Kitchens Designed by Vivienne LLC

Vivienne did a great job in helping us design  and decide how we wanted to remodel our kitchen, entry way, and family room. She provided the initial consultation for a nominal fee and spent the time with us gaining an understanding of what we wanted to do to our  home.
She provided us with 3 design plans based upon our conversation and reviewed each of the plans with us in detail, she even went to the extent of taping off the kitchen to help us visualize what the remodel would look like.
We were fortunate enough to work with the construction company she partners with (G&C Construction see separate recommendation) which made the whole project a turn key operation. She worked with the construction company reviewing the plans, worked with my wife picking out appliances, granite,cabinets,lighting, electrical,flooring, paint etc.
I really believe the success of the remodel was based upon her designing expertise, follow through, and listening to the needs of my wife and I.
Would I use Viviienne again? Without a doubt, in fact we will be working with Vivienne in helping us design the master-bath remodel that we have planned for 2015.
In closing I would highly recommend Vivienne, she listened to our needs, provided alternatives, followed up in a timely manner, and insured we were pleased throughout the process.

This was a significant remodel to turn our awkward, unattractive, and poorly designed kitchen/breakfast/laundry areas into something much more functional and stylish. We had a small kitchen crammed into a corner, then a huge breakfast area, with the laundry closet opening into it, all of which opened into our primary living area. It was just lousy. We'd found a place in another part of the house to move the laundry, so with that in mind, we put Vivienne to the task of redesigning the space. Well, she exceeded our expectations by not only giving us a a beautiful kitchen plan, but also carving out space for a brand new adjoining laundry/utility room with room for the washer/dryer, storage, a utility sink, and a new door to the driveway that would let me unload groceries right into the kitchen rather than schlepping it through the house. Amazing.
We were also unhappy with the adjoining living room, which had low beams on the ceiling and an arch cutting off the flow into the kitchen, and a monolithic, ugly fireplace facade. We asked Vivienne for any ideas she might have about this space and she gave great suggestions that helped us think through how we could make this space work for us, and led to additional changes that were pretty dramatic. She even helped with picking out and sourcing the new fireplace material.
So, when it was all said and done, it turned into a pretty significant project that had us living in our bedrooms for 2 months (pro-tip: invest in a mini-fridge). For a project of this magnitude, I really thought it was going to be non-stop stress and hassle as it was with another significant project we'd had done in the house, but Vivienne, along with Gary and Des of G&C Construction, took everything in stride and with such good nature, it was very comfortable for me to question anything going on and not feel like I was annoying them, even with nitpicky things. They and their hard-working, tidy crew really just took care of every little thing and let us just come home to fun new progress every day!
Vivienne was worth her weight in gold not just in the design stage but was really a touchstone during the entire process. She was available for any design questions, she was there for delivery of things like granite, she dropped by frequently to make sure things were progressing as expected. Her wonderful guidance, vision, and leadership along the way really eliminated a lot of the stress I expected to feel during this intense process!
FWIW, G&C Construction (the aforementioned Gary and Des & crew) were also fabulous, so if you don't have a contractor, they do wonderful work and are a pleasure to work with. They added 3 skylights, did beautiful custom cabinets, and worked tirelessly to get every little detail just right, even if it was a huge pain to do so (like matching our new wood floors to the old wood floors). We are SO happy with our space, we swoon about it daily, and it has literally improved our quality of life. More sunshine, more efficiency, more of "us" in our house. And it never would have happened without Vivienne! Thank you!

My husband and I were looking for a kitchen re-modeler whom we could trust to give us our dream kitchen.  We contacted 4 different companies and Kitchen Designs by Vivienne was the only one we were comfortable enough with to get the job done right.  The other companies either had to juggle too many jobs or did not give us the personal touch that Vivienne provided to us. She was able to spend enough time with us to help choose all the things that went into our new kitchen.  She helped us with choosing new tile, counter top, back splash, cabinet hardware, ceiling fans, and light fixtures for the kitchen.  She also spent time helping us find new ceiling fans and light fixtures in our family room, dining room and entry way to match the new look of the kitchen.  This was very much appreciated since she went above and beyond her job duties.
Vivienne and Gary, her contractor, had given us a schedule of 5 weeks to complete our kitchen re-model but they were able to deliver our functional kitchen a couple of days earlier than promised.  From start to finish, they were always available to answer our questions or address any concerns that we had in the whole process.  Vivienne and Gary were able to resolve all the problems that were encountered during our remodel.  Gary even offered to pay for fixing our alarm contact problems that occurred during the demo of the kitchen without being asked.
We are extremely pleased with our dream kitchen and would not hesitate to use them again.  They are the nicest and caring contractors that we have ever dealt with.

Vivienne provided three options for our kitchen and explained the pros and cons of each design.  After selecting a design she helped us with the contractor and in the selection of materials.  She provided us with vendors who were reasonably priced and provided quality products and services.
In the end we are very pleased with the design and flow of our new kitchen.

Not enough room to say it all! What a fabulous experience we had with Vivienne--a professional breath of fresh air. As designer, she catches issues other contractors don't consider. She provided 3 designs for our project, which we modified with her to fit our needs. She takes into account the integrity of the overall home, but also considers individual style and ergonomics. As a person, she is delightful, respectful, considerate. She educated on product selection and used her personnel resources to make sure that our entire project flowed visually and functionally. Hiccups (eg. back ordered items): she quickly worked with us to find a solution that remained within our budget. Started on time, finished early. Can't ask for more than that! Her team was neat and tidy, left all safe and contained. Very important to us with our 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats! Lastly, our final product is lovelier than we had planned! (See before/after pics). Looking forward to doing bathroom!

Our kitchen was 23 years old and in desperate need of a do over.  My wife and I had no idea where to begin.  After getting almost desperate we looked out on Angie's list for a contractor and ran across Vivienne's name.  I'm so glad we did.  Vivienne is a kitchen designer, not a contractor.  She specialized in giving her customers their dream kitchen and she delivers.  She guided us through the entire design, and remodel.  We would not have our kitchen today if it wasn't for Vivienne.  Our budget wasn't a small budget but it also wasn't a large one for a major kitchen remodel.  And she was able to keep us in line so we didn't spend too much.
It started out with Vivienne coming to the house to see the kitchen.  She immediately had some ideas.  We told her the budget and in the end we were $500 over budget but that's because we had extra granite and put it in a bar upstairs.  I controlled the budget but Vivienne guided us when she thought we were spending too much.  When she told us her fee it seemed like a lot at the time.  But in the end it was the best money we ever spent.  We got so much more than we expected for the money she charged.  
She tailored the kitchen to our budget and needs.  She provided 3 different designs and we choose from those 3.  Of course the design she liked best, we liked also.  She displays them on paper, computer generated.  Vivienne had ideas such as a flat countertop instead of a bar that we had with the old kitchen that we can put stools under.  We use that counter more than anything else in our house.  We never would have had that if we tried to do this on our own.  She strategically placed our cooktop with the new range hood so it had a view from the living room rather than be hidden behind a wall like it was for years.  I thought the cost to move the cook top to the other side of the kitchen would be a bit high but she assured us it wouldn't be bad and it wasn't.  She got rid of the old pantry and had it replaced by cabinets.  The flow of the new kitchen is just perfect.  So much more room than before.
Speaking of cabinets.  She took control of ordering the cabinets.  One night we met her at a local store and for an hour she gave us a great lesson on cabinets.  Vivienne always took time with our questions.  I was shocked at how much there was to know about cabinets so they look custom and within our budget.  We received discounts on appliances through her builders discount.  We also had trouble picking the granite since there was so much to choose from.  Again, Vivienne guided us through that task and now we have the granite we love at the price within our budget.
Here is what Vivienne provides:
Initial consultation.
Once you decide you want her services she comes back to the house to talk about what you are looking for and to take measurements.  
Initial 3 designs that are cheaper, on budget and more expensive that you can choose from.  You pick the design you want and tweek it to your liking.  Although we had very little to tweek.
A folder with all kinds of views of the kitchen.
A folder with installation instructions for the cabinets.
A folder with all the electrical plans.
Set up consultation for countertop.
Introduced us to a salesman for appliances.
Met with us for cabinet lessons.
Ordered cabinets.
Handled the granite and met with us to verify how we wanted the granite installed with the installation guys.  This included several estimates on granite because we couldn't decide what we wanted.
Was on hand at the tile store to guide us with the tile we selected for the backsplash and floors.
Was on hand when the cabinets were delivered to make sure we got what we ordered.
Was present when cabinets were installed to make sure everything was installed correctly.
Was present when countertops were installed to make sure everything was in place.
All the sub contractors that worked on the house were so impressed with the designs Vivienne provided them.  They knew exactly where everything was supposed to go.  The subs that worked with Vivienne before all said, "Oh, it's Vivienne.  We will have all we need."  The comfort you feel from those statements at a scary time are so relieving.  Everything was included in the design from cabinets, to electrical, to tile, to flooring, to appliances and on and on.  Because of those designs and the great people I know and the great people she put us in contact with, the kitchen was pretty much done in 4 weeks.  I know we were lucky but when you have everything in place from the start it works.  Vivienne handles that.
I know I'm rambling but if you are like us and you need a kitchen and you don't know how to begin a scary process you are making a huge mistake by not contacting Vivienne.  She changed our house and our lives with her creativity and professionalism and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all she did for us.  If I had to do it all over again I would not change a thing.  If I had another kitchen or bathroom to remodel I would call Vivienne in an instant.  If I was buying a new house I wouldn't have a problem buying one that needed a kitchen remodel because I know Vivienne would be in my corner.  I can't say enough about her.
If it's not obvious I highly recommend Vivienne.

The den area downstairs was ruined by hot water heater leak from upstairs.  We decided not only to redo the den but open up the area to the kitchen as well.  We contacted Vivienne after reviews on Angie's list and she was fantastic at understanding what we wanted and planning the kitchen space.  She was always accessible, on time at appointments and made sure what she promised was delivered.  She is very good at planning every inch of the space into the most functional kitchen possible.  She also has great contacts for everything from counter top materials to floors.  Her contractor Gary builds his own cabinets and does other woodwork and was great to work with.  Highly recommended.

Vivienne is very professional and a joy to work with. She is very easy to talk to, listens to her clients, and knows what she's talking about. She really worked with me and heard my concerns and problems I was having with my current kitchen layout. She provided expert advice on what would work, what wouldn't work, and how best to utilize my budget to get the most bang for my buck. She put me in contact with an amazing contractor and even came back out to the house to meet with him and me to discuss the plans she had come up with for the kitchen and talk about the project together. Rick was/is amazing! He is so talented, professional, and just a sweet and kind person. We considered him a friend of the family once it was all done. He provided me with additional contractors (tile installers & painters) that we used for the project and were happy with everyone who worked with us on the project. Vivienne adjusted the kitchen design for us a bit so that it would come in under budget too. She came back to the house to oversee the granite measurement & install & took care of any issue as they came up. Vivienne is certainly worth every penny and then some! I would highly recommend her to friends, family, and anyone interested in doing any updating, remodeling, or changes to your kitchen. Thank you so much Vivienne!

From the first meeting I knew Vivenne would be great. She was prepared, knowledgeable, listened to our needs, and was quick. Our son had an older townhouse that needed lots of help. Vivienne prepared a full design, costs were included to let us know what we were going to spend. She allowed us to make changes. She coordinated everything. Our son continued attending college and Vivenne did her magic. The townhouse is completely transformed due to Vivenne and the entire team that she put together. Words cannot express our praises! Thank you. She is the total package if you need help with a remodeling job.

We planned a kitchen remodel and chose Vivienne because of her high ratings on Angie's List.  She initially came out for a consultative visit but we decided to hire her at that visit.  She discussed  that she would provide several options of plans based on our discussion of wants, needs, and present structure.  She took pictures and measurements and told us it would be about a week and he would have some plans.  In a week she was able to provide 4 different plans.  (She said she always does one that is out of the box and that is the one we chose.)  She also began to work off of the plan we chose and designed a project binder that contained all the drawings, dimensions and  details of the design.  We asked if there was a contractor she normally worked with and we decided to work with him, Gary Steyn of G+C Construction.  At the next meeting she brought Gary to meet us and at the same time brought a sample of their cupboards to demonstrate how they are made.  Vivienne has continued to assist us with vendors whom she trusts and has relationships with in acquiring granite for our countertops, with backsplash tiles, with some new appliances and with hardware, sink and faucet.  Her philosophy is to educate her client so they can make good choices and she assists only with vendors who have her same philosophy.  She is just a joy to work with and has made herself available to answer questions, to be with us at the vendors and give guidance as we need it.  She has become a friend and trusted counselor.  Our kitchen isn't complete but we are very pleased with the process.  Her goal is to exceed our expectations and she has certainly met that goal..

Vivienne arrived on time and spent two hours with us in our unusual kitchen.  She listened to what we wanted and then set about telling us exactly what she would do in our kitchen.  She gave us insights we hadn't even considered and then sketched out very detailed dimensions of a new island and placement of everything.  It was extremely helpful and now we are confident moving forward that we aren't going to screw up our kitchen design.

Our kitchen is beautiful, from top to bottom. The lighting (pot lights placed strategically in the ceiling and the lighting underneath the cabinets) enhances the look of the space.  The texture and color of the walls looks terrific with the cabinets.   The cabinets are lovely to look at and absolutely functional, from the pull-outs where we store spices to the drawers underneath the cook top where we keep pans.  There is so much more usable cabinet space now.  Vivienne's design for the placement of the appliances was perfect.  From the sink in the island we can look out the picture window to our back yard.  Vivienne's design included opening up the kitchen to the family room by removing part of a wall. There is a wonderful flow to the entire space that was lacking before.  Vivienne's design also included replacing a built-in bookcase with a built-in cherry cabinet, matching the kitchen cabinets, which helps make the kitchen and the breakfast nook into a single, bigger functional room.
We are very happy with how the granite, the backsplash,  the floor, the cherry cabinets and the appliances all came together in an understated, elegant way.  We couldn't be happier.  Vivienne is very professional and fun to to work with. Her experience and creativity make the process very rewarding. Her vision for your kitchen will definitely please you.

Vivienne provided us with the kitchen we always wanted.  The original kitchen blocked a lot of light and felt cramped and small.  Vivienne gave us four different kitchen designs to choose from and provided input on each of the designs.  Once we chose our design, she set up appointments with various vendors  to choose the countertops, cabinets, backsplash, sink, and hardware.  She accompanied us to all of our appointments and helped us choose products and materials that made our kitchen a unified and utilitarian design.  She also oversaw the renovation process and assisted in any contracting or supply issues that arose during the project.  We ended up with a light, airy, spacious feeling kitchen that is both beautiful and 100% functional.  Vivienne is easy to work with, responsive and has a great sense of design.  I plan to use her again when we update our bathrooms.

She provided 3 designs for a down to the studs remodel of a 1976 galley kitchen. She came back 4 times untill we were happy with the design. We chose her design that opened the kitchen up to the family room in a way we did not think was possible and affordable. We then used her contractor Gary, and she was our project manager. It was a big job and they finished in 8 weeks as promised. This was one of our main concerns and and her completion on-time record was the reason why we chose her as our project manager. We chose Gary to build our cabinets at Vivienne's recommendation, and we love them. She connected us with specific vendors for appliances, counter tops, fixtures etc., that were all polite, fabulous and easy to work with. We had horrible experience building a vacation home out of state so we were hypersensitive to the construction process in general. Vivienne and Gary were always accessible by text, phone or email. Gary's crew was at our house every weekday, out by five and let us have our house back on weekends which was greatly appreciated. They were polite, efficient, and cleaned up as much as possible before they left each day. If any problem arose, Gary or Vivienne would listen patiently to our concerns and then fix the problem, real or imagined. They were just the best. We can't say enough good things about Vivienne. She really came up with some great ideas and was a joy to work with. We recommend her and Gary without reservation. She took a nonfunctional room and designed a space that we just love to be in.

It went great!! We could not have asked for a better plan, service and results. Their team made our kithched look spectacular.  The entire crew was professional and timely and completed the project two days ahead of schedule.  The results were beautiful.  Vivienne is a genious with kitchen design and making sure you get the product you want.  Gary and his crew can solve any issue that come up and are prompt in getting things done.  This is a five star organization that we were fortunate to work with.  My wife and I give them the highest recommendation possible.

We have been using their services since around April of last year. She redesigned our kitchen and then she supervised basically the contractor who came in and finished out the work. She was quick to be responsive. She was very easy to work with. She gave us several choices and came up with just a wonderful plan for our kitchen.

 After meeting with 3 decorator/designers I choose Vivienne to design the update on 2 bathrooms. She is upfront regarding her fee so I knew what to expect. At the  second  meeting she had 4 plans for me  to consider and discuss.  On the last meeting  Vivienne presented me with a project binder  containing drawings with different views ( the overhead  is very helpful) measurements, and elevations. Electrical and lighting plans with a legend that I can confidently hand to a contractor. She will meet with  the contractor if I have any problems.The final designs proved well worth the fee! Vivienne is professional, experienced, and creative. She enjoys her work and made the design process fun and smooth for me.

Vivienne was at our house for 2 hours, was a great help and well worth the consultation fee.  She explained how she would change the layout and why.  Her suggestions all made sense and we had our architect make the changes.

Her expertise and input to the overall project was fantastic.  
We approached Vivienne for a kitchen design when we were not absolutely sure exactly how to begin 
First she met with to understand our preferences then she went home and designed three draft concepts that we later reviewed and selected the final.
She helped us with arranging just in time delivery of cabinets, appliances, with recommendations of when we needed to have items ordered and delivered (tile, countertops, cabinets, appliances, hardware, lighting, sinks, paint) so that the project was streamlined and we were able to minimize the kitchen downtime.  
She provided a list of contractors and vendors that she had a positive experience working with.  We utilized a number of her recommended vendors and had positive experiences with them as well.

We had been wanting to do this project for two or three years, but just couldn't figure out how to get started, since we wanted not only the kitchen redone, but a complete cosmetic update of the house.  We had never done a home project but heard plenty of horror stories so we were somewhat apprehensive.  Vivienne turned out to be the perfect answer.  
Vivienne and the contractor truly worked as a team.  She would respond quickly to our calls or emails, and was very flexible about making changes.  Fairly well into the project, I decided I wanted the granite countertop configured differently.  Not only did she accommodate the change, she figured out that she could complete the changed design with two slabs instead of three, saving us money.  She made sure we understood the decisions we were making and gave us the opportunity to be as hands-on as we wanted.  For example, we met her at the fabricator to see how our slabs could be cut, to be certain we'd be happy with the way the granite counter would be finished. 
Vivienne is just great to work with - very professional and also very personable and fun.  We missed having her around when the project finished!  But we will hire her again when we are ready to update our bathrooms and laundry room.  We couldn't have been happier working with Vivienne and give her the highest recommendation.

Everything went perfect from start to finish!

See the above discription.

Vivienne didn't stop at just a floor plan.  She went with us to look at cabinets and after we chose the style and finish she went to work on the specifications.  That alone may have been the most impressive part of her services as she was able to accomodate all the features we would need in cabinetry, right down to the drawer pulls, and place the order. Because of Vivienne's excellent measurements and design, every inch of cabinet space was used and our counterspace was more than quadrupled. Visitors who have been in our kitchen many times were amazed that walls were not moved in order to achieve the new design.  

Vivienne also provided us with a detailed computer-generated tile design for the backsplash and other kitchen amenities including a custom designed vent hood for our new cooktop, a built-in television above the refrigerator, and a dog feeding station.
 
We were actively involved in the design process and chose paint colors and new flooring on our own.  We also installed new windows and doors.

Vivienne assembled a binder for the project, providing us with all design details, mechanical measurements, lighting, electrical and plumbing drawings etc.  There was also a more specific binder provided for the contractor and construction crew to follow her vision.  Vivienne was a hands-on job site visitor, keeping us informed of when she would arrive and the purpose for her visit.
She is very detail oriented and is more than willing to diplomatically tell vendors or  the construction crew when something wasn't right.  If we needed her input she was only a phone call or e-mail away. Vivienne did all of the back and forth contacts with cabinet and countertop vendors, diplomatically solving any little problems throughout the remodel. She was there when the massive amount of cabinets were delivered, systematically checking the box labels, and made sure that the contractor knew what each box contained.

We worked with a contractor she had recommended.  In the end we felt that the contractor could have been a little more attentive to the details Vivienne had assembled in her project workbook.  His work crew was reliable though, working long,hard days during the seven week construction period.  And since there were few surprises, the construction went smoothly.

 We now have a kitchen that we could not have ever imagined.  It is functional, workable and beautiful. We now have workspace, entertaining space and more natural light.   Vivienne is a joy to work with, a consumate professional and has her clients' best interests at heart.  Ours was an extensive remodel and update and we decided to make the monetary commitment to do it right.  We were very pleased to have had Vivienne as our partner in this project.  She is a true professional and we highly recommend her.

Vivienne LISTENS!

Overall, this process was OUTSTANDING due to Vivienne's experience and design knowledge.  Without Vivienne's knowledge and skills, I would not have been able to have this massive remodeling project designed and finished.  I had initially wanted to try to do most of the work myself, however, with me living out of town and commuting back and forth from Houston to Dallas, this was an impossibility.  With a stroke of luck, I was researching kitchen and bath designs and stumbled upon the website for the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and found Vivienne as one of their recommended professionals.  Hiring her was the best decision I have ever made!  She is absolutely incredible! 

From the beginning, she was professional, informative, always on time, followed up on every issue and answered every question I had no matter how trivial.  She was worth every penny of her fee and even more.  She provided us with four possible kitchen designs to choose from.  Once we decided on which design would suit our family, she provided us with drawings of the kitchen when finished with the cabinets, lighting, electrical designs, etc. that allowed us to see what the final remodel would look like.  I wish I had known her when we remodeled our bathrooms the previous year, her services would have been invaluable.  

Her fee is reasonable for her professional services and she was instrumental in making this a success.  As an example of her personal attention, she met us at Lowe's to give us a two-hour cabinet construction class, on a Saturday no less.  I never knew there was so much to learn regarding cabinet styles, construction, price points, color coordination, constructing premade cabinets look custom, etc.  All the little details a novice would not know.  Wow, what an experience that helped us make the right decisions for the needs of my home and budget.  She also took care of the ordering of the cabinets, the delivery, and over saw the installation.  Every little detail was reviewed by Vivienne.

Vivienne also recommended a contractor who I used for the construction, which turned out to be another blessing.  Gary was able to complete the total remodel within eight weeks once we had everything in place, which everyone said, was impossible with the extent of the remodel.   They also did a fantastic job and were meticulous with their work.  Vivienne showed up each day the contractors were on site to follow up on their progress, provided updates either by email or phone, reported any issues or concerns, sought my concurrence of any possible revisions in the design, etc.  

My kitchen went from being a 1980?s disaster with grey green floors, nasty out of date counter tops, appliances and poorly designed to one that is absolutely modern, efficient, and marvelously designed.  We could not be more satisfied with the whole experience ? thank you Vivienne!  I would willingly recommend her to anyone looking for kitchen and bath design services.  Vivienne is awesome.  

My husband and I have completed a number of remodel projects in three homes but neither of us had ever completed a total tear out and rebuild of a kitchen.  We decided we were ready to proceed but I couldn't get comfortable with our skills with a total kitchen.  We went to the appliance store to start to pick the appliances (recalling that they had a kitchen design center).  When we got to the appliance store, they had recently closed the kitchen design division of the company.  The sales man recommended Vivienne, indicating that she had completed his kitchen and that she had previously worked for the store but had just started her own business with the closure.  We called her and scheduled an in-home visit.  She met with us and looked at the space.  Since we were not absolutely sure what we wanted she said that in exchange for hiring her she would complete three sets of drawings based upon the space and we would meet again in a week.  She came back one week later with the drawings.  We then had to select and purchase our appliances.  Once we had the exact specifications (measurements) she was then able to detail the specific cabinet measurements.  She has a good contacts of subject matter experts for these types of projects.  We truly enjoyed working with her and appreciate her expertise.  She helped to keep us on task with our decorating choices (i.e. types of cabinets, tile, countertops, appliances, hardware, sinks, faucets, paint, etc.).  The project was fully completed in six weeks and we love our new kitchen.