TESTIMONIALS

DESIGN CLARITY IN A DAY

“Design Clarity in a Day” fills a much needed gap in the world of interior design between the kinds of decisions a homeowner could make on their own after studying a few websites and collecting some paint samples and whole-house interior design. Holly O’Brian is the perfect person for this work because she listens carefully, is wonderful to work with, and is a resourceful designer.

After more than a decade of using our screened porch as a potting shed, we finally decided to convert it into an enclosed porch. The big question was how could we make the room beautiful and functional once the contractor finished? Holly’s Design Clarity in a Day was the answer we were looking for.

First, she viewed the space and listened to our description of how we hoped to use it. She then took photographs and measurements, drew up a floor plan, and identified samples of window coverings, paint, and upholstery. She also helped select the right fan size and identified furniture that we already have that could be repurposed for this space. She focused on every detail and thought of things we would never have considered (like a fold-down shelf).

It was clear that Holly really understood our preferences, and she was able to capture the essence of the room. As construction started, it was so helpful to have a vision for the completed space that could inform the contractor’s work, avoid surprises, and prevent costly mistakes. Holly did indeed give us design clarity in a day. We enthusiastically recommend her."- A Happy Homeowner in NW DC

RESIDENTIAL SPACES

"Working with Holly was a pleasure.  I had never worked with an interior designer before, and was apprehensive about what it would be like.  However, Holly immediately put my husband and me at ease; she is very easy to be comfortable with.  Holly listened carefully to what we wanted and looked carefully at what we had.  Choosing furniture had been overwhelming for me.  Holly narrowed down the options, which helped tremendously, while leaving the final decisions up to us.  She helped us clarify what our taste in furniture was, and then she offered suggestions, within our budget, that were perfect for us.  She also helped us reupholster some chairs and brought fabric samples that really reflected what we wanted.  Holly made suggestions about furniture placement and about decluttering our living room, both of which have made it a much more pleasant room to sit in. I would highly recommend working with Holly.  She is very competent and is very easy to work with.  We are more than satisfied and happy with the help she gave us."

- Susan S., Washington, DC

"We recommend her highly. We just finished a multi room design project with Holly. We found her to be a delight to work with, responsive, patient and straight forward about budget expectations. We particularly appreciated knowing what was expected of us in the project to keep momentum going. We are really enjoying our new spaces. We recommend her highly."

- Ann M., Washington, DC

"I enthusiastically recommend Holly O'Brian to help decorate your home.  Holly is very versatile, she initially helped us decorate our contemporary style home.  She was able to create warm versatile spaces that were in keeping with the open floor plan of our mid-century home.  Next, she helped us to decorate our current home which is a traditional rowhouse.  She helped us create both formal and informal spaces.  We are thrilled with the results and we receive many compliments from our guests. I enthusiastically recommend Holly O'Brian to help decorate your home.  Holly is very versatile, she initially helped us decorate our contemporary style home.  She was able to create warm versatile spaces that were in keeping with the open floor plan of our mid-century home.  Next, she helped us to decorate our current home which is a traditional rowhouse.  She helped us create both formal and informal spaces.  We are thrilled with the results and we receive many compliments from our guests.

Holly is delightful to work with because she is patient and she is a great listener.  There is no drama swirling around Holly.  She is understated and always professional.  Holly worked within our budget and was always able to dream up alternate options when my husband and I couldn't agree on design ideas.  Holly uses a multitude of local and national vendors and she readily incorporated some of our existing furniture into her design plan.I enthusiastically recommend Holly O'Brian to help decorate your home."

- Belinda N., Washington, DC.

I am the Events Manager for the British Council Office in Washington, DC and have had the opportunity to work closely with Ms. Holly O’Brian on the refurbishment and renovation of our offices over the last few months. I have enjoyed working with Ms. O’Brian and have the utmost respect for her work and creativity. I would recommend her without reservation for other design projects and indeed have already done so. In the renovation of our offices Ms. O’Brian was the Interior Designer and Project Manager. The design is thoughtful, imaginative and creative. Our offices have appropriate and comfortable workstations and ensure a professional work place which meets the needs of our organization. The layout of the office has changed dramatically. The new configuration provides an optimal working environment while making accommodations for our future staffing needs. The new design makes optimal use of our space while emphasizing the beauty of the architecture. Our building complex is of great historical significance and is part of the only example of Sir Edwin Lutyen’s architecture in the United States. Ms. O’Brian took the time to listen to staff and take into account our needs. She made every effort to understand the workings our organization by encouraging dialogue and feedback from our staff. The emphasis for us was the need for a professionally appealing space which was clean, modern and expressed the mission of our organization to act as a cultural liaison between the United States and the United Kingdom. Ms. O’Brian facilitated the coordination between furniture vendors, the Architect, and the Contractor and was also responsible for coordinating the bidding process. She was professional, thorough and a pleasure to work with.

Ms. O’Brian helped us choose all of the finishes, lighting and furniture and also assisted in the selection of artwork. The final result is fresh and modern and a very pleasant workplace. Finishes were chosen with sustainability as a goal. When we started the project we were very concerned with making sure that all design decisions were sensitive to the environment. Great care was taken to ensure that all of the furniture and finishes were selected to contribute to our goal of making our offices as “green” as possible. We were introduced to a company which facilitates recycling of office furniture and helped to coordinate the donation of all of our office furnishings to a non profit organization.

Based on my experience working with Ms. Holly O’Brian I highly recommend her for other projects. Ms. O’Brian enabled us to see possibilities for our space that we had not previously imagined. The comments we receive from our visitors are extremely positive.

- KATHY C., WASHINGTON, DC