DONNA DUFRESNE DESIGN

We moved into a newer house and needed a little help: we needed almost everything (including furniture) for our baren living room and a few extras (including drapery) for our dining room. Donna was very easy to work with! Looking at photos of work that she's done in the past vs. what she did for me -- I will say that she's very versatile and isn't "stuck" in any certain style -- rather, she aides the client in making it their own space. She works well within a budget and was willing to work off/on with me over a period of several months (due to the budget); yet in the end no design mistakes were made and everything worked cohesively. As far as billing - she billed for time she spent (she charges an hourly rate). When working with outside vendors, she didn't mark-up anything and only charged what the vendor billed.

It went very well, Donna was great at working with me even though I had to go out of town due to a death in the family. She helped me get moved in on schedule even though I was out of town most of the time, including going to the paint store with my painter, emailing me pictures of wallpaper, and the like. The only thing that I would have preferred was to make the billing more clear, on what I was paying her versus paying for materials, and the option to go with less expensive materials in a couple of examples. But she took my concerns in stride and graciously returned some items that I didn't feel comfortable with due to their price. All in all, I can be "cheap" so I don't think Donna should be blamed for that :).

The design is wonderful. Turned out to feel spacious rather than cramped, and good use was made of the space available, including adding a badly needed closet in an area that would have been otherwise wasted.

I couldn't be happier with Donna and her work. She called immediately and set up an appointment. Throughout the project she was always organized, was never once late to a meeting and always did what she said she would do when she said she would do it. She listens well and adjusts if necessary, but makes sure you understand the issues involved in any decision. Her interpersonal skills are superb, both with the client and with the vendors, especially those who sometimes make mistakes. Donna made a project I was dreading into a pure joy, and I have no hesitancy in recommending her. One other positive aspect is that she stayed involved with the project all the time, checking in daily sometimes and making sure everything was going according to plan. Her investment and excitement was wonderful.