Reviews of Design First Interiors (Interior Designer)

Robert James

Almost 7 years ago we decided to make some changes to our 1960's bungalow. A small kitchen and awkward layout had us wondering how we could best make use of the space. Thankfully we went with Design First, Friedemann and his team thought beyond the use of space and focussed on how we lived in it. The plans called for a small addition and renovation to kitchen and living room. What could have been a painful/stressful experience was anything but. They were responsive always on site worrying about the things any home owner does, but they do it for you. In many cases we did not even have to ask about details, was already done. The rare cases where we did have concerns they were addressed immediately. Looking back can't imagine doing it any other way. The end result was a classic kitchen/living space that 7 years later looks as fresh as the day it was completed. It was an award winner for a Subzero kitchen design contest. We are grateful to Friedemann and his team for not only making good use of space but for making a room our growing family loves living in.

Rachel Kowert

While their design was good, the execution was terrible. they changed the design without consulting me, they sent a contractor that took 2 days to install to prefabricated cabinets (yes, you read that right. 2, 8 hour days for to preassembled cabinets), they quoted me extraordinarily high and then when I told them I found someone to do the same job for half the price they magically managed to match that 50% less price (that should have been my first warning sign). Do not recommend.

groundroll

I simply love food. In 2009, Friedemann designed my dream kitchen and working in it was an absolute pleasure. In 2014, I moved into a new home and missed my old kitchen more than I could have imagined. This new house was older and much smaller than the first but I knew who to call and what to expect. Friedemann really does put ‘design first’. Yes, the final product is aesthetically beautiful, but as a cook, the space has to be a place you are drawn to. I love my new kitchen and look forward to working in it for many years to come.

Myra McKeen

What a genius! Friedemann has more talent in his little finger than any other designer of kitchens and interiors I've ever met! I bought the same house twice and Friedemann designed the kitchen and master bath the first time and then again 25 years later, he redesigned them. Fabulous results both times! I recommend him highly for any design work you may need, and besides, he's really a nice guy and fun to know!

Jorie Yang

After our first meeting with Friedemann we knew he would be the best choice for our main level and kitchen redesign. We were looking for an open concept that would provide more functionality, more comfort, and yet give a "wow" factor. He was willing to listen to us to incorporate our needs and wants into his vision but still impart his wonderful design sense. After deciding on our final design, Friedemann and his team put the plan into action. They oversaw the entire renovation, always available for questions and concerns, and helped us achieve the kitchen we wanted. After living in our completed space for nearly 6 months now, we could not be happier. We would not hesitate to hire Friedemann and his team again for future home renovations. We would highly recommend Friedemann if you are looking for a fresh and stunning re-design for your home. Thanks Friedemann and team. Paul and Jorie

G Kipling

I would highly recommend Design First Interiors to anyone considering a kitchen or bathroom remodelling. We have worked with Friedemann and his team on two occasions, first for a kitchen renovation in 2008, followed by the redesign of our master bath in 2012. In both cases the results were absolutely stunning. We particularly appreciated Friedemann's creativity in proposing design options that complemented the existing layout of our century home and made maximum use of the relatively small space available. None of the other designers we consulted came close to Friedemann in terms of the quality of his work. In addition, he ensured that the project ran smoothly and on time from start to finish, and the contractors he used were consistently professional and expert. Friedemann's recommendations for surfaces, cabinetry, appliances etc were all excellent, and at the end of both projects I felt strongly that we had received very good value for money.

Bill Tate

The Kitchen Renovation Our home was built in the early 1960's and as was the custom of the day kitchens were considered as an afterthought towards form along with function. Our kitchen could be best described as an L shaped galley that was dark and not inviting. Over the years we found our kitchen was not being used that much as we tended to go out for dinner more often than at home as we found food preparation was difficult with the space allotted for this. In the mid nineties on a walk through the Byward Market in Ottawa we came across the company Design First Interiors and to suggest we were impressed with the concepts this company produced would be the classic use of the term understatement. At this time in our lives we were doing a lot of travelling and decided to put the kitchen renovation on hold until we did the major travel we wanted to do. In 2006 we had our first meeting with Friedemann Weinhardt of Design First Interiors. What impressed us both was his quiet professionalism and how in less than five minutes with the use of onion paper as an overlay over the house plans for the kitchen he drew 95% of the proposed concept. At this time we had saved what we considered a reasonable amount of money and on review of the costs we decided another year of savings would be in order as we would be redoing the dining room as well. In 2007 we committed ourselves early in the year for a post Labour Day start for our project in which a Gantt chart was used to show a coherent work schedule. What was very impressive is the completion date was the same date the chart stated! Friedemann subcontracted the construction work to Crossford Construction in which we were really impressed with the attention to detail for example at the end of the day not only was the work site swept but a large shop vacuum was used to clean up after each day. As work progressed it was analogous to layers of an onion being peeled back as they found and rectified mistakes made in the original construction such as a live electrical wire that was left behind the wall. As in any major construction there can be some problems and when such problems occurred Friedemann personal ethos is "for any problem there is a solution"! -2- Now eight years later we have a kitchen that works, a very bright interior enhanced by a box window for the kitchen, halogen ceiling lights, more openness in the kitchen by better use of space for storage, a very nice stone mosaic of the world by our gas range and more importantly a "wow factor" that still exists each morning when we come into the kitchen. Even our friends who come over still comment on the design and functionality of the kitchen. In closing yes this was an expensive project but well worth the time it took from completion to end so much so we wrote an unsolicited letter of commendation to the Better Business Bureau of Ottawa and Outaouais for Design First Interiors for the excellent work they did.

Lynn Carmichael

We hired Friedemann Weinhardt of Design First Interiors to design and join together our 2 Penthouse suites to make it into one suite. We have known Friedemann since the early 1980’s and we always said we would have him do a kitchen for us some day but we did not anticipate putting two units together that would also require a kitchen. We chose Friedemann first and foremost for his design acumen and because we wanted the best designer for this custom project. He and his Interior Designer, Megan Lewis, have done an exemplary job at designing our new home, down to the minutest detail. They followed through with our builder to be sure the design remained true to the drawings. We are now living in the space and absolutely love it but it remains a work in progress. The Design First team will be on board with us as we move forward to complete our home. A gorgeous new kitchen, Master bath vanity, Laundry room and other built-in units are yet to come. We cannot praise the design team enough and we know we made the right choice in hiring Design First Interiors to design our new home. Ken and Lynn

nel bev

Friedemann installed a beautiful and functional kitchen for us in the 1980s. He also designed for us attractive and practical bathrooms, and other improvements to our condo. He handled all the details, and more, and made the whole process easy, pleasant, and exciting for us. He listened to our thoughts, and then worked his magic to materialise our wishes into our most desirable kitchen. Friedemann provides, charm, quality, and an enduring product. This very practical kitchen has stayed wonderful for us ever since, and the excellent design has endured. In fact, it has been very difficult to consider a move for our home because we love it here so much.

John Simmonds

It is more than 20 years since we first worked with Friedemann on a major kitchen renovation. Both of us and our 2 daughters enjoyed cooking, but our small galley kitchen, the style of that time, was not up to all our activities. We decided to expand the kitchen with a small addition and that was when we discovered Friedemann. We explained what features were important to us; this was to be a working kitchen, function and efficiency were priorities. He did wonders with the space he had to work with. His advice on appliances has stood the test of time, his design and use of space created a WOW kitchen. Styles have changed, but good design lasts - we love our kitchen; visitors still say, "it's a kitchen to die for". Last fall we decided that our bathrooms (from the 70s) needed a facelift, so we visited Friedemann again. This time there was no extra space to work with, but Friedemann designed some really innovative renovations and created spa-like spaces. He walked us through the maze of fixtures and tile options. These show rooms can be intimidating to the novice, but Friedemann came up with some stunning combinations, which we bounced around until we were satisfied. His design staff is very knowledgeable about products and gave excellent advice on the smaller details and also supervised deliveries and coordinated the work site activities,which took a lot of pressure off us. The tile and cabinet installers he subcontracted are artists. They took ownership and pride in their work and persisted until they were satisfied; their craftsmanship will be appreciated for years to come. From Design First you can expect exciting design options, expert product advice and quality workmanship. You will also meet some very interesting people.

Andy Gryc

We cannot be more pleased with our Design First kitchen. At first we tried to figure out a remodel ourselves but gave up trying to incorporate an island into our small space. Design First developed a creative plan to get the feel and functionality we wanted. The resulting kitchen is absolutely stunning and is complimented by everyone who walks in the door. It is now the focal point of our home and a joy to be in. It is also the winner of two design awards — amazing given the stiff competition from million-dollar homes, which ours is not. (A bonus when we go to sell.) The biggest surprise, however, was the cost competitive cabinetry. We priced Design First’s custom cabinets against Home Depot's, and were shocked to discover that the pricing for an equivalent design was nearly the same. Every once in a while you get more than you pay for.

Brian Tomlin

When it came time in 2005 to renovate the kitchen in our century home, Friedemann proposed a design that optimized the use of space while blending naturally with the traditional characteristics of the house, a combination that ultimately won the Design First team an award for their work. Beyond the design, Friedemann delivered on his promise to manage all aspects of the renovation, leaving us to enjoy the emergence of our spectacular new kitchen, on time and on budget. Visitors inevitably comment on the kitchen, particularly its timeless quality and the way it integrates with the rest of our home. Given our high level of satisfaction, Design First was a natural choice when it came time in 2010 to renovate our master bath. Once again, Friedemann’s creative use of space and attention to detail produced a first class outcome.

Martin Renaud

We have used Design First Interiors services twice : the first time to redo our kitchen and the other time to redo a bathroom. In both cases, it was a total redesign. On both occasions, Friedemann sat down with us and took plenty of time to know our needs and the items we had on our wish list. There are no boundaries with him. He starts with a clean slate and everything builds up from there. He listens to you and makes sure he delivers a product that works for you. He's an absolute genius at what he does. Before you start any big house renovation project, consider stopping by Design First Interiors to get Friedemann's advice and opinion.

Brian Pratt

Working with Friedemann and his team at Design First was a first class experience. In 2015, we made structural design changes to an existing home. In the initial planning phase, Design First spent quality upfront time with us to truly understand our functional needs and personal design style to solidify and enhance our vision and plan. They helped create and implement a beautiful and functional kitchen/great room design for our home and overall their creativity and detailed eye provided enhancements to various areas of our home. From start to finish, Design First's customer service was impeccable! We would highly recommend them to anyone! Kerri-Lynn and Brian

Kathryn Ascah

In 2006 we underwent extensive renovation of our kitchen and en-suite bathroom with the team at Design First helping us through this often challenging process. Friedemann guided the design process with his knowledge and creative ideas but respected our input and particular needs. He worked with us to design rooms that fit with the rest of our home. The outcomes were stylish and fresh. Friedemann is very exacting and a stickler for the details, which makes a huge difference to the final product. His oversight of the project ensured quality throughout. We have since had some “accidents” requiring repair and found Design First very helpful in getting this fixed properly. We are extremely pleased with all aspects of Design First – from the design concept to installation to aftercare. We are planning to do some more renovations and will definitely be calling on Friedemann and his team.

Dustyn Kerr

Was a pretty nice showroom inside

Sam Donaldson

My wife and I decided to renovate our house with the kitchen being the centerpiece of the project. We visited a number of companies but we never walked out of any of the meetings thinking that it was productive. It felt like they were trying to sell their cabinets and other wares instead of the concept. It never felt like they were listening to what we wanted. Friedemann was the first person who didn’t initially talk product but rather ideas and concepts. The first couple meetings we had with him were for the purpose of just getting to know each other. He wanted to get to know us, our likes & dislikes. From these initial conversations, we sat down with him and he’d have the current layout of our house on a table. He would then lay some tracing paper on top of it and would start throwing ideas at us. He’d sketch suggestions on top of our current configuration while continually asking us questions. There were a number of crumpled papers tossed into the garbage. We (I can’t strongly emphasize this point!) finally came up with a new layout. We were completely involved in the concept phase. From that point forward, Friedemann and his team completed the architectural drawings based on our concepts and sketches, managed the project and all of its phases. Even now, they’re making sure that the last few things are completed properly and to the specifications that we had asked for. From concept to finished project, we now have our dream home that we always wanted.

Jennifer Frizzelle

Friedemann and his team assisted us with our "whole house" design. My husband originally was adamant that we could figure out our kitchen ourselves; two hours into our first meeting, he was writing a check to Friedemann. He is practical, thorough, inspiring, and has created a home that is far beyond what we could have ever imagined. We still use his tips and mantras when decorating. He is an advocate for his clients and protects your interests. We are so happy to watch the design awards roll in for Design First as they are well, well deserved. First rate all the way.