Praise
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CLIENTS
She is honest, professional, and tough when she needs to be…
I worked with Valerie on an extensive remodel on a house I bought in the spring of 2015. I had a lot of things I wanted to do. There were structural changes, a full kitchen rebuild, two bathroom remodels, new floors, a ton of work that needed to be done outside, and I had a budget with resale in mind. I also was going to be out of state for the summer and wanted the house to be done when I got back in September.
I was so happy to find Design Directions and have them help with this project. Before buying the house, Valerie met with me and provided a detailed budget of what it would cost to do what I wanted. She took the time to get prices on everything I asked for and worked with my realtor to decide if it made financial sense to go forward with the project.
Valerie and I worked together to come up with the design and style of my new home. She understood what I wanted and had great ideas to add to my vision for the home. We spent a lot of time sharing photos on Houzz and running around town looking at countertops, tile, and appliances to fit the home.
The Design Directions team was on top of this project from the start. She made sure the work was done well and on time. Even though I was out of town for the summer I always felt like I knew exactly what was going on in the remodeling process. Valerie was great at communicating with me every step of the way through calls, texts, pictures, and video.
I love my new house. I was very lucky to find Valerie. We got along right away. She is honest, professional, and tough when she needs to be. She executed a very big project in a relatively short amount of time. I still keep in touch with Valerie and still reach out to her if anything comes up with the house and she is always there to help. Thanks to Valerie I had a great experience with this remodel. I would highly recommend her to anyone.
Nick Collison
I cannot say enough great things…
I cannot say enough great things about the job Valerie and the entire Design Directions staff (thank you Angel and Keith) did in taking a shared vision and bringing it to fruition. The project was much more than just decorating or remodeling; she designed the entire new build house, from the contemporary architecture down to the door knobs. Valerie listened to my broad vision and then brought spectacular details and elements together that exceeded expectations.
We worked without a formal budget but she was always conscious of costs and provided options on where we may splurge for dramatic effect or where we may want to compromise for cost savings. During the entire project I never felt like we wasted money or overspent on any of the dramatic features of the house or furnishings.
We have lived in the house for about a month and I can honestly say I don't have a favorite room or feature. That is because the entire house flows from room to room into one seamless "wow", but is also comfortable and livable.
If you are looking for a team with talent, ideas, and a desire to please the client then don't hesitate to call Valerie and Design Directions. They can make it happen for you.
Mike McLaughlin
Valerie and her team go above and beyond in every aspect…
This is our second time working with Design Directions and we couldn’t be happier with our nearly whole house remodel! Valerie and her team go above and beyond in every aspect. From start to finish they took any stress out of the process and let us be as involved or as hands off as we wanted. Valerie worked around our busy schedule to communicate progress, make decisions, and keep us on our timeline. They listened to our goals, understood our taste, and ensured the work was done right. We can truly say that we are living in our dream home all thanks to Design Directions!
Jessica Hoang
Professional, flexible, fun, always available…
I highly recommend Design Directions! Valerie and her team were absolutely wonderful to work with...professional, flexible, fun, always available for questions/concerns and of course have gorgeous designs for any space! She has transformed our kitchen and we couldn't be happier! Thank you Valerie and the DD Team!
Lori Howard
So grateful for their eye for design and quality work!
When we moved into our house the kitchen was such an eyesore, Valerie and team have transformed it into a space I don’t want to leave! So grateful for their eye for design and quality work!
Emily Kroon
I was truly humbled to see the results and see the vision come to life…
Hiring Valerie, Keith and the rest of their team was without a doubt the best decision my husband and I made. I had never used an interior designer before and to be honest, I was a bit intimidated but I trusted my friends recommendation and made the call and very glad I did. Our house needed several updates and all the promises that they made were delivered beyond our expectations AND UNDER BUDGET! The whole team was amazing to work with in slowly creating the home of our dreams. The crew that was in our house on a day to day basis was on time, attentive, clean and respectful. With any older home, unexpected problems can arise and they handled the problems immediately and Valerie worked as if it was her own home and I cannot say thank you enough for that. I was truly humbled to see the results and see the vision come to life.
This was just the first round of remodel that we intend to do on our home and when we are ready for the second, Design Directions will be my first phone call.
Lauren Stuart
The modern home of our dreams…
Valerie completely transformed our 70-year-old house to the modern home of our dreams.
We bought our 1950s home for its location and knowing that we had a remodel project on our hands. Our previous house was a similar project that we took on without a designer... (never again). The experiences were night and day. Valerie listened to our design preferences; she showed us 3D renderings of her ideas; she provided an accurate budget; and she coordinated EVERYTHING while keeping us informed. We didn't have to lift a finger. And the finished product is better than we could have ever imagined.
In addition to remodeling our home, Valerie helped us fill it with beautiful furniture. Her access to manufacturers allowed her to find timeless pieces that we couldn't access on our own. Having her furnish our remodeled home was the "cherry on top" and enhanced an already-amazing experience. We still have to pinch ourselves.
In short, Valerie and her team nailed it. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. It is easy for us to recommend Design Directions to friends and family, and we will be repeat clients for future projects
Brandon Patrick
Professional, courteous, and kind…
Valerie and her crew were phenomenal. Everyone that she brought into our home was professional, courteous, and kind. They treated my wife, our dog, and myself with the utmost respect. Everyone was flexible and willing to work around my sporadic work schedule as a medical resident.
It was immediately obvious that they took their work seriously and that craftsmanship was a top priority. On top of it all, they exceeded expectations with the quality of their work. I cannot recommend Design Directions highly enough. As long as Valerie is working in OKC, my wife and I will never use another home renovation company.
STEPHEN PILKINGTON
The end result is a beautiful, functional kitchen of the highest quality…
Design Directions (Valerie and Keith Helgelson) designed and remodeled my new kitchen and living room and beautifully handled every aspect of it from start to finish. I had several contractors look at the space and all of the ideas were very similar to what I had at the time until Valerie looked at it. She listened to what I was trying achieve and designed a beautiful new open space. After that, they managed all of the contractors and oversight. Knowing that my free time was very limited, Valerie sent pictures of items and brought samples to me so I didn’t have to go to the individual stores. They monitored all the activity and ensured the next contractor was in line and ready to go when it was time for plumbing, electrical, inspections, etc. resulting in an on-time and on-budget completion of the project. The end result is a beautiful, functional kitchen of the highest quality along with an updated living area that blends perfectly with the kitchen space. When I get ready for the next remodel, Design Directions will definitely be my only call.
Keren McLendon
I highly recommend Design Directions…
I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am in my new home. It’s almost unbelievable that this house is the same dark and dated one I bought less than a year ago! After looking at many of new and already remodeled homes that just didn’t fit the bill, I set my sights on buying one to remodel and make my own.
Valerie Helgeson with Design Directions worked with my realtor and I during the house hunting phase and when we finally found the right house, I hired her as my designer and general contractor. It was an extensive project with 3,000 square feet of living space that involved tearing down multiple interconnecting load bearing walls, installing steel beams in the ceiling, reconfiguring the entire floor plan, replacing much of the electrical and plumbing systems, landscaping front and backyards, decorating and furnishings. She worked with me patiently and expertly on material selections, and added lots of details specific to my needs. Now each room in my home is special and reflects my personal style. She was always cost conscious and communicative throughout the project, which helped to make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Now I have a beautiful home for myself, my dog, friends and family to enjoy. I highly recommend Valerie with Design Directions.
Julie Bishop
Beautiful result, and on time…
I had a great experience. Beautiful result, and on time and on budget! I would definitely recommend them to friends and neighbors.
Scott Hamilton
Greatly appreciated her attention to all details and overall project…
Valerie and the Design Directions team did a wonderful job creating a beautiful, bright and functional space out of our very dated master bath! I would highly recommend her expertise in the design process, greatly appreciated her attention to all details and overall project management. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and would use Design Directions on future projects!
Lynne Buskirk
Valerie made this project fun…
Valerie with Design Directions just finished a complete remodel of my master bathroom. I could not be happier with the outcome! It is so incredibly beautiful! Valerie has such an eye for great design and creating the space that you imagine. She went above and beyond what I could envision. Her knowledge and experience shined through during the remodel. And she kept me informed about what was happening which was so appreciated. I cannot wait to start another project with her. The kitchen remodel should begin soon and I am thrilled to see another fabulous room designed by Val!!
Susan Balkenbush
The results are even better than I expected…
I could not be more happy with the experience with Design Directions and Valerie. She understood my vision for a kitchen remodel almost immediately. The work started on time and stayed within budget. Valerie kept the sub-contractors and scheduling very organized. Not only that, but the same work from a similar design company in OKC was going to cost significantly more. The results are even better than I expected. Would definitely use again in the future!
Emily Pittman
On budget, ahead of schedule, and produced superior quality…
I cannot say enough good things about Valerie and Design Directions! I highly recommend them for any work you may be considering. They completely exceeded expectations when they re-designed our kitchen and bathroom. Most excitingly, the job was completed ahead of the originally estimated schedule.
There were very few days when someone was not working on the house. Additionally, workers were timely and typically worked full days. They itemized initial estimates and what is billed so you can easily see where your money is going and compare actuals to estimates. In summary, they were on budget, ahead of schedule, and produced superior quality and craftsmanship. I can’t wait to work with them again!
Rachel Henderson
She has a great sense of style…
Valerie is so talented and handled every part of my renovation, and coordinated all the timing and individuals needed to make the project flow quickly and seamlessly. She has a great sense of style and helped me choose every fixture and material to make my house look amazing, just my style, and affordable. Highly recommend her work.
Sara Enix
I will definitely be using Design Directions in the future…
I discovered Design Directions via the Houzz website trying to locate a professional to help with remodeling my kitchen. Valerie and her team did an amazing job with my total kitchen remodel. While this process could potentially have been a daunting experience, she made it so easy by being available daily to answer questions and walking me through the process. Every day the team worked exceptionally hard and made it a point to clean upon leaving.Our kitchen now looks absolutely fantastic and I’m thrilled with the way it turned out! I will definitely be using Design Directions in the future to make over my master bathroom!
Margo Maberry
Punctual and professional…
Valarie and her team did a fabulous job on my master bathroom. I’ve done several other projects and I’ve never had the positive experience that I had with Design Directions. Valerie is a great communicator. She kept me up-to-date every step of the way, let me be involved as much or as little as I wanted. She let me know if my selections were out of budget but also found ways to cut in other areas to make sure I got what I wanted. Her team was punctual and professional. The end result is a master bath that’s both beautiful and functional.
Kathy Oden-Hall
Working with Valerie Helgeson was a pleasure.
Renovating an entire house is daunting for the novice. However, Valerie made this project fun and as stress-free as possible. I now have a beautiful and unique contemporary home which we love. I intend to work with her again, and I can’t wait. Thank you, Valerie, for my beautiful home.
Susan Albright
Valerie Helgeson of Design Directions came to our rescue…
Recently, we had an unexpected remodel. After water damage that caused us to need all new flooring, baseboards, painting, and then some “while we’re at it” changes… we have a fabulous, new look in our home. Valerie Helgeson of Design Directions came to our rescue. We had worked with Valerie a few years back in a multiple-room refresh and knew her work quality, attention to detail, and care in the relationship of business was a great fit for us. Now with an emergency ahead of us and trying to coordinate a move-out, demo, documentation with our insurance company, and selecting things that we love but with short order times, we all had our work cut out for us. Three weeks later, Valerie had us back in our house. We sat back in amazement and gratitude and she gracefully orchestrated the scheduling of subcontractors in between her existing projects. Her solid relationships with local service providers helped us with the water restoration as well as the cosmetic renovation side of the puzzle. While we weren’t happy with our misfortunate, we can say now that a lot of good came from it because of Valerie and Design Directions.
Alan Davis
She delivers an incredible design…
Valerie and her crew always do an outstanding job. This is the second time I’ve used her services and both time she delivers an incredible design and brings you along to make decorative choices so you feel an ownership within the process.
Margo Maberry
Helped me choose the best design elements for my home…
Valerie has a beautiful eye for design! I was fortunate enough to have her help me with the remodel of my home. She saw my vision and helped me choose the best design elements for my home. I have seen many of her other remodels and design projects and she does absolutely beautiful work! Her before and after pictures are amazing! She does such a great job! She does not skimp on the details and puts her heart and soul into her work!! I absolutely recommend her to ANYONE!! She is extremely professional and a joy to work with.
Lauren Balkenbush
She has a great eye…
Valerie and the team have been a joy to work with. She has a great eye and really listens when I tell her things I like and don’t like. We’ve been doing a project together remotely between Oklahoma and Texas and I’m very pleased with the results!
Angela Fox
Her crew is friendly and knowledgeable and I always felt like they were true professionals…
We recently finished our second project with Valerie of Design Directions. Valerie and I hit it off from the first phone call. Her easy manner and willingness to listen to a client’s needs and wants are top-notch. She then came to our home and a plan of action was created. It has been such an easy process. We started with a hall bath remodel. It turned out great. Next in line was a complete remodel of the master bed/bath and closet redo. Her design and attention to detail all while including our input was awesome. Her crew is friendly and knowledgable and I always felt like they were true professionals and leaving them in my home while out. Valerie worked hard to stay within our budget (and did), was here daily, and was in continuous contact during the entire process. We couldn’t be more pleased with the space. It is gorgeous and what a transformation! We will use her in the future, no doubt. Awesome designer!
Holly R.
Valerie becomes your friend in the process…
Valerie Helgeson of Design Directions helped to create a dream kitchen in my home. I discovered Valerie by searching through designers listed on the houzz website. The photos of her past projects appealed to my taste and so I contacted her. I was a bit nervous about working with someone who I found on the internet, however, once I met with her the first time, I knew she’d be the perfect person for the job.
As other past clients have mentioned, Valerie becomes your friend in the process. She is very talented as a designer, conscientious, and always available to her clients. My kitchen space is now much more functional and as a bonus to that, it is also updated and very beautiful! I will, and have, recommended Valerie to others.
Kathy Fritz
Valerie was creative yet realistic…
Valerie orchestrated a recent home renovation for us in Val Verde. We bought a home that had been in our family and while it holds sentimental attachment for us, we needed a different form and function. Our project would entail the reconfiguration of rooms, the removal of walls, and a complete aesthetic change of the interior and exterior.
The home is modern style architecture built in 1987. Valerie was creative yet realistic as she helped us decide which original features to retain and which ones to alter. We envisioned a clean-lined, bright white palette with bold colors in art and accessories. Her hands-on care and suggestions helped us discover what we truly wanted in surfaces, fabrics, and colors. Something that would have overwhelmed us became easy with her direction and patience. Her communication skills exceeded expectations and we appreciated her progress reports as well as meeting our financial expectations. We enjoy our space and are constantly amazed at how well it all came together. It’s the perfect place for us to entertain family and friends as well as the easy living it provides us in our day-to-day life. Design Directions was a perfect fit for our designer and contractor. She guided us through what we wanted in a home and equally encouraged us to add our personality to things when we had an interest in doing so. We are very happy with the entire experience.
Erin Gayer
Valerie always has a smile on her face and is a pleasure to work with…
Valerie Helgeson, owner of Design Directions, re-designed the master bedroom of our home. She visited with me concerning my vision of how I wanted our room to look then used that vision to turn it into a wonderful escape with beautiful details that never would have occurred to me.
She designed the room around several treasured objects from our travels and added new items in a way that made it look very cohesive. All of this was done within our budget! Valerie always has a smile on her face and is a pleasure to work with. I would certainly employ her again and can’t recommend her highly enough!
Nancy Baxendale
Very professional and truly wanted every detail to be perfect for us…
Valerie was our main contractor and designer for a major remodel. From knocking down walls and raising ceilings to helping us pick out paint colors and installing hardware – she took care of every detail. We were amazed at how quickly our project was completed. Valerie was very professional and truly wanted every detail to be perfect for us. She also has a ton of resources available for choosing products. She became a good friend through the process and we highly recommend her for your project.
Kristy Simmons
Fantastic design ideas that blended well with our own…
My husband and I have remodeled several homes in the past and were referred to Valerie by a friend who had also utilized her expertise. Our project took about three months and Valerie was professional and very supportive through the process with fantastic design ideas that blended well with our own to give us a home that we adore and that feels like “us”. We are so thankful for her help and will only work with Design Directions for any future design endeavors.
Sean and Tammy Graham
She has an incredible vision for homes that have lost their sense of style and personality…
Valerie’s remodel projects are imaginative and transformative. She has an incredible vision for homes that have lost their sense of style and personality. Valerie reinvents them with a hard-to-achieve blend of modern and current elements with an homage to the period when the house was built.
Her specialty is in recapturing space so that homes appeal to those wanting a more current living space. She also has a strong talent for selecting the perfect lighting for a home. We have the honor and pleasure of being the Realtors for her homes when they go on the market and it is rare that they make it past the first day of listing to the public. We have used Valerie for updating some of the spaces in our personal home and have been very pleased with her ability to listen to what makes our house a home to us and add her expertise and advice. The things she has selected for us have added so much in a way that we wouldn’t have had the courage to do on our own. We couldn’t recommend anyone more highly than we do Valerie Helgeson of Design Directions.
Heather Davis
She does what she says she is going to do…
Valerie Helgeson has worked on two major projects for our family and has done a wonderful job on both! She is very organized and has a great eye for design. Valerie is respectful and puts her job and her client’s satisfaction as her priority. She does what she says she is going to do, maintains regular communication with her clients, and completes all projects promptly. I would use Valerie Helgeson in the future and have already referred her to friends!
Amy Lewis Wright
Valerie’s years of experience remodeling and designing homes were so helpful…
When you hire Valerie and Design Directions, not only do you get a detail-oriented contractor but also an amazing interior designer who knows how to get the look you want within your budget. Valerie looked at our 1960s bathroom and brainstormed a few ideas with me. Within a week she delivered a project proposal with an estimate. Throughout the planning phase, Valerie’s years of experience remodeling and designing homes were so helpful.
She was able to tell us what items would help us get the most bang for our buck, how to maximize square footage, and upgrades that would help achieve that “wow factor” in the space. Before we started the project, she gave us a final estimate with contingency built in. I was so impressed with how detailed she was before the project even began and knew we had made the right choice for our project. Valerie was on-site almost every day throughout the project, checking on progress and giving me updates as needed. She has a true talent for design and my husband and I are so happy with our renovated master bathroom. Valerie’s ability to see my vision for the space and execute was amazing! Hiring a designer/contractor to manage your renovation is the best decision you will make! Valerie came in right on budget for our project and we will definitely be using Design Directions in the future! She is amazing and definitely the best in OKC!
Renee Flood
Valerie is an incredibly talented designer with a keen eye…
I found Valerie through the luck of proximity. She had completed a major renovation project on an older home down the block from us. It was a solid little house but in serious need of an update and a lot of TLC. Valerie completely transformed that ho-hum little house into the most charming and adorable little cottage ever.
I admire it every single time I drive by. So when it came time to update our living and dining spaces, I called Valerie. And I must say – it was one of my more brilliant decisions. We bought our home in 2004 and have completed several major projects over the years. But the décor was stuck in the Tuscany era, and it was way past time to update the red, black, and gold vibe.
I envisioned a more current space, with fresh colors and modern clean lines, but in keeping with the integrity of our 1947 home. Most importantly, I wanted a space that felt like me. I just didn’t know where to start. As other reviewers have shared – Valerie is an incredibly talented designer with a keen eye for great style and the ability to envision what’s possible in a space – and then magically make it happen. Once I started working with Valerie, it was clear why her company had been awarded “Best of Houzz” in both design and service for so many consecutive years. She is talented, professional, organized, resourceful, and passionate about helping her clients create beautiful spaces that they will love. It’s pretty amazing to watch really. She helped me define a new style for our living and dining rooms that was at once casual and sophisticated, absolutely beautiful, and most importantly – feels like home. I think great style is a very personal thing, and Valerie was very patient as we worked together to find the right pieces for the space, pieces that I loved – from furnishings, rugs, and art, to paint colors and accessories – she achieved exactly the feel I had hoped for. And the process was relatively easy and really fun, even for an admitted OCD control freak like me. It felt like I was working with a friend. My project was much smaller than many that Design Directions is involved in. But Valerie approached it with the same passion for excellence that other reviewers have described her approach to much larger projects. I highly recommend Valerie and Design Directions. They are passionate about helping their clients create beautiful spaces and are exceptional at making it happen.