Artistic Designs For Living

Before selecting a design firm, my partner and I visited over 50 firms’ web pages and read hundreds of online client reviews. Because we had very limited time and needed extensive project management as well as design assistance, we were looking for a full-​service company that also had a unique design POV, was mindful of budget, and wasn’t afraid of color.
Artistic Designs for Living (ADL) lived up to all of our expectations. Over the past 18 months, ADL has designed and project-​managed project after project for us; the truth is, we loved their work SO much, we kept bringing them back until they had redesigned our entire house as well as our garage and our patio!
Sonya Manning was the lead designer for all of our projects – and we absolutely LOVE her! Sonya is remarkably creative – both adventurous and one-​of-​a-​kind in her point of view yet with amazing taste and restraint. We loved working with Sonya because she was one of the kindest and most patient professionals we’ve ever worked with, and she really listened to our needs and wants (for example, we wanted pet-​friendly materials, and she worked hard to find options that were both beautiful and durable). Sonya has a subtle and inclusive way of working with clients, giving us multiple options for furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, lighting, and other materials (across a continuum of price points) so that WE could make the decision on everything that ended up in our home. Because Sonya carefully screened all the options in advance to make sure all of them would work, our rooms were beautifully coordinated – even though we participated. This made us really feel like an important part of the process and ensured we were truly bought in to the final result.
Sonya managed all of the dozens of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers who worked on our house over the course of the many projects, and when there was an occasional issue with a contractor or supplier, she took care of it swiftly without us having to do anything.
The results of Sonya’s artful design and skillful project management were extraordinary: our home was a finalist in the 2013 California Home + Design Awards competition!
While it’s nice to have our home recognized by the design community, what really matters is that we LOVE coming home every evening! My partner and I have said that it’s like living in a piece of art – a one-​of-​a-​kind masterpiece created just for us. Thank you, Sonya, Tineke, and the entire ADL design team for bringing joy and inspiration to our lives through your magnificent design.

I initially didn’t have a great review on here because we ran into some problems with the designer we were using from Artistic Designs (who is no longer working for them). I ended up meeting with the owner Tineke and she went out of her way to make sure that things were made right. She not only fixed what was wrong but came up with some amazing ideas and covered the cost to make things better. She cares so much about her business and that the customer is happy with the project. She has followed up with us several times and has been easy to communicate with. She has an amazing eye and talent that is hard to find. I would definitely recommend her.

I have had the opportunity to work with Tineke and most of her staff over the years. I find the sheer depth of knowledge: locations, customization, pricing, shipping issues and more to be an excellent time-​saver (important in this business). She takes a great idea, builds upon it, she must sleep and shower thinking about it and takes the project to a new level. Again and again! She truly seems to listen and care how here clients live and wants to satisfy that wish in a beautiful way. Love your work on Houzz! z k

I am not sure the people who wrote bad reviews are talking about the same Tineke who worked on my house. let me tell you this. She is fantastic and knows her stuff. That is why she has been ranked one of the top interior designer in the bay area.
You know she knows her stuff when you look at the work she has done.
And yes, if you want to go on the cheap, o to home depot when you need some real work done to your kitchen or bathroom, you need a pro with a vision and Tineke and her team can offer that. I am really happy with the work they have done.

We remodeled most of our 1500 square foot flat. The job included the kitchen and bath. In addition we added a 2^nd half bath. Honestly, I can’t imagine tackling a job of this scope without someone like Tineke. Exactly like Tineke! I’ll use her services again some day I’m sure. She brings her entire network to bear on the project (Carpenters, Cabinet Makers, Appliance Dealers, Painters, General Contractors, etc.). Therefore, you’re not just getting wonderful design and finish advice, she helps assemble and organize the entire team.
This project was painless compared to past experiences where I tried to manage the various contractors myself. The design phase was interactive, with multiple sessions taking our feedback into account. We iterated on the plan until we arrived at something that was mutually agreeable and within budget.
My wife was pregnant with our first child at the time. Tineke has two children of her own and she supplied «family friendly» touches that remind us of her each and every day. In addition, her involvement made a big difference in the level of service we received from the various sub-​contractors and dealers. She’s got fantastic style. We were thrilled with all aspects of the finished product right down the to fixtures, color palette, and trims. Finally, she’s responsive and a people person. Give her a call if you’re considering a home improvement of any shape or size.

Tineke and her team oversaw a major remodeling project for me and my partner. This involved space planning, design, and project management. Now that we’re in the house, there isn’t one thing we would change. Besides having a great sense of design, Tineke saved us hours and hours of work by understanding our overall design sense and presenting solutions, most of which we loved without having to do further research.
However, when we did want more ideas or options, she came back with great choices.
Her work in kitchens and bathrooms is really exceptional.
Finally, this is an Edwardian house that we didn’t want to completely modernize. Tineke maintained the «bones» of the original house while introducing more modern elements where they made sense.

I completely gutted my house and I interviewed a couple of designers. I immediately liked Tineke because she gave me a fixed bid and came to the project open to my ideas and desires.
I find her designs timeless, functional, and of course beautiful. Her natural style is very adaptable to any house and personality, but she is also able to embrace and highlight the inherent style of any home or client.
During the design process, I felt very comfortable working with Tineke and her staff. I had no problem communicating my budget constraints, likes and dislikes. As much as I valued her design talent, I found her implementation experience even more valuable. She worked very well with my contractor, was able to answer questions quickly and therefore, the project was not delayed one minute due to her.
Tineke is the real deal and a complete package. I would use her again in a heartbeat.

Tineke brought her creative eye to my Bernal Heights home. It needed ALOT of TLC and I was so overwhelmed I didn’t even know where to begin. Tineke brought her brilliant perspective and wonderful skills to my home. She gave my home new life. Thanks, Tineke!