DMS Design Associates

DMS Design Associates and Dana helped me weave my existing home design and esthetic into a layered, sophisticated look. We are seniors with a lot of years and sentimentality to either integrate or set aside. She thought of new ways to use our rooms and accessories, while consulting on and helping me integrate new purchases seamlessly, making better use of money and resources. Plus you could not ask for a more thoughtful, compassionate consultant. She really listens and observes. You can see the wheels turning as she gently guides you away from cliches and into the eureka of fresh ideas. I have no hesitation in hiring DMS for my next complete room renovation. She has fully earned our trust!

Dana Lehmer has done outstanding work for me, as well as for friends and relatives in DC, MD and VA. She is unique because of her extensive familiarity with all the trades (framing, carpentry, plumbing, electrical/lighting, flooring, handyman, decorating, landscaping, etc.) and knows how to obtain very high quality results from each. She has cleverly and beautifully solved some very hard problems in a way that saved me tons of money while on very tight budgets. She makes thoughtful assessments and can give quick estimates for a range of creative options.

The focus of my living room is my art collection, so I keep my furniture to a minimum. I choose to have my sofa/couch recovered, as I felt the style and scale to the room worked. Prior to the selection of materials we visited the Design Center, maybe another sofa would be found. After many were viewed we decided to concentrate on my sofa. Dana suggested that we should allow her upholsterers to strengthen the internal wood work as I wanted this very good couch to last, we also examined many fabrics, and I was able to have all the samples we selected with me for a while. Dana told me about the various fabrics which made me more aware of what was available and what she thought would work as well. I appreciated her knowledge and respected all that she did. The couch is at the center of a beautiful living room and once all the art is taken in, when seated the next thing I always hear, what a gorgeous couch.

Dana has a fabulous eye, mixing colors and patterns for an amazing effect. She has done a great job placing furniture I have and making suggestions for additional pieces to make the room pop!

I hired Dana Lehmer at DMS Design Associates even before I purchased my condominium and I am so glad that I did! I was in the market for a “fixer upper” in order to maximize my limited funds. When I saw a condo that I thought might work for my purposes, I called Dana and she immediately came with me to see the unit, which had served as an office for the past 30 years and had never been updated. While looking at the condo she came up with several unique ideas on the spot on how to renovate it to make it more functional. More importantly she immediately knew my personal aesthetic after one visit to my previous house. During the renovation, when the contractor ran into a problem on the lighting plan due to unforeseen construction details in my ceiling, Dana was immediately on the spot to quickly come up with a workable alternate plan. Based on her creative vision and impeccable design talents, the renovation was stunning! The project was done on time and on budget. When I moved into my condo, Dana helped me set up my furniture. I had always enjoyed doing this myself in the past and believed I was good at it. But she gave me decorating ideas that never would have occurred to me. I have received many compliments on my renovated condo. In fact, people in my building come to see my unit when they are thinking of renovating their own. I highly recommend using a designer to assist you when you are moving. I especially recommend DMS Design Associates – you won’t be sorry!

DMS Design Associates does excellent work. Over the years Dana has helped me design four separate locations, my office and then my moves from an apartment to a townhouse to a large ranch condo. Easily grasping my decorative taste, even as it changed, she made recommendations ranging from fabric and furniture to knocking down walls and reconstructing spaces that led to a beautiful result each time.

I hired Dana in 2006 when we first purchased our home. She has counseled me on projects both large (e.g., the interior renovation of our second floor, the renovation of our master bath, a whole-house lighting plan) and small (selecting appropriate size and fabric for a new sofa, customizing store-bought curtains). Dana has a complete vision for what the space could be - I think of her as much of an interior architect as an expert on lighting, fabrics, color, etc. Most recently in 2015, I hired her for two projects. The first was to rearrange our existing furniture to create a cozy living room. She brought along two professionals movers who lifted furniture and carpets around my three-level home under her direction. When my six-year-old twin sons came home that evening, they excitedly ran from room to room and exclaimed, "It's like we live in a REAL house now!" The second project was to refurnish our master bedroom. Dana helped me select a paint color to go with our new(er) curtains, and also fabrics for our new headboard and bedspread, and case goods. Dana is great to work with, and is eager to work with your existing pieces. The end result is a home that looks like you, only prettier and cozier.

Dana has wonderful taste and an excellent understanding of natural stone. She likes to experiment and learn about new products. She is able to envision a project with just a small sample inspiration. Pleasure to work with.