Leslie Thornton Design

I was hesitant at first to hire a professional because I like to save money when possible. I know what I like and could pull it all together myself, right? WRONG. Hiring Leslie Stephens was the BEST investment we have made. Leslie’s attention to every detail, knowledge of color, shapes and sizes, ability to incorporate elements that I wanted to keep and finding affordable, one of a kind pieces to balance out the project was impeccable. Our living room and dining room redesign has exceeded my expectations. I found the process completely enjoyable because Leslie is a great communicator and designer. She created a storyboard of what the rooms would look like after meeting with me several times to look at fabrics, finishes, rugs, accessories, etc. Never did she overlook what was important to me but was sure to really listen and incorporate my desires with her vision to create two beautiful rooms in our home. I personally find Leslie’s professionalism, openness, kindness and expertise invaluable. She answered every call and question, kept me abreast of the time frame for completion, has incredible, strong relationships with world wide and local vendors and installers and saved me money wherever possible. What started out as us hiring a designer turned into a dear friendship. So, when I sit in my living and dining rooms, where I have been since completion, by the way, and take in the cohesive, balanced, impeccable, gorgeous, thought out detail of every corner of the rooms, I am wowed and thrilled. Yes, the BEST investment we have ever made.

My husband and I recently moved from the suburbs to a beautiful historic home in Richmond's Fan District. We had never used an interior designer before but wanted to make our home a showcase. I asked for recommendations from friends and read reviews on Houzz. It was important to my husband and me that our designer be down to earth and for us to feel a connection to her. We could not have been happier with Leslie Stephens of Leslie Stephens Design. After meeting with us at our home, Leslie prepared storyboards for each of the rooms (our entire downstairs) with fabric, furniture, lighting and window treatment recommendations. She understood our budget concerns and was able to find less expensive substitutes when necessary. We wanted comfortable elegance and that is exactly what Leslie gave us. She was a delight to work with and I trusted her to the point where I got out of my "comfort zone" on some choices and I am so happy I did! My husband was very involved in the process (except for selecting pillows!) and he likewise was delighted with the results and with Leslie's approachable style and impeccable taste. We cannot recommend her highly enough!

Leslie and Brooke were a delight to work with! They are professional, creative, and thorough. Their attention to detail is impeccable! This particular project was new construction - a 5,000 square ft river house, and we hired Leslie to help us decorate the entire house. Decorating a house this size takes a lot of time, and I can be a bit picky, but Leslie and Brooke always had smiles on their faces while patiently spending hours helping us choose the perfect fabrics, furnishings, lighting, and accessories for our home. In our initial meeting, Leslie and Brooke took the time to get to know us, find out what we like and what we don't like. She also looked at my Pinterest boards to get an even better idea of my style. After fabrics were chosen, they created storyboards for each room to help us to better visualize what each room would look like. This was a special touch that I had never seen with other designers I've worked with. Leslie is budget conscious. I tend to like high-end fabrics. Who doesn't? Leslie and Brooke were very good at helping us figure out how to balance out those expensive fabrics with budget-friendly items in areas of the house where you don't need to spend an arm and a leg. The entire experience was a lot of fun, and we were truly in awe of the results. We knew it would be a beautiful home when it was done, but it went above and beyond our expectations. Everything from the beautiful fabrics to the fabulous light fixtures to the stylish accessories, it is all just perfect! We've received compliments from every single guest who has visited our home, and everyone wants to know who our amazing interior designer is. I highly recommend Leslie Stephens Design! We will definitely use them on our next project!

Leslie worked with me to update my living, dining and family rooms. She's so easy to work with -- she's thoughtful, creative, and professional. She helped me to think outside of the box to create livable but beautiful and fresh spaces for my busy family. She was great about communicating with me throughout the redesign to make sure we stayed within budget and met deadlines.

We had a wonderful experience working with Leslie. Leslie's design was creative, thoughtful and thorough. She was a pleasure to work with and very responsive. We look forward to working with her again!

Leslie provided the drawings for our master bath remodel. She turned around multiple options within a limited footprint. She listened carefully to our specific needs and must-haves. We remain impressed with her ability to provide interior design solutions to several complex issues. It is our pleasure to recommend Leslie Stephens for her attention to detail, professionalism and excellent eye for sophisticated, classic design.

I have been working with Leslie the last 5 years on my home in Richmond. She has excellent taste and always has creative solutions to problems. As we have done several projects together she knows exactly what I want and won't let me make a mistake!!! I can't recommend her highly enough.

Our Company has hired Leslie again and again to decorate our models and sales centers. We sell luxury homes at the upper end of the pricing limits in our market. Leslie's professionalism and ease to work with is far superior than any other firm I have worked with in the past. Leslie listens and asks what your goals are and what you envision, she then directs you where she thinks it should go and finalizes her selections. Her ability to take what you want or what you think you want and create a pallet that is far superior to anything you could imagine is absolutely priceless. What I feel to be the biggest compliment to Leslie is that so many of our home owners use her to help her after they purchase a home from us. I have seen many people change who they have used for multiple years and homes to use Leslie and gain her expertise and vision through out their home. Thank you, Gumenick Properties

Leslie designed our master bedroom and bathroom. She created the most beautiful and elegant space for us; it's truly an oasis. She was able to interpret my design style (which I didn't know how to describe) and stick to our budget. She offered plenty of choices and handled the details making the renovation/remodel smooth and stress-free. I highly recommend Leslie Stephens Design!

Leslie did a fabulous job on the butler's pantry in the Richmond Symphony Designer House. The final gestation period of her son must have fueled her creativity for this project as well. It was spectacular.