated through email to pick the last few things as she had ideas that she saw at different showrooms.  She was also able to help find better pricing on certain items due to her network which was great.  I will definitely be using her in the future and would highly recommend her for anyone looking for an interior designer.
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"[Member Name Removed], it was my pleasure to help you and your family to make the best finish selections for your basement renovation! It is important to think of all factors, with this being a multi-use space. Your final project will be beautiful and also functional for kids and adults, alike! Best wishes! Karen"

Phil M.
Feb 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,000
Karen developed design ideas and design drawings; recommended tradesmen, color schemes, furniture, appliances, lighting configurations, etc.; for renovation of our first floor.  The complete project from concept to completion took about one year.  Although Karen's design strengths seem to lie in contemporary decor and popular configurations, she was able to provide solid assistance for our Early American tastes.  We had several designers visit us for preliminary ideas with our renovation, the most spectacular change being to allow a kitchen and living room to "communicate" by eliminating a goodly part of the wall separating them.  Her idea was the best - a 3 ft x 12 ft opening between the rooms with a flat, large sill which was both decorous and practical.  She helped select new and larger windows for both living and dining rooms, and suggested a different wood stove placement in the family room to provide greater room utility.   She designed four built-in shelf/cabinet combos for living, family, and powder rooms, and a wall-to-wall bench with under-seat storage for the breakfast room. She provided alternate ceiling finish configurations (bead board, etc) and assisted us with trim design.  She assisted with paint color selection, tile selection and purchase, and lighting design and fixture purchases.  She was able to obtain a designer's discount from suppliers at no cost.  While Karen provided us with decor configurations that she felt were best, she was very sensitive to our tastes and style, and did not push particular ideas, but was able to modify as we wished.  During the year in which she worked with us, Karen was at once  professional, accommodating, and friendly - a true delight to deal with.  She was tactful in her handling of clear differences in taste and style that existed between my wife and me, and was helpful in nudging us to a meeting of the minds.  Karen was reasonably flexible on scheduling meetings and visits and was always punctual.  My wife and I give her a strong recommendation.

Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"[Member Name] and [Member Name] - what a pleasure it was to work on your home! We had a wonderful collaboration and I also enjoyed working with the sub-contractors that you brought to the project. We had some great conversations regarding design style and function - whether to keep to the period-correct or to make tweaks or updates that would improve function. The result was lovely, timeless and functional! What more could one ask for! Please stay in touch and enjoy family and friend in your updated rooms! Fondly, Karen"

Ben K.
Jan 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,000
Amazing.  Karen is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.  She made the entire process easy and fun.  She made use of things we had and helped us choose and order new pieces.  Great experience!  A++++++++++++
Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"[Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed], thank you for your kind words! I really enjoyed the work we did on your home. It started out with just filling in a few pieces here and there, updating some paint.... But, one thing leads to another, and I am so pleased you engaged me to work on the other areas of your home, too! The final phase was furnishing your front porch and back deck - truly going from the front door through your first floor out the back door! What a great project! I look forward to working together again in the future. Best regards, Karen"

Ann P.
Jan 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Karen was instrumental as we remodeled 3 areas of our home. For the exterior of our house she gave wonderful advice regarding color selection and coordination. We love the colors she helped us choose for our front door, exterior walls! Apparently so do our neighbors because we frequently get compliments!
She designed a fabulous wainscoting, chose a terrific grass cloth wallpaper and found carpet tiles that really makes our basement a wonderful space for our family!
Choosing the right colors, upholstery, carpet and layout for a room can be a daunting task! Karen has the ability to be in a room, see the form and function and combine that with the look you are going for, all with great style and ease!


Response from KAREN CRONIN DESIGN
"Thank you, [Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed]! It was a pleasure working with you so closely on your home. You brought wonderful ideas to the table and I enjoyed finding the solutions to bring all elements together! It was so nice getting to know your children, too! I think you might have a budding Interior Designer in your ranks! Best wishes, Karen"

Charles A.
Dec 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$10,000

All of the work was done in a timely and professional manner with spectacular results.  Note that these projects were vastly different in scope and end-product, yet Karen was able to adapt and provide guidance in both efforts.    She has an innate ability to work with a client and determine what are the motivations and results desired after consultation and discussion, expanding the possibilities and adding her own experience to move the project forward.  Perhaps the most daunting part of any design effort, large or small is choosing among the immense number of alternatives and selecting those which work together as a whole.    Karen is capable of pulling all of the various elements of a project together and presenting them as a detailed whole, allowing the client to make the decisions from a much smaller number of alternatives.        This is invaluable for those of us who do not have the time, or experience to ?pull it all together?    While Karen has a keen eye and esthetic, we never felt that any of the areas were ?her design?; we always felt that the end product was the result of a true collaboration. 

Another service that Karen provides which is invaluable is dealing with contractors, vendors, and others on the project to coordinate delivery and installation of products.  While this role is ostensibly the job of the general contractor, without the assistance of a third party, the burden of coordination falls on to the homeowner.  Karen was a godsend, often anticipating problems or by being on site,  correcting them before they became unchangeable. 

Finally, Karen is a true professional.  She returns phone calls and e-mails promptly.   She is considerate of your time and schedule.  She does not push or force you into a decision, but will help guide you when you need to keep the project on schedule.  She is a pleasure to work with, and we heartily recommend her  design services.  



Karen S.
Oct 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,250
Karen consulted with my mother and me to re-decorate my mother's living room.  Karen's manner with my elderly mother was incomparably thoughtful and very patient.    During visits to the apartment, Karen was able to provide fabric and paint samples and gently elicited my mother's true wishes regarding color and pattern.  She met us at the Marketplace Design Center, where she guided us around the fabric showroom and we were able to pick out a lovely fabric.  She then put us in contact with a very competent painter and upholsterer; both men were punctual, courteous, and fastidious in completion of their work.  We are very very happy with the result.  
I am working with Karen now (Oct. 2014) on a backsplash for my kitchen and am excited about the anticipated finished design.  Karen truly understands the creative process.  She listens closely to you, the customer, assimilates your design desires and comes up with solutions.  She is very interactive, wants to hear your feedback, which she will then incorporate into a new design option, if needed.  Karen truly wants to help you create an environment that will enrich your daily life.
I highly recommend Karen Cronin Design services; she's excellent!

Eileen H.
Dec 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000
Karen always responded very quickly by phone and by e-mail. She was very reliable. She bought the accessories herself and did not ask me to pay for them until I was sure I was happy with them.
She went to the store, picked out the furniture and then asked us to go to the store at our convenience to try it out.
The whole process was without stress. She was a pleasure to work with.

Lou S.
Jun 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Karen came in to do an assessment of what we wanted to do. She returned with ideas and her proposal. She is extremely knowledgeable, collaborative, creative and professional. I am very busy and Karen made this extensive renovation possible. She was very intuitive and understood our likes and dislikes... She listened and would bring us a few samples or pictures and they were always on target. I would recommend her and will work with her again.

HOWARD A.
Jun 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$325
Overal 10 out of 10 as stated above .  I would recommend Karen to anyone seeking an interior decorator.

J M.
Sep 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,800
I am extremely happy with the outcome. The object was to create a peaceful, relaxing, comfortable family room. I had been working on this for 6 years or more, purchased 2 couchs and 2 chairs under the guidance of 3 different designers, all of whom I had to let go because they just weren't understanding the look and style I was after. The couches and chairs did not look right or feel right. So I had ended up spending a lot of money on furniture that just wasn't right in any way. I hired Karen in Dec 2009, finding her highly recommended in Angie's list. We met and she carefully explained how she bills (either as a whole job, where she works up a design, chooses the furniture, purchases it , gets contract work done, etc or on an hourly basis for consultation services with the customer purchasing the needed furniture, accessories, paint, etc. I chose the second option, which included using electrical and paint contractors that she recommended, but with me paying them separately. I found her fee schedule to be quite reasonable. The result was that I now have a beautiful, peaceful, comfortable and relaxing family room. Friends who have seen the before and after have been wowed by how wonderful and different the room looks. I already had carpeting and an area rug, coffee table, end tables and tv table. Karen helped me choose the color of the wall paint and her paint contractor chose a stunning color for the woodwork that I would never have thought of. She also met me at the furniture store to help me choose 2 chairs and a couch and their fabric and color. They are gorgeous and fit everything in the room beautifully. I used her recommended electrical contractor who installed recessed lighting and a ceiling fan. The room has really been transformed. Both the paint contractor and the electrical contractor were excellent with reasonable charges. I also used her recommended window treatment outfit, and they did wonderful work. Also, all of the contractors Karen suggested were easy and fun to work with and very skilled and professional. Karen always came to the house on the day of the consultation with each contractor to advise on my choices and to make sure each contractor knew the exact details of the work to be done. She also came to the house on the start date of each contractor's work, just to be sure everything was being done as requested. Personally, Karen is very professional and skilled, has a pleasant and fun personality and carefully listens to and absorbs the client's needs. She was on time for every appointment and it was easy to schedule mutually agreeable times for each appointment. So, I give Karen an A+ and a huge thank you for finally helping us get the room we wanted and needed.

Chris N.
Dec 2009
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
Working with Karen was very delightful. She pays close attention to your design needs and strives to make your ideas a reality. We worked together over the course of a couple of months and she was very flexible in making herself available, which was great because my schedule was very busy at the time. I found her willingness to consult with the contractor in order to make sure everything turned out right to be very helpful. Most importantly, I found her design to be top notch. I have gotten many comments on the work performed. I know I could not have achieved the same results on my own and I definitely recommend her for anybody looking to do some interior design.

Robert B.
Dec 2008
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Great experience. She listened to my design ideas, and helped me develop my vision. Excellent interaction. No surprises in timing, billing. Easy and fun project to be part of, results well worth waiting for.

Licensing

State Contractor License Requirements

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FAQ

KAREN CRONIN DESIGN is currently rated 5.0 overall out of 5.

No, KAREN CRONIN DESIGN does not offer free project estimates.

No, KAREN CRONIN DESIGN does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, KAREN CRONIN DESIGN does not offer a senior discount.

No, KAREN CRONIN DESIGN does not offer emergency services.

No, KAREN CRONIN DESIGN does not offer warranties.