Designing Spaces That Bring Out The Best in you

"We wanted to update our bathroom and also find a way to extend our walk-in closet without expanding the footprint. Cathy came out with an amazing design that completely rearranged our bathroom and closet space. She was able to give us a much roomier shower and a walk-in closet triple the size—all within the same space. The way she utilized the layout was incredibly effective and thoughtful. We are absolutely in love with the new design and are so grateful to Cathy and her team for the hard work, creativity, and care they put into this project. Highly recommend!"

"​I want to give you my most heartfelt thanks for the outstanding design work and renovation you did on my home. Every detail reflects your incredible design talent and your amazing eye for color. I deeply appreciate and will always remember how kind, caring, and supportive you were to me when I had severe water damage to my home five weeks after a total knee replacement and three days after shoulder surgery. I was devastated and overwhelmed. I didn’t have a clue where to begin. My first thought was to call you! You were in Florida at the airport, and you took my call. I knew all would be OK! You literally took care of everything. You met with the restoration company and the leak detection company to determine how and where the water was getting into my home. You even met with the masonry company regarding the outside brick damage. I knew you had fabulous design skills from previously working with you. Your extensive knowledge of construction and your ability to consult with different tradespeople at once was invaluable. I was so overwhelmed, I would never have made it without you. All along the way, you were caring and supportive and made sure I would like the changes. I absolutely love how everything came together. The change is truly stunning. I will always be grateful for your guidance, expertise, and friendship."

"Cathy's company is perfectly named since she wants the final product to be what the customer had in mind! She and I spent time looking at pictures of remodeled bathrooms so she picked up on what I liked (and did not like!) but once we had a good relationship, she threw out some great ideas that would not have ever crossed my mind. Example: my guest bath is a bit on the small side so she suggested wallpaper. In fact, she suggested a wallpaper with glass beads that sparkles in the light - along with a crystal pendant light and that small bathroom is more than just the toilet and sink. She has a great aesthetic but picks up, very quickly, on customer needs and desires."

"We just finished a remodel of the great room in our 30 year old home. We have never used a designer before and chose Cathy Tonks simply by reading reviews and visiting her website. How fortunate it was that we chose Cathy! Our great room was beyond dated, with old cabinets and shelves, a non-functioning gas fireplace, and a small, dark, empty room in the corner. Obviously, we wanted to update the room, but wanted something different and unique. On our first visit with Cathy, we could tell why her company is called “Designs With You In Mind” as Cathy prioritizes what is important to the client. We knew we wanted to have a modern look with fireplace, TV on the wall, and shelving, but because of the asymmetry of the room, we struggled with coming up with our own design. When Cathy later showed us her design for the wall, we were blown away. The design also recreated a full bar in the small room in the corner with quartz countertop, beautiful sink and fixtures, and stunning backsplash/shelves. We also thought that her contractor and workers were excellent and easy to work with. In closing, thank you, Cathy, for transforming our mundane great room into a piece of art!"

"Cathy and her team did an outstanding job with our whole kitchen refresh and entertainment center renovation. They addressed all our concerns, including the too-high kitchen island and dated TV niche, with skill and creativity. The new range hood not only solves the functionality issue but also adds a stunning aesthetic touch to the space. I appreciate how Cathy intuitively understood our desire for a French Country feel, translating it into beautiful color choices and design elements. The increased prep space has significantly improved the kitchen's function, and the unified look between the kitchen and family room creates a sense of openness and cohesion. Throughout the project, Cathy's professionalism and ability to collaborate made the process smooth and enjoyable. We couldn't be happier with the results and would eagerly work with Cathy again in the future."

"When we first started this project, our goal was simple: to breathe new life into our 1999 Tuscan-style home, which had begun to feel dark, heavy, and closed off. The kitchen in particular was a challenge—it had four decorative posts that blocked sightlines and made conversation difficult, plus three oversized islands that disrupted the flow. We wanted something open, functional, and welcoming for family gatherings and entertaining, especially during the holidays. From our very first meeting, Cathy Tonks understood exactly what we were hoping to achieve. She helped us reimagine the layout, proving that thoughtful design can completely transform the way you live in your home. The new kitchen—with its single, spacious island—has become the true heart of our home. It’s perfect for cooking, hosting, or simply enjoying time with our grandkids. Every decision was made with both beauty and function in mind, from the improved connection between the kitchen, family room, and backyard to the incredible storage solutions that make daily life easier. One of the biggest risks we took was choosing a bold blue-grey tone for our 11' x 7' island. It felt like a daring move at the time, but it turned out to be one of our favorite design elements—it brings personality and warmth to the space. We also added patterned wallpaper in the laundry room, powder bath, and a bedroom, which gave each of those areas a distinct character while still feeling cohesive with the rest of the home. The final result far exceeded our expectations. The renderings were beautiful, but seeing everything come together in real life was even more stunning. The craftsmanship, attention to detail, and overall flow make our home feel entirely new, yet still true to us. We especially love how practical the new layout is—small things, like being able to open the refrigerator without hitting the dishwasher, have made an enormous difference in our day-to-day life. If you’re considering a renovation, our advice would be to plan thoroughly before starting and try to stick to that plan as closely as possible. And if you can, move out during the renovation—it makes the process much smoother. Most importantly, trust your designer’s vision. Working with Cathy Tonks was an incredible experience, and we can honestly say the finished result has transformed not just our home, but the way we live in it."

"This team was extremely professional. Their design ideas were right in line with what we asked for. They transformed our kitchen into a work of art. We would highly recommend them for any type of designing or construction projects. You, as their client, will receive exactly what you have pictured in your mind! This team brought in numerous samples of paint, flooring, tile, etc to make sure we were completely sure on colors and designs. It was so much fun working with them instead of it being stressful which we had experienced with other companies."

"I had worked with Cathy in 2006 when we completely remodeled our home. Everything worked out so well at that time and is still so beautiful today that I contacted her when it was time to replace my cement floors and refurnish our family room. She knew exactly what I wanted in a functional, yet unique flooring. Installation went seamlessly and my floor is gorgeous! The new sofa, rug, coffee and console tables came in today and are spectacular. Warm, organic and perfect for us. She was available every step of the project and brought personal touches that truly completed the room. I will use her services again!"

"We would like to express our sincere "Thank You" to Designs With You In Mind and their team of experts! We appreciate their expert advice during the entire remodel process. They have a special ability to listen to the needs and wants of their client. Their unique design recommendations were remarkable! Our kitchen is even more beautiful than we could have imagined! We are thrilled with the results and would like to express our sincere gratitude for a job well done! If you are in need of a new kitchen remodel, even if you have limited space, we highly recommend this company!"

"We were privileged to have Cathy and her team remodel our master bath. Cathy is an excellent designer, contractor and project manager. She surrounds herself with an outstanding group of experts. The quality of our completed project is so appreciated. Cathy is very responsive and communicated step by step throughout the process. We are very pleased with our results and would recommend Designs With You In Mind."

"Cathy Tonks is an amazing designer who captured our vision in her design of our remodel. She has impeccable attention-to-detail, an excellent eye for color, and a wonderful personality that makes working with her so easy and efficient. Cathy and her team at Designs With You In Mind are true professionals who really listened to what we wanted resulting in a house that is functional but also elegant which was key. That was exactly what Cathy gave us, and we can’t thank her enough!"

"We initially thought about putting in new carpeting and painting, but thanks to Cathy, she was able to work with us to get not just carpeting, but beautiful hardwood flooring, get our fireplace updated and install hardware to update our cabinets. We had peace of mind that Cathy was on the job. She has been very thorough and professional to make sure all the work is done perfectly and to our complete satisfaction. We are so lucky to have met her through word-of-mouth and were grateful to have her be there when I was not available and across the country to handle any problems that arose from the renovations. We are looking forward to working with Cathy again in the future."

"We hired Designs With You In Mind to design and coordinate a complete bathroom remodel in our house, built in 1935. Cathy created a customized CAD drawing to provide to our contractor and accompanied us on numerous outings to shop for materials to modernize our bathroom. She also arranged the purchase and delivery of products, making the process relatively stress and hassle free. Throughout the remodel, Cathy visited to our home to ensure construction was going as planned. After the remodel, our custom cabinets had a cosmetic blemish, which occurred during install. Cathy arranged for the cabinet maker to fix the damage. Our bathroom remodel turned out better than we could have ever imagined!"

"Working with Cathy has been an amazing experience. She has taken the time to find beautiful pieces for my home, which also fit within my budget. Her sense of space and color is perfect, and her attention-to-detail is impeccable. I really didn't know what to expect, but she took the time to help me discover my likes, dislikes, and took into consideration my pets and lifestyle. She made me feel at ease with the process, and all the choices. I am looking forward to working with her again on my next project, which is my outdoor space. Needless to say, I would highly recommend Kathy for all your indoor and outdoor design and decorating needs."