shadiworks

Ms. Khadivi was the perfect designer for my roof-top deck. She was able to help me focus my vision of what I wanted this space to look like, and dealt with the practical design details in a creative and responsive way.

Shadi Khadivi was a true partner throughout my renovation project, from concept and permitting through punchlist. She combines expertise in historic buildings with a modern design sense that tends toward clean lines and practical materials. She studied my Houzz ideabooks to get a sense of my taste; asked all the right questions about how my family would use the space; drew alternative configurations to help me see the range of possibilities; and ultimately translated my vision and needs into reality. She proposed solutions I hadn’t thought of, such as stacking the washer and dryer, and she actually built a scale model overnight to help me decide on the configuration for my built-in bookcases. In my Victorian home, we created a contemporary open floor plan and took advantage of the high ceilings to maximize storage space, while highlighting period details like the butler’s pantry and elaborate woodwork. When I said I wanted to minimize waste by reusing my existing kitchen cabinets, repurposing vintage oak doors, and donating unneeded items to Habitat for Humanity and the Historic Albany Foundation, Shadi enthusiastically embraced the idea. Shadi introduced me to the outstanding local contractor that my husband and I ended up selecting for the project. She shopped with me—both online and going with me to showrooms— to select appliances, fixtures, and finishes and get the best prices. Some of my favorite things she suggested are the reasonably priced porcelain floor tile that looks like slate, and the glass jar pendants over the kitchen peninsula. As the work progressed, Shadi helped keep project timeline and budget on track by scheduling meetings and walking me through decisions and tradeoffs. She conducted innumerable site visits and served as liaison with the contractor. Not only did she validate my own observations, she brought an invaluable perspective: with her practiced eye, she saw things I may not have noticed or understood initially. She was a collaborative and creative partner who did her research whenever issues arose. Shadi's passion for her work really shows.

Shadiworks remodeled the top floor of our historic home, converting one dark and oversized bedroom into two bright rooms, with ample closet space, built-in bookshelves, and a number of really beautiful and useful architectural features. The designs were incredibly creative, making brilliant use of the space. Shadi also kept in close touch with us and the contractor as the work was ongoing, making things run incredibly smoothly. We are thrilled with the renovation!