Testimonials
Jennifer and her ace team are some of the most talented, professional, organized, energetic, and genuine people I have ever worked with anywhere, in any industry. At the outset, Nifelle Design made every effort to understand us: our taste, our style, our budget, our design aspirations, and our lifestyle needs (3 kids!). They oversaw a project that ranged from room conceptualization to built-in design to lighting to carpet and flooring selection to new furniture to the literal kitchen sink. On top of managing hundreds of details big and small, Jennifer ponders client questions at all hours of the day–even those that are only tangentially related to her project portfolio. Her taste is exquisite but her thinking is grounded in practicality; somehow, she sacrifices neither. She knows and works with the most talented local craftspeople–installers, artisans, technicians, you name it–all of whom admire her as much as her clients do. I can say with confidence that absent the dedicated expertise of Nifelle, our house would not be the home, sweet home that we love. Rarely would I seek an opportunity to undertake a new home project, but I’m eager to work with Nifelle Design again. Under Jennifer’s leadership, what is notoriously a laborious, frustrating, and expensive process is instead fun, inspiring, and engineered, from start to finish, for long-term success.
— Sarah & Ian (Lake Oswego)Jennifer and her team are amazing – a first class act. It’s really true – once you start with one area you just want to keep going. I’ve worked with Team Nifelle on two different projects – one being a complete remodel of a second home and then redoing and freshening up areas in a home we built 18 years ago. Her office staff and designers on her team are top notch. I can say that I look forward to each time a meeting is scheduled – lots of creative energy flows. And the results are fantastic. Jennifer has patiently worked with me through lots of questions and many doubts – and it has all turned out beautifully. You can trust Jennifer and her team for the very best of it all.
— Cindy (NW Skyline)We love it all – walking into the rooms you designed makes us so happy! Everything is just so beautiful!
— Sara & Mike (NE Portland)What a wonderful experience we had working with Nifelle Design! It’s hard for me to know where to begin since every part of design process and installation was top notch. While we have been in our home for ten years, our living room, dining room and foyer have never been quite finished. Jennifer chose gorgeous rugs for each of these spaces along with lighting, a fantastic storage piece, lamps and a beautiful mirror in our foyer. The fabric chosen to reupholster our dining room chairs has given the room an entirely different feel. In addition to her expertise and that of her colleague Kristina, Jennifer has a repertoire of sub-contractors who are top notch. Jennifer and her team go the extra mile and they clearly love what they do. Our project was finished on time and on budget and it’s fabulous. I can’t wait to work with Nifelle Design again!
— Sara (Fairway Road)Jennifer is simply amazing.
She patiently and successfully managed a husband and wife with competing and confusing points of view about design aesthetics and budgets. Yet in the end, because of her tastes and talents, we couldn’t be happier.
She’s fun, enthusiastic, smart and sensible. Jennifer is an excellent listener with a remarkable eye. Whether you are insecure about your tastes or confident about your vision, Jennifer has the experience, skills and creativity to transform your home brilliantly.
Not to mention she’s a blast to work with.
— Tom & Martha (SW Westwood View)My experience with – Nifelle has been nothing short of FANTASTIC!!! Jennifer and her team are incredibly talented and efficient. I have a very busy mom/work life and she and her team have been so accommodating with scheduling installations. Perfect balance of fun and elegant!!!! Her product knowledge and suggestions are spot on! She came prepared for every meeting with my exact visions. I strongly recommend Nifelle Design.
— Christi & Jay (SW Breyman)WARNING! If you choose Jennifer as your designer you will find it hard to stop with one room. We began with a den and then quickly moved on to the living room. Both projects showed Jennifer to be a consummate professional who was able to enhance our own ideas and personal taste and create lovely, comfortable spaces within our budget. I appreciated her honesty when she disagreed with our choices. Her attention to detail shines – a little trim here, a contrasting color, a unique piece of furniture. All of the work was done to perfection from the reupholster to the curtains. Along with her decorating talent, Jennifer is so much fun to work with! Her up-beat and relaxed personality is filled with smiles and laughter. Why would anyone choose anyone else?
— Elizabeth & Charlie (SW Hills)Having never hired a decorator, I was concerned that my vague explanation of wanting to update the look of my living room would result in a room that reflected the designer but not me. Jennifer listened closely, paid attention to the art and other treasures I wanted to include, got the scale and fabrics just right, and created a beautiful room that is warm, inviting, and just the right degree of casual elegance I wanted but had trouble articulating. She is professional in every way, and I hope to have her help on future projects.
— Barbara (Dunthorpe)Hiring Jennifer Leonard was one of the best decisions we ever made! I had a solid idea of what I wanted because there wasn’t an interior design magazine or website I hadn’t thoroughly scoured before selecting Jennifer. However, knowing what you want and being able to pull it together in a cohesive story, while adding personal touches and ensuring furniture scale and colors are perfect, is not for your average layperson! That ability comes second nature to Jennifer.
Jennifer was able to source options not available from a retailer, as well as custom designs. We ordered many custom furniture pieces and carpets through Jennifer, and I really appreciate that she stood by our choices. She worked with vendors to ensure we were thoroughly happy with everything placed in our home.
Jennifer is a great designer because she has impeccable taste and style; she is a pleasure to be around because she is warm, kind and fun! We love our house and we love Jennifer!!
— Rae & Eric (SW Vista)I can’t tell you what a joy it has been to live in these rooms this last year – it feeds our souls!
— Kathleen and Jim (Laurelhurst)Working with Nifelle Design was an absolute pleasure from beginning to end. Jennifer took our general rule of “modern but warm” and added a touch of Africa as a nod to our country of origin. She produced a final outcome that made our high-rise home in the Cosmopolitan a welcoming, exceptionally comfortable, haven in the sky.
Nifelle Design brought many excellent resources to our project that we doubt could be found at any other single firm. With the largest sample library in the region, it was easy and efficient to find exactly what we were looking for.
Being a second-generation designer, Jennifer draws on an extensive network of relationships throughout the design world – a fact that turned out to be very useful on more than one occasion. Two examples: our project required the services of a general contractor as well as a cabinet maker and, of course, Jennifer knew just the right people. When we asked for low-profile, upholstered, swivel chairs without a visible base, Jennifer knew just the source. The list goes on.
We are particularly pleased with our Nifelle-designed, custom built bar. The concern was that it would be too bulky and dominate the limited space or obstruct the beautiful views of the city, so one of Jennifer’s in-house designers (Kristina Bonadurer) came up with a streamlined concept drawing which was then used to design the actual bar. The master cabinet maker loved the challenge – producing the curved split-level granite & glass counter tops and arching zebrawood base were not trivial, but the end result was well worth it.
Our great room now has four functional areas (five, if you count the balcony with Nifelle-supplied teak furniture). Our inner hallway has just enough to keep the eye pleasantly occupied, while our master suite is a luxurious feast for the senses. Finally, our son has the room of his dreams, and let’s not forget my personal, insanely beautiful den office, as well as our perfect little guest bathroom.
Thank you Jennifer!
— Ian & Melinda (Cosmopolitan on the Park)Jennifer was an absolute dream to work with. She’s got a perfect eye for color, fabrics and design and was able to quickly find things I loved. I’ve gotten so many compliments on my house and I’m delighted with the way everything turned out. Plus, she’s just one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and made what can often be a stressful experience into something really fun. I highly recommend her!
— AliceGray (Grant Park)We called Nifelle Design because we needed window treatments in one bright room-and maybe a little help pulling together the “modern traditional” look we wanted in our family-oriented home. After one meeting with Jennifer, I was hooked. She listened to us and quickly understood our aesthetic and the challenges of bringing that aesthetic to a home with children and dogs.
The Nifelle team used the things I loved while helping us select new pieces that would work perfectly in our space. From furniture to wallpaper to accessories, every item we selected feels like a new treasure. Jennifer’s attention to detail, prompt service, and fabulous taste made the whole process easy. Her warm personality and joyful spirit made the process fun!
Jennifer and Kristina brought fresh ideas to achieve the perfect blend of traditional but modern in a house that needs to function for a family. The thoughtful design captures what we like and how we live; for us, that balance is what good design is all about.
— Sandy (Portland Heights)After selling our home of 30 years, we were ready for a change, still had pieces we loved and wanted to incorporate them into our new home. Jennifer’s skilled professionalism plus her wonderful, easy personality was perfect. She listened to what we wanted, didn’t overwhelm us with paint colors, lighting catalogs and furniture materials, rather, she researched what we had expressed our vision was, brought in samples, ideas and a talent to introduce new looks that would blend well with what we were after. She transformed our interior into a beautiful home. Her attention to detail was always in focus, a true professional who loves what she does and cares for her clients.
We were thrilled that as we moved from the interior to the exterior Jennifer’s nurseryman’s license allowed us to buy both planters and plant material at very reasonable prices. Lastly, Jennifer is a joy, her talents are clearly evident, and she as a person is very special. I would and have recommended her to friends. Jennifer has made a wonderful home for us.
— Gainor & Phil (NW Hills)We hired Nifelle Design to freshen up our furnishings and decor in our “Vernonia Villa”. From our very first meeting I knew I had made the right choice for us. Jennifer and her team are incredibly professional but also know how to make the whole experience enjoyable and fun. I really appreciated how Jennifer was interested in how we wanted our home to feel and how we “lived” in our home. The project included all new living room and dining room furnishings, new lighting in various areas, reupholstering of some chairs and new decor throughout the home. The end result is more than I could have hoped for, we love coming home to the warm and welcoming feel of our home.
— Marcie & Rick (Vernonia Villa)Jennifer and her team are real pros – five stars all the way! Jennifer has a great eye for color and design, is up on current trends, and is extremely knowledgeable about fabrics. Beyond that, she’s smart and super fun to work with. And she’s incisive. When I found myself getting bogged down during the decision-making process, she quickly but respectfully got me back on track.
We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out and would absolutely call Nifelle Design in the future if a need arose.
— Kathy (NE Bungalow)I highly recommend Jennifer Leonard. She has great taste, truly cares about her clients, and is a delight to work with. Jennifer helped me decorate my first house, and she has a lot of patience for design newbies like me. I am so grateful for her help in transforming what was a generic house into a warm and welcoming home.
— Blythe (Chehalem Glenn)Six months after our wedding my husband and I purchased our first home together. Our eclectic Southwest hills home was originally built-in 1890, with a modern kitchen addition and renovation of the main floor family space occurring several years ago. As newlyweds, we quickly realized that blending our furniture and individual styles was going to be a challenge. We recognized the need for a third-party to blend our aesthetics and help create an overall design flow to the house. After interviewing a designer who was not interested in working with us in a collaborative way, I grew weary of the idea entirely. I eventually found Nifelle Design through the firm’s rave reviews on Angie’s List. At the time of our initial meeting I was four months pregnant and eager to have a finished home to bring our son home to. After meeting with Jennifer I immediately felt comfortable with her aesthetic and approach.
I wanted an acquired look but it needed to be brought together quickly, before my son was born. With Jennifer’s guidance our home is now filled with custom window coverings, hand-knotted rugs, incredible art, and a beautiful collection of refurbished antiques mixed with new upholstery pieces. Sentimental family pieces were incorporated into the design as well. My mother’s Chinese silk rug became the inspiration piece for the guest room and several chairs have been thoughtfully reupholstered and given a second lease on life.
It was important to me to be involved in every decision of the process, so Jennifer and I worked closely together to first draft up a plan and then begin filling in the spaces. She thoughtfully considered my requests, and brought me options at different price points for each room. Knowing that my husband has more modern tastes than I, Jennifer made suggestions for modern light fixtures and touches in several rooms to balance our styles. Each room is unique in design while still fitting into the greater picture of the house. My absolute favorite room is my son’s nursery. It is, in my opinion, completely magazine-worthy!
Jennifer worked with relentless enthusiasm and professionalism that made it a real joy to have her around. She had a broad set of talents that make her the perfect companion to an antique store or art gallery.
Nifelle Design has become my one-stop shop for all our design-related needs. Jennifer has a nurseryman’s license and replenished my indoor orchids as needed. She has even been known to plant new flowers in the outside planters, which leaves my husband thoroughly confused, as he knows I have never planted a thing in my life! During the holiday, I asked Jennifer if she would decorate both the exterior and interior of our home. Our home (and especially our tree) was a showpiece.
Our home is beautiful and a joy to come home to. Our friends and family marvel at how beautiful it turned out, and at how functional and useable our furniture is. It has been a wonderful experience working with Jennifer and her team, and I can’t imagine our house being as perfect without her.
— Leslie & Devon (SW Greenleaf Drive & SW Elizabeth)Jennifer Leonard has brought style and pizzazz to my home furnishing. She has an eye for understated elegance and luxurious comfort. We have used her skills in our city and vacation homes and could not be more pleased with the results.
— Carol & Phil (South Waterfront Portland, Oregon; Wailua Bay, Kauai and Black Butte Ranch, Oregon)When we found Jennifer Leonard, we originally only needed help with transforming our bonus room into a study for our children that could also double as an extra bedroom when family and guests come to visit. We were so incredibly happy with how she transformed our misused bonus room (that honestly had become a dumping room for unwanted toys and miscellaneous items) into a functional and calming study space for our two children that we decided to have Jennifer help us with refreshing the rest of our home.
Jennifer’s easy-going personality is perfectly balanced by her attention to detail, her extensive knowledge of fabric, lighting, and furnishings and, most importantly, her sensitivity to our budget and taste. Jennifer was an absolute pleasure to work with – always the consummate professional with our needs first and foremost every time. We were always confident that Jennifer was listening intently because she would only present us with materials that were consistent with our budget and tastes at every meeting. She transformed our entire residence into an elegant, warm and welcoming home. We would highly recommend Jennifer for any and all of your fine interior design needs – with Jennifer’s expertise, you will absolutely fall in love with your home all over again!
— Ria & Reagan (NW Portland)When the President’s mansion at Willamette University was due for a redesign, we selected Jennifer Leonard. The historic Otto Johnson House in the Fairmount Historic District in Salem is not only home to my family, but the reception areas on the main floor are used for numerous University and community events. Jennifer achieved a perfect balance for us between livability and style. The look is both timeless and fresh, and compliments the history of the house.
In addition to a complete main-floor remodel (including paint selection, furnishings, rugs, window treatments, lighting, and accessories), Jennifer was commissioned to source local artists to feature in our spaces. We are thrilled with the results and enthusiastically recommend her work.
— Dr. M. Lee Pelton, President, Willamette UniversityWhat I liked most about Jennifer was her expertise, professionalism and her kindness.
— Doug & Julie (West Linn)Jennifer has been a delight to work with. I had previously worked with another design group in town with whom I had been quite displeased. Jennifer, on the other hand, was very responsive, sensitive to our budget, accessible and easy to work with. She had wonderful ideas, yet at the same time was quite willing to involve me in the creative process. She never made me feel that any of my questions were silly and always explained things thoroughly.
Jennifer was good about pointing out areas in which we could save money so that we could spend more money in the areas where it really counted. She was always tactful. We have some other areas in our house that could use her expert touch and will definitely hire her again once we’re ready to tackle those projects.
— Kristin & Dwain (Ladd’s Addition)