Business Details
28 Years
experience
Your Trusted Interior Design Partner in Mountain West & West Coast
Design Matters has been transforming homes into personalized spaces of Livable Luxury for nearly 25 years. Our award-winning team partners with clients to create interiors that reflect their unique lifestyles while harmonizing architecture and natural environments. With expertise in coastal, mountain, and valley regions, we offer end-to-end design services from concept to installation. Our process combines spatial innovation, material curation, and project management to deliver functional yet aesthetically balanced spaces. We maintain long-standing relationships with artisans and vendors to ensure quality craftsmanship and exclusive design elements.Our showrooms provide hands-on experiences for material selection and design visualization. Led by founder Julie Cavanaugh, our team brings decades of combined experience in residential design across Northern California, Wine Country, and mountain communities. We prioritize client collaboration throughout every project phase, from initial consultation to final styling. Our Livable Luxury philosophy emphasizes timeless design that evolves with homeowners' needs. With ASID-certified professionals and licensed designers, we uphold industry-leading standards in every project.
Services
Interior Design
Space Planning
Material Selection
Showroom Consultation
Project Management
Furnishing Services
3D Renderings
Custom Cabinetry
Lighting Design
Home Staging
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- 25 years of expertise in residential interior design
- Client-focused approach with personalized design solutions
- Livable Luxury philosophy combining form and function
- Access to exclusive materials through trusted vendor partnerships
- Award-winning team with ASID-certified professionals
Associations and certifications
- ASID
- CID#5922
What people say
Brilliant at what she does
Immense amount of value
Passion for her craft
Contagious enthusiasm
Outstanding work effort
Services
Interior Design
Our interior design service creates personalized spaces that reflect your lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. We combine functional layouts with curated materials to achieve Livable Luxury environments. The process begins with a comprehensive consultation to understand your needs and budget, followed by customized design solutions that harmonize with your home's architecture. Our team manages every detail from concept development to final installation.
Material Selection
Material selection services help you choose optimal finishes for flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and textiles. We leverage industry relationships to access exclusive materials while ensuring selections align with your design vision. Our showroom displays and sample library allow hands-on evaluation of textures and colors. We coordinate material procurement and delivery to maintain project timelines.
Project Management
Project management ensures seamless execution of design plans through construction phases. We coordinate with architects, contractors, and vendors to maintain design integrity. Services include schedule coordination, specification documentation, and on-site supervision during installations. Our team handles logistics to guarantee timely completion of cabinetry, lighting, and finishing details.
3D Renderings
3D renderings provide realistic visualizations of proposed designs before implementation. Using CAD and digital tools, we create detailed spatial representations to help clients visualize final outcomes. This service supports informed decision-making about layouts, materials, and architectural details. Renderings help identify potential adjustments before construction begins.
Furnishing Services
Our furnishing services curate cohesive interiors that reflect your personal style. We source high-quality furniture, lighting, and decor from trusted vendors while ensuring proper scale and functionality. Quick-ship options and custom upholstery solutions accommodate various timelines. The team manages delivery, placement, and styling for polished, inviting spaces.
People
Julie Cavanaugh
Founder and Principal Interior Designer
ASID-certified designer with 25+ years experience creating Livable Luxury interiors. Specializes in spatial relationships and material curation. Industry thought leader featured in media and academic institutions. Holds CID#5922 license since 2002.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We serve Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Northern California, and Wine Country regions with both remote and in-person services.
What design styles do you specialize in?
We work across multiple styles including Modern Mountain, Transitional, Contemporary, Traditional Luxury, and Mid-Century Modern. Our Livable Luxury approach adapts to client preferences.
Do you offer showroom consultations?
Yes, we have showrooms in Los Gatos, Menlo Park, and Utah with material displays and design experts available for consultations.
How does your design process work?
Our three-step process includes initial consultation and design development, material selection and ordering, followed by construction coordination and final installation.
Are you licensed interior designers?
Yes, our team includes ASID-certified professionals and licensed designers holding credentials like CID#5922.
Can you help with furniture selection?
Our Curated Furnishings service selects high-quality furniture, lighting, and decor that complements your space's architecture and personal style.
Reviews (7)
Diana P.
Oct 05, 2021
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I first used Design Matters in 2020 for a kitchen remodel. I really liked the designer's suggestions and knowledge of materials and suppliers. However, there were several problems along the way including mis-measuring the size of the sink (causing me additional return fees and time), not enough tile ordered for the backsplash (causing a week delay during construction), and not ordering the correct number of door knobs/drawer pulls (causing further delay in the completion of the project). When I started to plan for a bathroom remodel earlier this year my first thought was to select the materials
Shelby D.
Jul 31, 2020
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We discovered Design Matters and were impressed by the immense amount of value, knowledge, and expertise that they added to our project. We started engaging with Design Matters later in our process and wished we would have engaged much earlier with their team.. Ideally, at the same stage as with the Architect and Builder.
Julie and the Design Matters team reorganized the home layout for better function and flow, while guiding us on material selections. They provided industry expertise related to project oversight, project management, coordination with building professionals, detailed specification
Julie and the Design Matters team reorganized the home layout for better function and flow, while guiding us on material selections. They provided industry expertise related to project oversight, project management, coordination with building professionals, detailed specification
Sam B.
Feb 06, 2019
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Our company has worked with Design Matters on two high-end custom homes which required great communication and much attention to detail. Julie and her team were a pleasure to work with on both occasions and were highly professional. I look forward to working together again soon!
Joe R.
Oct 14, 2018
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Julie and team certainly are very well qualified and skilled design professionals. They have impeccable skills in terms of providing the right combination of design plans. Getting them to devote the right weekly time on your calendar and accounting it can however be a challenge - it appears they are overbooked.. other than this - I came out with great respect for the integrity and skills of everyone in the design team - especially Julie and wish them all the best !
Michelle B.
Sep 11, 2018
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Kinda flaky, they appear to be busy then when you finally get on the calendar and prepare a quote they don't return your calls. I waited to give them a second chance because I like the designer when she did respond but she scheduled an in home appt then changed it to another designer in the store. I didn't care for the experience.
W. D.
Jan 16, 2018
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We have been doing business with Design Matters now for many years and have had nothing but exceptional correspondence with every team member. Each member on their staff are extremely 'hands on' and trained professionals. We find in design that both creativity and the logistics side must be balanced if you are going to have a smooth transition for remodel, and these designers know that balance. The overall efficiency and quality of work at Design Matters, with Julie as their lead, will alleviate your concerns, but also streamline the entire process so that you and your family may enjoy
Kajari S.
Mar 30, 2017
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Julie and the Design Matters team are talented, responsive and professional. Julie has an amazing eye for creative design and has provided us such incredible insight and help in the remodel of our kitchen and bathrooms. We are constantly given great compliments from friends and family on how our house has been transformed. Julie has a clear passion and deep knowledge of interior design and can align the needs of her clients with options and ideas with top notch execution of projects Without a doubt, we HIGHLY recommend Design Matters!!
