Adrienne S

We hired Tower Design when we acquired our second residence in San Francisco (we commute between LA and SF). The house was dark and super tired, and in need of so many updates and had seen its prime, but as Kathleen said it had good bones. At our initial meeting, she formulated a plan, and literally sketched it out on the spot on a notepad. Kathleen eased our nervousness of jumping into the project, especially after bidding on so many houses. Kathleen brought the contractor and the architect to the project even though we interviewed several others, her choices were also our top choices. 

Kathleen is very organized and forthright. Her team is responsive and work seamlessly making sure all details are handled. Our strictly modern design vision was tempered by her superlative ability to mix styles and it turned out to be a combination of mid-century modern and modern, mixed with small vintage touches and nods to the traditionally Mediterranean style architecture. It is clean, artsy and uniquely us. Everything about the interior is perfection. The lighting, the furniture, the carpets, the art (Kathleen sourced all the art), and the comfort of the chairs and sofas are superlative.

DB – Scottsdale, Arizona

After interviewing several interior designers, we enlisted Kathleen McMullen and Tower Design to do the interior design for our new build in North Scottsdale. Kathleen stood out amongst the group for several reasons. One, she was a great communicator, both from a listening point of view and also with her input. Secondly, while she has her own design point of view, she was able to take our design preferences and put a thorough conceptual plan in place. This included reworking several architectural elements in various rooms, furnishings, color palettes, floor coverings and selected art procurement. The build was a difficult time but Kathleen made the design process an effort with virtually no stress. Kathleen has been the best interior designer we have ever worked with and would we highly recommend her.
DB – North Scottsdale

Madhavi Ravindran – Hillsborough CA

We were completely satisfied with each decision made

Kathleen and her team did an excellent job modernizing our new home. There were a lot of changes to be made within a tight timeline but Kathleen made it all happen. She made the remodeling process so much easier on us, constantly guiding us through each process and making sure we were completely satisfied with each decision made. Kathleen’s expertise in design and color were tremendously valuable to us. She helped select all of our furniture, designed our staircase, upgraded our lighting, redesigned our entire kitchen and chose art pieces for each room in the house. Kathleen was always readily available to answer any questions throughout the process and resourceful in finding solutions to any issues that came up along the way. Her flexibility and willingness to make sure everything was done to our satisfaction was greatly appreciated. Our new home looks wonderful! I highly recommend Kathleen and her team.

Elyshia Holliday – Washington

She brought our vineyard home together with an organic elegance that both my husband and I love!

Kathleen with Tower Design Studio was awesome in helping us to really create a good design for our home. She worked with us from the time we were evaluating architectural plans to the finishing touches and there were many things she helped us see during the design process.   I especially appreciate the laundry/mudroom she helped us create with great lockers for our four boys and good flow for all the movement that happens in that area of the home.  Also, we have received many compliments on the solar tubes she suggested to bring in natural light and create a feeling of spaciousness in areas that would otherwise feel a little dark.  Kathleen’s use of color and texture really helped bring the natural world to the interior of our home and she created a stone fireplace with a natural wood mantel that is very unique and undoubtedly the heart of our home.  She sourced tile, wood, stone and other materials that helped us stay within our budget, were beautiful, ecological and practical for a home with children. Also, I would also have to say she showed great skill in working with us as a couple and even though my husband and I have very different styles, she brought our vineyard home together with an organic elegance that both my husband and I love!

Sarah Glenn – Los Angeles

She works magic

Kathleen did the interior design for my home in Los Angeles, and I could not recommend her more highly.  I love the look and feel of my new living environment—and it really does feel like home in a way that I never expected or could even imagine on my own. Kathleen honestly has a genuine sense of who I am and what I’m about. She expressed that with grace and style in my decor. I became noticeably happier, more creative and more productive living in the space that she and her team created for me. She works magic. 

Janet Beckerman – San Francisco

You will not regret your decision to hire these interior design experts!

Kathleen  and her team performed what could only be described as a series of miracles with the interior design of my San Francisco 1880s Edwardian. From floor to ceiling, living room, dining room, bedrooms and bath were transformed into exquisite environments, tasteful yet totally livable and enticing thanks to Kathleen’s keen eye for perfection. She and her team atTower Design, are not only artfully professional but prompt, well worth the price and efficient beyond words. I can’t recommend them highly enough! You will not regret your decision to hire these interior design experts!

Kathy Hartley – Ventura, CA

She listens to her clients and communicates well

I initially hired Kathleen for some fill-in items for my house. But more importantly, Kathleen designed our high end, historic, fine dining restaurant, Watermark on Main in Ventura, CA. She also designed the 3rd floor W2O 3rd Roof Top Lounge floor has a completely different style with a casual, ocean theme. Kathleen was resourceful and knowledgeable and created two one-of-a-kind, landmark environments. What I like most about Kathleen is that she listens to her clients and communicates well. She has no ego so it is comfortable to tell her you don’t like an item or need to change direction. As a designer she is professional, efficient, and a visionary. As a person, Kathleen has integrity and is fun to work with! I highly recommend Kathleen for any project!

Linda B. – Venice Beach, CA

Her taste level is exquisite

When I first met with Tower Design my loft was a shell and I had only vague ideas of how it was going to be designed. Kathleen drew sketches of her concepts and those ideas literally became how we ended up designing the space. Her taste level is exquisite. Her abilities are expert level and she mixed both modern, mid century modern and Asian antiques in such a masterful way that truly exhibits her expertise. When I showed her my very mixed art collection, she added a few pieces that tied those together. My home is more than I ever dreamed, an oasis in the middle of a busy city and my place of calm and refuge. I am grateful beyond words.

Meribeth M – Ojai CA

Kathleen’s sense of design and color were spot-on throughout the entire process

Tower Design worked with us on our weekend retreat in Ojai and did a masterful job. We are so pleased with both the results and our ongoing relationship with Kathleen. We were seamlessly guided through the process of design, drawings, construction, interior furnishings and lighting and the placement and purchase of art. Kathleen’s sense of design and color were spot-on throughout the entire process. As we continue to develop the project, we know that we can count on her for her wisdom, and her ability to create a truly sacred living environment for our home. Her design is unique in that she is intentional in the cultivation of a sense of peace, love, and the power of place throughout the design process. Importantly, we feel seen, heard and that our vision is expressed in a powerful way in the results so that it reflects who we are.

LD – Hillsborough, CA

She really is a master

I really enjoyed working with Kathleen and her team. Kathleen really stretched me in ways that I felt at first nervous around, but then embraced and I am so glad that I did. She is a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she has so many helpful contacts and resources. This is in addition to her exquisite taste and uncanny sense of space and color. She really is a master. Kathleen went above and beyond to make things right for me; she was dedicated to my happiness and to pushing some boundaries around my normally very conservative tastes.  My once traditional home is now so interesting and unique, yet livable and fabulous. Once we set the budget, she consistently checked in with me about where I might save to counterbalance a splurge. She also made me aware of lead times, so that I had realistic expectations about the timing of my project.  She is professional, and it was clear that our Contractor respected her and appreciated working with her. She is a truly great designer with an amazing breadth of knowledge in both design and in the purchasing of art.  She convinced me to purchase some pieces that created a wow factor that I never expected.

Sarah P – Palo Alto CA

Kathleen focuses on design in ways that are much deeper than just decor

Our kitchen was quite small, and Kathleen convinced us that if we were going to make the investment of a complete gut and remodel, we may as well expand the kitchen and integrate it with an outdoor living space that came to include a small lap pool. She brought us a wonderful architect, and after additional conversations and design planning, she suggested that we include a breakfast nook, transforming a rarely used semi enclosed porch area that we also integrated that into the kitchen and outdoor design. Needless to say, the beautifully designed breakfast nook has become the favorite space for our small family of four.

Kathleen focuses on design in ways that are much deeper than just decor. She emphasizes livability, communication styles and family time versus private time. She works at a deeper level, analyzing work flow, life style, family and personal needs. Working with her has transformed our lives in ways that I did not initially know were needed, and yet I am honestly so grateful to have the results.

MH – San Francisco, CA

She did a wonderful job blending our tastes

When my husband and I decided to completely remodel our house, the design possibilities were overwhelming. Paint colors, tiles, granite, appliances, furniture, artwork etc. I had a style in mind and so did my husband, but we were having trouble blending our ideas. We hired Kathleen and her team at Tower Design. Kathleen really listened to us and took the time to get to know us. She brought in beautiful options for us to choose from and was very conscious of our budget, mixing the affordable with expensive items where needed. She did a wonderful job blending our tastes and using some important existing pieces we had. The end result is exactly what we wanted, even though we really didn’t know exactly what we wanted when we started. But what we have is a beautiful home that feels like us. She bought us through the process on budget and on time.  Bravo Tower Design!

Kim W. – Montecito, CA

She really got me and my style, and I am over the moon

I have worked with quite a few designers over the years, and Kathleen is my favorite for so many reasons.  We bought and then very quickly gutted and rebuilt our entire home in Montecito, CA with her help.  To say she is fast is an understatement, she does things with absolute calm and assurance. Things get done efficiently. When we moved into our house only six months after the project began with a new kitchen, two new baths, all new floors and an addition of two bedrooms, I was honestly amazed.  Our guest house was completely transformed from a dowdy, outdated space into one of our favorite places to hang out.  It was astonishing to see how seamlessly she and our contractor worked together and how gracious and kind she was throughout the process. If there were problems, and there were, she carefully worked through them in a methodical manner, arriving at solutions that pleased everyone.  She is a master of sourcing the most interesting and fun furnishings and accessories.  She designed many of our light fixtures herself, along with a settee, and chairs.  She sourced our barstools out of Santa Fe New Mexico and other things from Wyoming and Utah. She added so many iconic touches, I was so pleased, as is my husband who does not focus on design.  I wanted a family home, a great place to entertain, privacy, and I wanted every detail to be both interesting and unique.  She really got me and my style, and I am over the moon.

Jim Selman – Ojai CA

Her unflagging spirit and passion for her work

In the course of our 18 month ‘from the ground-up’ remodel, Kathleen has been our inspiration and our guide.  During the early construction phase of our project she helped us work with the architect to formulate both space and multiple layers of aesthetic resonance with our site, our art and our lifestyle. As our home emerged from a vague intention for something we termed ‘zen modern’; with her sensibilities and masterful sense of form and color we built a working partnership that has given us a profound sense of ownership and pride while also giving us confidence in the quality and beauty of what we created. In the later stages of the effort Kathleen’s network of suppliers also opened possibilities we had not even imagined possible. Unlike so many others we’ve known over the years who speak of their experience of ‘barely surviving’ projects of this scale, we loved every moment of the journey – in large part due to Kathleen’s tireless commitment to excellence and her unflagging spirit and passion for her work and for our unqualified satisfaction.

Dean DeMarchi – Mar Vista CA

Katheleen is a true professional

We would highly recommend Kathleen and her team. We had done many remodels over the years but never worked with a designer before and were unsure of the process and the value of doing so. Kathleen and her team asked us a lot of questions about our lifestyle and styles. We had very unique puzzle and needed to find both an overall design solution that worked for our household (workout space, multiple home offices and guest accommodations) and we needed to somehow combine different tastes to create a home that unified our household’s varying styles. Kathleen did an awesome job of creating an overall flow and design to create a place that we all love! In addition to the design, we needed help coordinating and manage the entire project. This included purchasing and receiving, managing budgets, pulling permits, coordinating and managing the contractors, final inspection of their work and set up of the furniture. Kathleen and her team were so easy to work with, had great vision and creative ideas, paid attention to all the details, masterfully managed all the moving parts and ensured that we would love the results…and we do! Kathleen is a true professional, super creative, a great person and great to work with. I highly recommend her and her team to anyone looking for help on a renovation.

Rob Evans – Mill Valley CA

You would do yourself a huge favor in working with Kathleen and her team

I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY recommend Kathleen and the Tower Design team. Several years ago, I moved to Mill Valley from Boston after a divorce and needed an entirely new set of everything for my first solo home in decades. I appreciated Kathleen’s careful listening regarding my tastes and my budget, her collaborative approach to finding beautiful furniture for every room, and most of all, the final result. My home quickly felt like MY home, and it looked terrific. Kathleen created an elegant, artistic, and completely comfortable space. You would do yourself a huge favor in working with Kathleen and her team.

Michele Curtis – San Carlos, CA

Working with Kathleen was FANTASTIC!

Working with Kathleen was FANTASTIC! I knew the “feeling” I wanted in our home, have but I didn’t know how to get there. I had previously worked with another designer who tried but kept missing the mark. Once I started working with Kathleen, I knew that she would be able to create exactly what I was looking for within the confines of our space. As part of the project, Kathleen designed a wall of built in cabinets complete with window seat and a custom bed. In addition, Kathleen was so easy to work with. I had a lot going on and Kathleen’s patience and support was invaluable.