Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors

Reviews

• GS

  Gregory Supron

  Jan 2, 2024
  5.0
  Full gut renovation of 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment utilizing the full suite of PM’s design build services. Outstanding professionalism, workmanship and on-time performance. The attention to detail was outstanding. Strongly recommend.
• CS

  Catharine S. Sturgess

  Oct 12, 2023
  5.0
  In 2016 Paula McDonald helped us with a major redesign and renovation of our one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. Not only did she do a remarkable job of redesigning a dated and confining kitchen space, but she also transformed the tiny bathroom. Equally noteworthy was Paula’s ability to create valuable walk-in closet space in the bedroom and add high quality finishes throughout the apartment which elevated the look and feel of a decades-old space. Paula provided excellent subcontractors for the needed upgrades in our systems as well as all the resources for beautiful cabinetry, tile, countertops, etc. that now make the apartment feel both high-end and current. Paula’s years of experience, her creativity and her design sense were apparent immediately. Throughout the project we could see that she personally managed every detail and challenge and as a result the quality of work was truly impressive. A factor I value greatly was Paula’s thoroughness and follow-up post construction. The binder of plans and detailed sources we received when the project was completed has proved invaluable. In addition, she has been available to assist with issues more recently. Her dedication to her work is top notch.
• CS

  Carol Sisson

  Sep 23, 2023
  5.0
  Paula's challenge was to remodel my tiny closet-sized kitchen. It was as dark as a cave and had only 18 inches of counter space, no storage – plus, there was barely enough room for me to turn around much less cook. I told her that I wanted a kitchen I could feel comfortable cooking in, for myself and for guests, and I wanted some "wow" factor since it is the first room people see when they enter my apartment. Paula transformed the space into an open concept kitchen that is elegant, spacious, and has miles of countertop with bar seating. Now there's plenty of light from the living room windows as well as dimmable overhead spots, and plenty of storage for any kitchen gadget I could ever need or want. And the “wow” factor, omg, includes a gorgeous tile mosaic from the backsplash up to the ceiling! I could not be happier with my new kitchen! As others may have already mentioned, Paula is a master at transforming clients' dreams into reality on time and within budget. She is detailed, organized, smart, a creative problem solver and a dream to work with. With her in charge, I did not have to worry or stress. Not only is she a professional, she is also an artist!
• MB

  Michael Bauman

  Sep 21, 2023
  5.0
  We initially discovered Paula via her impressive library of YouTube videos walking through each project in great detail. We were immediately struck by her transparency, technical expertise and quality of work. Our project, a gut renovation of a pre-war co-op, was right in the strike zone of Paula’s work, and it became immediately apparent that we were in great hands after completing the initial walkthrough of the apartment pre-renovation. Paula presented us with a floorplan that truly maximized every inch of the space, allowing us to transform an outdated two-bedroom apartment into a highly functional three-bedroom layout with an open chef’s kitchen, endless storage space and modern functionality, all while staying true to the apartment’s pre-war design aesthetic. Our building's review process was quite extensive, but Paula was able to leverage her robust history of working with a broad range of building architects to make the process as smooth as possible. When we were faced with technical challenges during the review process, Paula was very quick to come up with creative solutions that enabled us to move forward expeditiously. Once approved, Paula's highly talented crew of longstanding subcontractors hit the ground running and stayed on schedule throughout the project. Of particular note is how complimentary the building's superintendent was of Paula and her crew. Paula's professionalism and knowledge were highly appreciated by the building staff, enabling us to carry out a very smooth renovation without complaint. What stood out to us throughout the process was Paula's extreme attention to detail, responsiveness and patience. With all order forms, agreements and change orders provided at the line-item level, it was very easy to track orders / changes and ask questions about anything. This level of transparency is not common in the construction world, and it also meant that as changes inevitably arose, they could be addressed in a very precise manner. Furthermore, Paula's full-service model enables her to serve as a one-stop-shop for all aspects of the renovation. This was particularly helpful when it came to making interior design decisions, as Paula was able to provide well-rounded guidance based on her complete knowledge of the project and our preferences. Paula is very versatile in this regard as she can either provide you with a point-of-view, or listen to your preferences and provide interior design guidance accordingly. The final result of Paula's work is truly exceptional and her experience really shows. Not only is Paula with you every step of the way during the renovation process, but even post-completion she has been highly communicative / responsive to ensure that any and all open items are addressed. We are beyond thrilled with our new home and highly recommend Paula to anybody seeking to renovate in NYC!
• AJ

  Anushka Jayasuriya

  Jun 27, 2023
  5.0
  It was awesome!

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