Designing With Care

The Designery opened its public showroom in the York Street Yards in January of 2025. “We’re an end-to-end firm, so we do everything from the design concept all the way to the actual construction,” explains owner Rob Glynn. “We offer an initial consultation, which is complimentary, which allows us to get a sense of what the client is trying to accomplish, their budget, and their goals for the project.” Following that initial meeting, The Designery then sends a specialist to take measurements of the space and create 3D renderings, including a virtual reality option, in which clients can don an Oculus headset, be immersed in their custom design, and walk through their (virtual) space.

With expertise in cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile, and all home improvement products, The Designery also has an exclusive roster of contractors whose services they manage throughout the project, but they’re also happy to work with a client’s preexisting contractor. The firm places special emphasis on kitchen, closet, and bathroom remodeling, and transforming these intimate spaces to reflect their client’s individuality.

“We have a holistic approach, and we’re very curated,” Glynn says. “We really focus on thoughtful design that reflects what you’re trying to accomplish and how you want to live.”

Customization

Not every remodel requires heavy lifting. The kitchen, for example, can be upgraded relatively easily; simply switching out an island countertop can elevate the entire atmosphere. “Quartz and quartzite are really popular right now,” Glynn explains. “With quartzite, which is a natural stone, it’s very dense and durable but also beautiful, and it’s available in a broad array of colors and shapes.” Adding a statement countertop is perhaps the most effective way to make an uninspiring kitchen feel brand new.

In Denver’s older homes, closet space (or the lack thereof) tends to leave many homeowners wanting. “If a client doesn’t want to change their floor plan (which requires permits), we’re happy to build as much organization, storage, and usefulness into the space, no matter how limited it might be,” Glynn offers. “We really get to know our clients before presenting them with designs, so if someone is a hat collector, for example, and needs cubbies to keep their hats pristine, our firm will build that into their custom design.”

From the Designers

When a client can’t quite put their style into words, how do you figure out what they’ll actually love?

“Listening is the hardest skill in this job. I’ve learned to pay less attention to the exact words clients use and more to what they keep returning to—or what they mention once and then quietly drop.

I was working through the basics on a kitchen when the wife mentioned she’d always wanted a farmhouse sink. Her husband couldn’t stand them. She said an undermount would be fine, and we moved on.

But I didn’t really move on. At the final presentation, I showed them a faux apron front on the sink cabinet, and because the cooktop sat directly across from it, I mirrored the same detail there. She was ecstatic. He got the clean look he wanted, she got the apron she’d been picturing for years, and the room got a symmetry neither of them would have thought to ask for.

That’s the job. Clients don’t need to arrive with the vocabulary. I just have to listen closely enough to catch what’s already there—including the things they’ve talked themselves out of.”

• Kerri, Designer

Once a design is approved and construction starts, what part of a remodel do clients worry about most?

“Hands down, it’s the schedule. Everyone wants to know: how long is construction going to take, or really, how long are you going to be in my home?

That answer can vary depending on the project, the design, and what comes up once we open walls, but we try to take the mystery out of it as much as possible.

Our project management team gets looped in early, well before construction ever starts. They actually join our designers during the contractor bid process, so relationships with clients are established from the very beginning. Once the contract is signed, we sit down with the client to walk through the full project timeline: what happens first, what happens second, and so on.

We also have a detailed ‘what to expect’ document, and a project manager personally walks every client through it line by line, explaining how each stage could affect their project.

The goal is to start that conversation as early as possible. So, when something comes up during construction, and something always does, it’s not a surprise. It’s just the next conversation, and we problem-solve it together.”

• Jill, Designer