Karen Lievense Interior Design

Karen helped me focus in on what I needed to look for in a carpet style. I did not know that there were other styles to consider. I/we have many other small projects to pursue and I feel Karen is the designer we will use...

First of all, Karen is a very talented designer. We interviewed several interior designers before renovating our small San Francisco condo, and what stood out about Karen was her very professional and organized approach to her work and her sensitivity to our budget. . . important qualities not always found with artistic types. So our project went from a few cosmetic touches to an all-out renovation involving a plumber, electrician, tile guy, painters, wall paper hanger, specialty built-in closets and media center, all new furniture, appliances and flooring, and one (temper-mental) general contractor. And Karen skillfully managed them all through the ever-changing process for us. I was also very impressed with the thought Karen puts into her work. I’m remembering standing in my soon-to-be beautiful shower (and yes, it does feel like I’m in a 5-star hotel) and Karen saying, “Are you sure you don’t want to move the shower head up 2 inches while the plumber is here? Now pretend you’re taking a shower. . . “ In short, I was extremely pleased with Karen’s work. Our new home looks and feels fabulous, and has truly exceeded our expectations!

My wife and I had an excellent experience with Karen Lievense doing interior design on our Berkeley property. We presented her with a specific budget and she came back with a detailed plan with item by item costs for each room. She accompanied us to several retailers to help with selection, and gave us a number of options that we would not have considered by ourselves. Her suggestions on color were particularly helpful. The project came in on time and under budget. Her demeanor was professional but relaxed, she was flexible when we changed our minds about what we wanted, and she was easy to work with. We can recommend her highly.

Ms. Karen Lievense is a talented interior designer. She has a great ability to envision the final product and to guide her clients through the process. We have worked with Karen on several projects. She is well organized, responsive, and detail oriented. She is highly experienced and creative, and on several occasions made suggestions that dramatically improved the final product. We continue to hire Karen for current projects and recommend her to friends.

Karen is an extremely detail oriented and dedicated professional, and I would recommend her services to others. She went out of her way to help make the process easier for me, such as buying light bulbs for new sconces and occasionally storing pieces for me that I didn't quite have space for yet. She respected my personal taste but also pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit. In the end, I love every piece I purchased with her guidance. This was my first interior design project, and it was a immense learning process for me. Biggest personal education was regarding the scoping process as well as the detail orientation. We went over budget (which I'm told is to be expected), but I didn't realize how much of her assistance I would need. In the end it was worth it. My condo has the warm sophistication that I was aiming for.

Karen was a delight to work with; and, she listens very carefully to what her clients say. Follow through is great!

very unprofessional, over budget, lack creativity. Would never recommend her to anyone.
Comment from Karen Lievense Interior Design
This client and I got off to a great start on his bathroom remodel, agreeing on a unique design, loads of custom details, and beautiful materials that were within budget. Lots of enthusiasm on both sides! Unfortunately, he could not afford to finish the project, and blamed me for his situation. I was very disappointed to not finish a project to which I was so committed.

Very good!

Karen works very hard for her clients. She goes out of her way to find items that fit your personality and is not offended when things aren't what you want or are out of your budget. She is very detail oriented and you need a perfectionist decorating your house!

Karen was a delight to work with. She was a great listener and was able to tune in easily to our vision for our "dream room" and help us realize it--within budget! She offered us many inspired ideas, and thoughtful suggestions and could flexibly change course and come up with new ideas if the need arose. She identified great resources and vendors for us, and was meticulous about following along with us throughout the process, making sure that everything was going according to plan. She is also a person of great warmth and integrity and was a joy to work with.