
Serving Glendale, WI and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 2003
Free estimates
Warranties offered
"Kristi Minser, owner/designer at Amethyst, contacted me promptly after I emailed her via Angie's List. We were able to arrange a meeting within a week. I'll tell you what I loved about Kristi from the start: she's really into what she does, not who she is or what she's selling. She was friendly and professional, but she didn't waste time with puffing herself or her work, or with "getting to know me." There was no fuss and she didn't patronize me. I showed her where we wanted to make the addition, we walked around the house for a couple minutes, and then she stood staring out a window (into the space we wanted to fill with an addition) for a really long time without saying anything. I could tell she was already imagining what could go there. Then we talked about the house and what we could do with it. All business, and she was hired on the spot.
So then we worked for about 3 busy weeks on the design of the addition, as well as some reworking of existing space. I wanted to move fast, and also hubbie and I had really specific ideas about what we want to do. In other words, we're difficult clients. Kristi was always responsive and professional, listened to our ideas, and never appeared to be put out when we suggested changes to her initial ideas. In the end, she came up with a design that was totally different from anything we had ever imagined, and also it's perfect.
The initial fee we paid Amethyst also included Kristi collecting bids from contractors and putting together a detailed bid for the project. We're financing the work, so she had to meet expectations of our lender for what that bid has to include and not include -- a lot of jumping through bureaucratic hoops. Kristi was really flexible in that painful process (like pulling toenails off), and also very responsive to our budget limitations.
We've hired Kristi to manage the project itself now, and the work is in progress but that'll be a separate review. All excellent so far. As for money and value in the design process, here's how it went for us. Kristi gave us the Angies List discount even though I forgot about it (in other words, I didn't need to ask). I paid Kristi a thousand bucks in the beginning, and then she forgot to ask me for the rest. I actually had to remind her I still owed her money.
If you want a designer who's thinking about your house, your renovation, and your dreams more than her own pocketbook, Amethyst is a design firm that should be at the top of your list. And also, Kristi is just a charming and whimsical person who is super fun to work with. I could not recommend her more highly."





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