Val’s talent and flair left my previously tired room transformed into a beautiful serene space.
I had an idea of how I wanted my bedroom to look but didn’t know where to start or how to achieve it. After consulting with Val she came up with three options that matched the visions in my mind perfectly. After considering all of the options Val recommended the best places to source furniture, paintings and lights, etc, making the whole process easy and enjoyable.
Nothing was too much to ask for, questions answered quickly and ideas always well thought out.
We are delighted with out new room, and cannot credit and thank Val enough for making it a reality!
Michelle Dickinson
We bought a house that needed gutting, remodelling and as we were living over 2 hours away, we needed someone to oversee all aspects of a complete refurbishment. Val at No 19 offers a complete project management service, and we couldn’t have done it without her.
We started with plans to rearrange the interior to improve the flow of the house and enlarge dormers. Val sourced all the relevant trades from her little black book of trusted tradesmen, obtaining quotes and advising on regulations. She lined up appointments and wheeled me around bathroom/kitchen/flooring designing our perfect home. Her experience was priceless and Val also came into her own when overseeing the trades, chasing, interrogating and generally making sure they did their jobs properly, drawing up schedules so we know what was happening. Everything was on the schedule, new gas fire, window treatments, new guttering, exterior eco cladding, windows, doors.
Then throw in an epidemic and a housing purchase chain and Val really stepped up to the mark.
We are now living in our perfect home and still Val is there helping with the finishing touches.
I would thoroughly recommend Val if you have a project, small, large or very large.
Jan Pullen
When seeking an Interior Designer, the criteria for our project required someone with knowledge and experience of blending colours with new and "old" furnishings in a refurbished bungalow.
We couldn't have found a better Interior Designer than Val Plummer. Her initial meeting to discuss and learn of our requirements was conducted in a very professional, sympathetic manner. She was very aware of our needs and quickly appraised us of her thoughts and ideas, which have worked out perfectly for us.
Val is very personable, a good communicator, with excellent project management skills. With her intuitive, creative vision she has fulfilled our wishes and given us a beautiful home to enjoy.
We have no hesitation in recommending Val for interior design projects.
Chris & Lynda Frost
I have worked with Val over the last ten years on a variety of different projects and always been impressed by her drive and enthusiasm for whatever we are doing. Val has an honest commitment to both the client and project, along with an attention to detail and finishing.
From start to finish on any type or size of project Val is the driving force, sometimes thinking on her feet but always with an answer to see it through.
I very much enjoy working along side Val and would be happy to help in whatever she does.
Martin Truckell
I have always been delighted with Val's expertise and ability to find just the right colour scheme and object for my home. Our latest project has been a great success and is admired by everybody who visits. I have no hesitation in recommending Val's services as she will go above and beyond to get exactly the look that her client wants and be able to add something more.
Helen Byrne
In recent weeks Val masterminded the complete refurbishment of my bungalow which included new bathrooms complete redecoration and much more.
The end result is total transformation into a modernised property in which is a pleasure to live. This has been achieved despite extraordinary difficulties imposed on both Val and the contractors by the pandemic restrictions.
HU813228816 G Whitehouse
I recently completely redecorated my home and used Val to help with ideas and with finding people to do some of the work.
Rather than pay a fee I accepted that Val was taking commissions on items I bought.
This arrangement worked well and I am very pleased with the outcome.
She was very easy to deal with and patient with my indecision. She was quick to respond when needed and I welcomed not having to deal with trades people.
Janine Haley
Our sitting room had been largely unchanged for 30 years and we knew that we wanted a change to lighten and refresh it, but didn’t know where to start. Personal recommendation helped us to take the plunge and as soon as Val came to see us, we knew we had done the right thing. She quickly saw what we wanted but gave us the courage to be bolder and so enhance the room much more. Within days several options for decor, a new ceiling, lighting, fireplace, wood burner, carpentry, seating and fabrics were forthcoming. We really liked the way she presented her fabrics and furniture options including visits to two former clients houses.
She helped us distil our ideas and gave us a time scale for completion, much shorter than we had imagined. She has access to excellent tradesmen and these were dovetailed expertly by her. Any glitches with suppliers she dealt with decisively and energetically.
We are delighted with the result and so enjoy using our new sitting room. We have no hesitation in recommending Val for her professional and personal skills.
Colin & Anne Keir
After 19 years of neglect, we decided to give our sitting room a complete face lift. Having looked at her website we decided to use Val.
We had a budget and told Val that we wanted good quality comfortable sofas, stunning curtains and a new look rather than a hotch potch! We are completely delighted with the finished look. Sofas are SO comfortable; the ‘re-covered’ footstool has a new lease of life and curtains that lift my wife’s spirits whether open or shut. We have no hesitation in recommending Val; she is very thorough with excellent communication skills and a 5 star eye for the finished look.
Simon Cox
After four years in this house, we decided to upgrade our master bedroom with the concept of a “boutique hotel” design. After a visit to our house Val immediately understood what we were seeking. She returned with suggestions and a range of fabric samples. With her expert guidance, we selected three co-ordinating fabrics and ordered new curtains, a throw-over bedcover, a tailored platform valance, cushions and the reupholstering of a stool. The suggested designs perfectly complemented the existing colour scheme and the overall effect is stunning. We are delighted with the results.
Val completed the project very promptly. She and her team were very professional and a pleasure to work with. We will certainly consult Val whenever we embark on future projects.
Margaret Brown
We found Val to be professional in all our dealings with her, as well as well as being receptive to our requirements. She was prepared to listen to our ideas, and then give us input in a very pleasing manner. We had complete confidence in her ability to fulfil our remit, and we were more than happy to go along with her suggestions. We are very happy with the result of her work and would have no hesitation in recommending her to others.
Bill Freer
Val has just completed a refurbishment of my lounge which was formerly looking very tired. She was exceedingly helpful and very patient in helping me make choices. It is now very light and modern, looks twice the size and all of my neighbours are envious! She was also great at problem solving when an unforeseen and unexpected issue cropped up with the curtain fabric supplier. I would recommend Val 100%.
Valerie Clark
Val At No.19 goes far beyond the 'normal' scope for interior designers, in as much as, she is able to look at proposed plans with an objective eye, in order to identify potential pitfalls from both a practical and financial perspective - No.19 has just saved me money on my proposed project - several thousand pounds in fact and we haven't even discussed the usual interior designer questions regarding decor for the room - looking forward to her sound advice. I can't recommend Val AtNo19 enough.
Sue Girling, Milford on Sea
I have used Val on about 4 occasions now. So far, mostly for blinds and window treatments, but hopefully more to follow.Her ideas & suggestions have proved to be perfect & we could not be happier. Our home now has the “designer luxe” touch I was looking for. I have also recommended her to others who are having more extensive work done and also to clients , all are very pleased too. Val is my “go to”. You won’t be disappointed. Julie & Stu.
Julie Thompson, Barton on Sea
Working with Val was a very positive experience, professionally and personally. The project was delivered on time and within budget. Val's style is most definitely 'collaborative', rather than 'prescriptive'. Val regularly took me out of my comfort zone, challenging my thinking in a respectful and positive way, resulting in fabulous outcomes which would never have been achieved on my own. When you consider the savings you make the fee you pay seems very reasonable.
Beverley Weber, Lymington
Working with Val at No 19 was a pleasure. She was considerate, professional at all times and very efficient. My goal was to improve and update the master bedroom. Val's advice and the final result exceeded my expectations.
Sam, Lymington
Val is enthusiastic, efficient and committed and has a real eye for interior design. Her expertise helped to avoid costly errors and I would recommend her services to anyone who would welcome the support of an interior design professional.
Gillian Outhwaite, Boldre Lymington
We had been looking to update and modernise our lounge for some time but didn't really know where to start. But last Autumn we had the good fortune to find Val's website. It was clear from our first meeting that we were going to work well together. Val listens carefully and takes on board your feelings and tastes. The whole experience was collaborative. Before any refurbishment could happen we needed to get rid of a very imposing fireplace which dominated the room and was out of keeping with our modern home. Using her vast experience Val guided us towards a scheme for the room which transformed it in exactly the way we were hoping for. Once we had agreed the general scheme that enabled us to address the finer details. All the subcontractors that Val sent to carry out the building works, carpentry, plastering, flooring, decorating, electrical works etc. were extremely professional, courteous and efficient. Nothing was too much trouble for them and it was a pleasure to interact with them. When the initial changes had been completed Val was able to provide us with a wide range of paints, fabrics, curtains, blinds, furniture styles etc. for us to choose from. We were also able to have some existing furniture updated by the carpenter who made some bespoke pieces for us. This was both unexpected and very pleasing. Everything was delivered efficiently and within the expected timescale. Any few queries were quickly addressed and resolved by Val and her husband Mike. The end result is a modern, fresh, comfortable lounge with which we are absolutely delighted. We would have no hesitation in recommending Val to others.
Mark Howarth, Southampton
Earlier this year we asked Val, At No 19, to help us re-furbish our drawing room. It was a room I knew I could not successfully do myself without running the risk of getting it horribly wrong, and at great expense.
From the outset, Val's advice and help was invaluable. She saw the room through fresh eyes and, as a result, we changed two areas of the room that were decidedly unattractive. Val suggested putting some bi-fold doors in between the drawing-room and the conservatory and it has completely transformed the space. She also suggested ways in which we could improve the look of a very ugly 1980's red-brick fireplace and inglenook. She gave us excellent advice on fabrics, new sofas, lighting, and decorating, and the result is first class. We are both thrilled and delighted with our new room - it has been worth every penny to update an area that was very definitely looking tired and old!
I would not hestitate to recommend Val to you. She is extremely professional, efficient, and helpful, always listening carefully to her clients. All our communication with her was straightforward with the huge bonus of having her known team of tradesmen brought to the project. They were all brilliant and the work came in on budget - always a relief!
We would not hesitate to recommend her to you, and would definitely ask for her advice on any future projects.
Jane and John Olliff-Cooper, Sway
We contacted Val earlier in the year to manage the renovation and interior design of our dated late 1970s house.
At the outset Val said a 'No' is as good as a 'Yes'. We have loved her ideas, and have said yes to (almost) everything she has suggested. Val has also designed our new kitchen, along with new fitted cupboards and wardrobes to give us much needed storage space.
With Val’s help the interior of our home has been transformed to give us the contemporary, coastal feel that we wanted.
We absolutely love it, thanks Val!
Amanda Bevan, Milford on Sea
We had already completed a project to create an open plan living, dining & kitchen space and now needed some help to complete the overall look for the space so engaged Val to help us. As soon as we met Val we knew we had chosen the right designer. She was easy to work with and was able to accommodate some of our specific ideas on furniture, (including up cycling an old table) room layout as well as finding curtain and seating material to match a tricky colour which we had already chosen for the kitchen splash back. Val also introduced us to an excellent carpenter who created some bespoke storage and shelving options - something we would have never done ourselves but which created a Wow factor. Whilst we hadn't set a specific budget Val gave us options at different price points to enable us to manage our own budget. Having never engaged a designer before we were slightly nervous but now we would have no hesitation in engaging Val again to help with other areas of the house in the future and can highly recommend her to everyone looking to engage a designer for the first time.
J Pearson, Winchester
Val was amazing. Having only photos of our furniture to work with she realised straight away the carpet we had picked wouldn’t work and suggested a different lighter carpet, WOW is the reaction of most people as they come through the front door. The selection of curtains and blinds Val brought round was 1st class and our flat looks great thanks to Val. Just sit at home and let Val do the rest. Many thanks Val.
Mick & Pat Jenkins, Milford on Sea
Amazing transformation of my open plan living room/ kitchen. Listened to what I wanted to achieve and tailored my room to suit me and my lifestyle. The colours chosen bring the whole room and look together. Easy to talk to and kept me up to date throughout. I would recommend Val Plummer at No. 19. Superb.
June Sweeney, Southbourne
We bought a new house in 2017 and decided to embrace a contemporary design after years of living in a more traditional house. We chose Val At No 19 after discussing our ideas and budget with several designers.
This was our first experience employing an interior designer and we were initially quite nervous of the balance between developing our ideas with a designers ideas. Val quickly assured us “This is Your home” and from the outset she promised that she would try to make the process productive and fun.
We will be eternally grateful that Val took away the stress of trawling through websites and round furniture stores with little to show except a confusion of ideas!
Val has been very thorough throughout the project. She clearly defined her role and skilfully plotted the schedule at the outset, mindful of our deadlines at each stage.
Vals mantra is that interior design works best with good communication - clear objectives, prompt responses and honesty in client likes and dislikes. She has been as good as her word. I cannot praise enough her commitment to our project, her selection of furniture, fabrics and accessories for our consideration, and her understanding of our budget and time constraints.
Val has been spot on with her suggestions. She has offered ideas which time and time again demonstrated that she was actually listening to us.
Val had been professionally involved with the development of our new house from the first brick and was able to link the striking build design with our ‘stylish but cosy’ brief for the interior. The result is a beautiful home which we adore.
And we are very pleased that it has indeed been a very productive process and fun!
Judith Whitehouse, Prinstead, Emsworth
What a discovery to find "At No 19" based so local to my new home - a tiny one bed roomed retirement flat with minimal storage, a relatively new but impracticable kitchen and a dated bathroom which contained only a bathtub. I met Valerie and we discussed the project and what my goals were. Thereafter Valerie and Mike provided numerous plans for a new kitchen, a bathroom with a large walk in shower, a totally bespoke storage wall in the lounge to accommodate all of my books, ornaments and TV, with a fabulous stylish electric fire forming a wonderful focal point, also a fantastic window seat incorporating yet more storage underneath. They went on to appoint and manage all of the trades necessary to undertake the works. All of the contractors were extremely professional and worked within the schedule. Val took on board many of my ideas so I felt completely involved with all decisions made. We did go over budget which was down to my choosing to upgrade certain items and incorporate extras. The results are not only practical but I now have an absolutely stunning kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and lounge, the entire flat has been transformed. I would have no hesitation in recommending "At No 19" to friends, family or anyone in similar circumstances to my own.
Janet Blizzard, Brockenhurst
We were delighted with Val. Her recommendations were fantastic - providing a number of options for each room for us to chose from. The fee options were clearly explained and flexible, and Val always delivered to the times agreed. It was a pleasure to work with her and the lounge, and bedrooms look lovely ... all thanks to Val's design skills, and understanding what we were after. We would not hesitate to recommend her to others.
Jane T, Barton on Sea
Val helped me sort my way through finding my own style but with massive input and help from her. She listened carefully, delivered on time with open and transparent charging system Her flexibility to fit in with my working schedule, patience and attention to detail is amazing and exactly what I needed to help me to get a major renovation project through to completion and making it my home I would not hesitate in recommending Val
Carol Canning, Lymington
We approached Val (At No 19) when we purchased a new house in April of this year as we are both busy professionals and we did not know where to start when furnishing it from top to bottom. The new house was of a completely different style to our old one (late 1960s and with large open plan areas) so we wanted someone who could advise on colour schemes and how to break up the open plan areas into living spaces.
Val is clearly very experienced in all of these areas and we really appreciated her input, particularly in relation to colours. Furthermore savings she was able to pass on to us meant that we were able to recoup most if not all of her design fee. We have ended up with some furniture that we would never have chosen (or even been aware of) ourselves but which looks really good in its situation. In particular, we had no idea what to do with the large entrance hall - the previous owners had a white grand piano in there and we wanted something with equal wow factor but more personal to us. Val worked with a bespoke cabinet maker to design some bookshelves and everyone who has seen them agrees that the hall has exactly the wow factor that we wanted.
Val had some very strong ideas about what would / would not work which we appreciated as we wanted someone with their own views and who would be frank with us. I think there were a couple of minor occasions on which Val may have been a little disappointed with our choices but this did not spoil our excellent working relationship.
I would thoroughly recommend Val to anyone in a similar position to ourselves.
Jennifer Charlwoood, Beaulieu
We had a very awkward upstairs sitting room to furnish and Val came up with various seating arrangements shown on a scale plan. We all agreed on the best arrangement and then Val set to work! She very patiently worked with us on style and colour suggestions, always bringing coordinating fabric, wallpaper and carpet samples for us to ponder over. The curtains were always going to be the focus of my attention and they didn't disappoint. She also organised an excellent wallpaper craftsman to hang the stunning wallpaper on the stairs. Also helped with choosing lights and sofas plus advising on other bits and pieces for other rooms. She was very patient as well as being professional and well organised - always keeping appointments on time and getting back to us with information extremely promptly. Thank you Val
Stephanie Prior, Milford on Sea
We needed a face lift for our lounge but just didn't have the time to think about exactly what, let alone the time to search for curtains/carpets/paint colour etc etc. We had never used an interior designer before and were a little concerned about doing so but Val was exactly what we needed! She provided a range of well considered options which enabled us to make some excellent changes to the living space. She was very professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with. We love the new look lounge - thank you Val!
Philippa Roberts, West End Southampton
We had an 18-year old north-facing kitchen and we did not know whether to go for a refurb or a new one. With Val’s expertise, vision and excellent team of ‘trades’, we now have a new, bright modern kitchen which is a joy to cook and eat in.
The project was not without its hiccups but these were dealt with very professionally, lots of emails and a drive to get the job done. Although we had not set a budget, we were advised at all stages of the costs involved and were pleased that the final total was not prohibitive.
This was the first room where others were responsible for the work carried out as we have always done DIY ourselves and we have been very pleased with the result – Thank you to all involved.
Helen Hyde, Lymington
Our kitchen needed a make-over and brightening up. The existing units were all hand built solid oak which we were reluctant to scrap. Val At No.19 presented us with some great ideas about how we might get a 'new' kitchen at a fraction of the cost of a new one. She arranged for the existing units to be spray paianted in a much lighter colour. We removed the AGA which we were finding a big gas guzzler as well as being inflexible in the summer heat. Val recommended just four new units which fitted well with a new range cooker in a colour matching exisiting curtain colours. She added a stunning splash back made of enamelled steel from a local supplier on the Isle of Wight. Together with a new and lighter coloured work top the finished product was a real transformation - lighter, brighter and more modern looking.
Andy J, Milford on Sea
It is always a pleasure to work with Val. We have used At No 19 in the past with great results and satisfaction. Our most recent project was the complete refurbishment of our kitchen which was gutted and rebuilt from scratch. Val oversaw the project from beginning to end, coordinating the work of different companies and relieving us of the search for workmen and materials. We were given ample choice for appliances and fittings and if we could not find something we liked, Val was always ready to research further options. She takes the time to assess likes and dislikes, character and ambience of rooms to achieve the desired effect. We are thrilled with our new kitchen which is now spacious, light and homely. We are always happy to recommend At No 19.
Jackie D, Barton on Sea
We planned to do our kitchen and lounge this year, but found it difficult coordinating trades and finding the right designs, especially as I had a bit of a vision and a budget to work to. It never occurred to me that we could afford an interior designer nor that I actually needed one, but I called Val at No. 19 'just to see'. I have to say she was very obliging and offered me a free consultation which I took her up on. From the very beginning she was friendly and listened to my ideas with interest. My husband was also very impressed with her professionalism and thought that her fee was quite reasonable considering the size of the project, so off we went with our own 'interior designer'. I have to say that originally I thought it would be fun creating this new space and designing it, but once Val got started, I confess that I was so pleased that we had employed her because it turned out to be a huge job and I could never have coordinated as well as she did. The stress was taken completely out of my hands.
She encouraged us to 'think outside the box' and go with some blue sky thinking, which we were happy to do. It did take us way over our original budget unfortunately, but we do not regret out decisions as we think this is the most gorgeous kitchen/lounge/diner/entertaining space that we have seen. Val allowed me to express my ideas and she didn't tell me they were wrong, but on occasion she did steer me in the right direction even though my colour choices were sometimes a bit 'brighter' than normal, I believe she enjoyed working with me to get these right and create an eclectic look. Or even a little bit vintage.
Val is generous with her time, she is organised and incredibly professional and has some fabulous ideas and actually she is a really lovely person to work with. We enjoyed working with her and am incredibly happy to recommend her services to anyone that asks. She has organised a professional photographer to take photos and I cannot wait to see the results. Thank you Val for helping us have this forever home.
Kim Walker-Hibbitt, Barton on Sea
I wanted a contemporary look to my newly extended home but didn't know where to start. No 19 gave me direction and structure to the project, providing experience, latest ideas and drive to get the job done. No 19 provided some excellent suggestiions for fixtures, fittings, furnishings, decoration, lighting and accessories. I am so happy with the end result. I had some doubts along the way but the final effect was always better than hoped for. A big thank you to marvellous Val and her team.
Poreli, Lymington
Val has been an integral part of the design team of our business for 9 years, which builds design led niche housing developments. Her involvement has helped take our business and our product to another level. We hold her in the highest esteem; valuing her knowledge, her flair, dedication and hard work. We love working with her. She approaches the procurement of a single chair or the interior design of a complete house with equal enthusiasm and commitment. We did not realise how much money interior designers can save you until we used Val. Both on a professional and personal level, I would not even buy a desk without my design guru!
Ed Elliott, Junnell Homes
Having just completed on the purchase of a new build apartment at Lymington Shores, we approached At No 19 after seeing an advert promising that ‘you do not have to be wealthy to utilise the services of an interior designer’. We have happily decorated and furnished our own homes over the years but this was our first experience of owning a contemporary style apartment and starting with a completely blank canvas. From our very first meeting with Val Plummer, it was obvious that we would work very well together. She met us at the apartment and quickly got to know our likes and dislikes from which she prepared detailed room layout suggestions, room by room montages of suggested fabrics and links to proposed items of furniture, lighting and mirrors for us to consider. At times, Val encouraged us to step slightly outside our comfort zone and consider furnishings that we would not have thought about without her input. Most of our communications were by email as we weren’t living at the property but we also met with Val at her office to see fabric samples and furniture colour swatches. She would then accompany us to the apartment to see our selections in situ.
Val arranged and oversaw delivery and installation of everything ordered which took all the pressure off us having to arrange to be at the apartment for the duration of the project which would have been very time consuming and inconvenient as we don’t live locally. We were also extremely impressed with the service provided by At No 19s various tradesmen. With regards to the costs of utilising the services of an interior designer, we found that these were offset by the favourable prices At No 19 were able to secure for us for most items and the convenience of having someone manage the project from start to finish.
With Val’s vision and experience, we have ended up with an apartment that reflects our tastes but which wouldn't have had the same overall wow factor had we been left to our own devices. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the services of At No 19.
Sandie S, Lymington
When we bought a house that still had the original wallpaper that the builders put up in 1969, we knew we needed help to update it!
Val understood us and what we wanted from day one and always found us options that we were delighted with.
Val's expertise helped us make some braver decisions on decor and we're very pleased that we went with her advice.
Val helped us turn our 1969 house into a modern home that we love.
Val is a true professional and we have no hesitation in recommending her.
Jules Wooten, Brockenhust
No19 (Val Plummer) is a very talented and skillful designer/project manager.
This is the second time we have used the company and this time it involved quite a complicated re-design of the bedroom, bathroom and wardrobe facities. Time was important as we wanted to ensure completion before Christmas visitors arrived. Val coordinated the design, the tradesmen and the implementation in a highly focused and conscientious way. The result was excellent. Her ability to coordinate style, colour and materials is outstanding. I would be happy to recommend her to others.
Jane J, Milford on Sea
Val Atno19 makes refurbishing easy. She is knowledgable efficient and a delight to work with. Her sourcing of products and accessories is excellent.
18 months ago she completely redesigned my kitchen giving me extra needed space and has just finished my shower room and separate toilet all of which look terrific. She uses top quality professionals and is always on hand to supervise the work.
Costs are kept within budget and works start and finish on schedule.
Diane Moss, Milford on sea
Called in No.19 after seeing a neighbour's room transformed.
Felt very comfortable with the designer throughout the process. She was professional, reliable, generous with her time and came up with ideas that we hadn't even thought of. She maintained contact quickly regardless of how small a query on our part and resolved promptly a couple of problems that arose through no fault of her own, The recommended tradesmen reflected her own standard.
Completely delighted with the our 'new lounge' both quality and design wise. The cost was very close to the original estimate as we had a tight budget. Would definitely recommend!
Pat Snell, Milford on Sea
In 2014 we purchased a contemporary new build apartment as a second home. Having never before furnished in contemporary style, we decided to engage Val's services. She was involved sufficiently early in the build process to be able to help us with choices of flooring, tiles, worktops etc and worked with us to design and source the furnishings for the entire apartment. Working with Val was a delight and great fun. She worked hard to understand our preferences, but also gently pushed us on occasion to move outside our comfort zone. The end result is a stylish, practical and very comfortable home, which I am certain we would not have achieved without Val's expert input.
Fitzgerald, Lymington
Val worked on two projects for us during 2013 and 2014, our lounge and principle bedroom. In both cases we knew we wanted to change things but could not see beyond the existing decor. Val worked with us to design complete schemes, from wall covering to soft furnishings. Her method was first to take time to understand our ideas and then to construct "story boards" comprising combinations of colours and designs to provide several different schemes. We found this incredibly helpful and enabled my wife and I gradually to discover what actually we liked! The end results are stunning, very much to our taste but with ideas and concepts far beyond our ability to have achieved on our own. Val brings to the task a wealth of knowhow which she is constantly updating and access to excellent suppliers and products. She is very client focussed, totally professional and a delight to know and to work with.
Peter Larke, Milford on Sea
When I was searching for a new home recently I was fortunate enough to find the perfect property under construction by Driftstone Homes. My good fortune continued when I was able to secure the services of their Show Home interior designer - Val Plummer - to help me with the interior design of mine. The result has been amazing. Not only was it stress free, but it was also very enjoyable due to her expertise and patience.
Thelma, Southampton
Val Plummer came to our dated home three years ago to measure up and price for a new blind..... three years later and she has helped me transform the entire old fashioned house into a contemporary family home! Val has helped us choose everything from paint colours and fabric, to sofas, blinds and lights. Val has also introduced me to some great local tradesmen and builders, all of whom I would recommend to my friends and use again.
Val has always been nothing less than utterly professional, hard working and totally on my wave length. Nothing is too much for her and she never fails to get back to me extremely quickly on even the smallest query.
My family of two teenage boys, my husband and I are all delighted with the end result and look forward to many happy years in our newly renovated home. I cannot recommend Val @ No19 highly enough.
Thank you Val.
Lisa Thatcher, Lymington
Val at At No 19 acted as interior designer for us when we were refurbishing our home and refitting an annexe. She was an absolute joy to work with and seemed to grasp straight away what we were looking for. She is extremely hard working,very practical,always available and ultra efficient. She is also a very good project manager and has excellent tradesmen at her disposal. Throughout the project she worked very hard to provide good value for us through careful procurement.
Thanks to her involvement she enhanced our property to a level we could never have dreamt of on our own.
I would unhesitatingly recommend her for any project,no matter how big or small.
BG Wallace, Avon Castle, Dorset
When we decided to create an open plan kitchen/diner last year by knocking two rooms into one we didn't really know where to start. Val and her husband Mike created several different layouts for us to consider, bringing in creative ideas on how to best use the space.
Once the building work was underway Val kept a keen eye on progress and was able to provide us with suggested choices of everything from kitchen units to curtains. Her experience was invaluable in guiding us on our choices. She was very effective in coordinating the project and communicating with various suppliers to make sure everything arrived at the right time.
We now have a beautiful and practical room which has effectively used the available space to the best advantage and are able to recommend @no19 for a meticulous and thorough service. We are also convinced that by using Val we have saved ourselves money!
Helen Turnpenny, Hythe Hampshire
Val's input has completely transformed our open plan new build property into a "home".
Discussions between us and Val about colours, fabrics, furniture and accessories were relaxed and honest. She understood our style, taste and budget and importantly she never lost sight of the look and feel we wanted to achieve. She has bought ideas and finishes to the scheme that we would never have thought of. She was meticulous in making sure we were very happy with every proposal before committing to it.
Working with Val was a pleasure and I would not hesitate to use her again and indeed recommend her to others.
Chris and Justine, Four Marks
The best part of working with Val Plummer is that she makes it all easy and fun! I had never worked with an Interior Designer before and wasn't wholly committed to the idea, I just wanted my things to look better and give me more pleasure. I have a tired mansion house flat in central London, small rooms, huge windows and too many possessions! I was about to splash out on new navy blue loose covers when I met Val accidentally and ended up not buying anything navy nor any loose covers! I now have a truly beautiful room which is both elegant and comfortable and which has made so many friends think that we had bought new things when we had not!
Val helped me choose the right colours and fabrics for walls, curtains, sofas and cushions as well as lighting. She is so reliable and listens really well, she works to your budget and always gives you options. That particular project was in 2009, since that time Val has helped me renovate 4 bathrooms, upgrade a master bedroom, dining room and sitting room. I cannot recommend her too highly.
Penni J Cox, Kensington, London
Val is a very down to earth ,confident and knowledgeable Interior decorator. We were invited to her showroom to discuss furnishing and room planning ideas for our new conservatory and were also able see fabric swatches which was helpful. She had such imagination that we now have a lovely dining area at one end and seating area the other with a natural 'walk through' towards the French doors. She advised us on purchase of 2 sofas in a fantastic faux suede that is very durable, and a contrasting large suede covered coffee table / stool, and we bought these very competitively through her. She also provided cushions in a contemporary fabric which I could not have sourced myself.
Hilary M Bishops, Stortford Hertfordshire
Dear Val,I want to thank you for saving my sanity over the past year or so. I realized very quickly that the house I had bought needed a lot more doing to it in terms of re-modeling and upgrading than I thought, also that I lacked the imagination and patience to do it justice.
Having never used an interior designer before I was somewhat cautious about employing one. There was no need to worry, you understood me from day one. It wasn't always fun, but you held my hand, made me laugh and your endless patience and good humour gave me confidence that is was all going to be OK.
I said at our first meeting that I did not want a 'show home', but a home with my furniture etc and a bit more up to date, and that is what you have given me. Endlessly exciting things I would never have thought of or considered, and an army of different trades to call on.
I have ended up with a home I feel very comfortable and happy in, visitors all comment on how stylish and interesting it is now....... thanks to you.
I feel quite sad that my adventure is now over - until the next time anyway!
My thanks again for all your expertise and help, knowing that I could call you anytime was a great comfort in times of stress.
If I do it again you will be the first person I call.
Mrs MR, Highcliffe, Dorset
The Coates Centre is not only a brand new service for Oakhaven Hospice, but also a brand new building and facility. Creating the right ‘feel’ for this facility was essential and Val has certainly helped us achieve this. We now have an amazing space that is user friendly, relaxed, comfortable yet stylish and contemporary. This was not an easy task as the needs of many groups and individuals who will use this facility had to be taken into account! Thank you Val for your expertise, inspiration, suggestions, and hard work to ensure the ideas became reality and that all was delivered on time.
The Coates Centre is an amazing space that many people can now benefit from and just so you know……people are wowed by the décor when they walk through the door!
Lucy Smith, Head of Education and Lead for The Coates Centre, Oakhaven Hospice
Val and Mike, I would like to express huge thanks for making the furnishing of my fabulous new build house such a memorable and enjoyable journey. Designing and overseeing the production of a vast bespoke storage / multi-media wall to my specific requirements as well as your up to date knowledge of a new generation of fabrics which are not only beautiful to look at, but also durable for everyday living, was very impressive.
Your professionalism was there right through the project, and working remotely, I appreciated immensely you making yourself available, via email, whenever required.
The amount of new business you receive from customers recommendations, tells you how happy we are with your high quality, individual service. I cannot put into words how impressed I was with the whole experience.
Sylvia Chichester
After purchasing a holiday home in Barton on Sea and deciding to give it a face lift we contacted Val in Spring 2012 having noticed her advert in The Barton Bugle. She visited us promptly and brought along all manner of samples so that we could select in comfort and see how they worked insitu. After agreeing the design she used her many contacts to get competitive prices for the work
Soon after the work began the decorator discovered that a previous owner had used a bitumastic lining paper in the downstairs rooms to hide a serious damp issue. At this stage we were really struggling, we live in Birmingham and have a business to run there; however, we were very fortunate to have Val working with us as she was able to introduce us to a trustworthy experienced local surveyor specialising in coastal properties to tell us the extent of the damage, what actions needed to be taken and the appointment of the right building firm . The damage was considerable resulting in half of the house having to be demolished and rebuilt!
She went on to select and manage 'interiors' trades to totally refurbish the house including the design and specification of kitchen, utility room, bathrooms, bedrooms and a new build orangery, followed by total redecoration, flooring, lighting, window dressings and finishing touches.
The tradesmen Val introduced us to were of the highest quality, often better than the ones we have dealt with in Birmingham for 20 years or more! Over the months we worked with her she got to know our likes and dislikes and occasionally even took us out of our comfort zone!
The result of our 2 year project with Val has been the creation of our dream home by the sea.
We would have no hesitation in recommending Val to prospective new clients and are indebted to her for the work she carried out for us.
Bernie & Liz Noakes, Barton on Sea
Once in receipt of our architect's plans for a very large kitchen / dining / family room extension we needed to decide the best way to utilise the space - we contacted Val Plummer of At No 19 to help us with this aspect. Very quickly she came up with several layout options whereupon it became clear to see the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
She went on to design the kitchen itself guiding us through a plethora of available options for units, worktops, appliances, flooring, lighting and window treatments, all of which she then supplied.
We now have the stunning, family friendly and functional open plan space we were seeking and could not be more delighted with the end result. Val is really easy to get on with, nothing is too much trouble and we would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her services to others.
Claire & Anthony Ferrar Milford on Sea
Val - just a note to let you know that we are absolutely delighted with the interior design work you have done for us. We had become tired of the decor and you have very successfully given it a fresh new look, skilfully interpreting our brief whilst managing my very strong views of what I was looking for! I love the fabrics and lighting in the lounge and dining room and the new colour scheme in the hallway. My personal favourite is the grandchildren's room - it is such fun and we love spending time together in there now. Your most inspirational idea of all was installing a 'library' on the galleried landing; it looks amazing and has really dealt with the clutter in the rest of the house. So, again THANK YOU for all your help in uplifting our home; it is as if we had moved house but have decided we now quite like it here!
V.R., Milford on Sea
We all have a vision of how we would like our home to look but when you do not live on site where on earth do you start? Our great fortune was meeting Val Plummer who turned out to be our guardian angel. She is the most fastidious project manager, with tremendous people skills, design flair and the ability to get the job done no matter how large or small, nothing is too much trouble.
Gina Orloff, Milford on Sea
Val has been invaluable in creating the bones of my new extension and improvements generally. She manages to find just the right pieces, at very good prices, and is a mine of information on all things "interior". I have been very satisfied indeed with the outcome of her work and can hardly let her go as I am now so inspired! I have no hesitation at all in recommending her to help you transform your home be it with small cushions or large sofas. She is a real find!
Helen Byrne, Lymington
The appointment of Val of At No 19 was for the re-modelling of our through lounge and dining room which included revised layout, colour schemes, new carpet, curtains, sofas, chairs and accessories.
Several inovative arrangemens and colour schemes were proposed and the chosen one developed in fine detail and accurately costed.
The recommended contractors: electrician, carpet fitter, decorator, curtain maker / installer, were excellent and worked exactly to specification and programme. All in all the cost of At No 19's services were largely, if not totally, off-set by the discounted preferential pricing achieved. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Keith & Mary Billington, Barton on Sea
We would like to highly commend Ms Valerie Plummer for the outstanding interior design services she provided to renovating our house to the Georgian style my husband had grown up with over 80 years ago in Lymington High Street. Not only did Val provide a range of fabulous and original ideas using the best available carpeting, fabrics, and window treatments, but she also adapted old fabric we had been given to accompany family portraits and other items inherited from the past. In addition, she worked with me to maximise light and space throughout the house and to ensure everywhere (whether living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, hall-ways..) was not only elegant but functional, spacious and wonderfully bright. All the family is overjoyed by the effect and most impressed by the remarkable way Val always managed to go that extra mile to ensure everything arrived on time and fitted perfectly with the atmosphere we had planned for the family home.
Patricia De Mowbray, Lymington
Although we are experienced new home developers & mange the interiors of our show homes adequately, we were at a loss when it came to the living room in the new home we completed for our own occupation.
We were recommended by a friend to Val to discuss our dilemma & immediately felt comfortable with the suggestions she made. Val very quickly interpreted our thoughts to produce the look we were aiming for & efficiently researched furnishings, fabrics, colour schemes & organised the purchase & delivery of these.
We are delighted with the completed result providing us with a living room which met our needs , retianing the calm ambience we sought.
In conclusion, Val`s professional input & understanding of our needs resulted in a very successful outcome & we would be more than happy to recommend her.
David and Di Mussell, Rowlands Castle Hampshire
We bought an old council house which had the most awful tasteless kitchen and living area one can imagine. We fairly quickly established the design of an extension and at that stage wanted to design the living area / open plan kitchen ourselves. But then our decorator Paul Lanyon highly recommended we retain Valerie of At No19, and goodness, are we happy that we did. Because of our very limited budget, coupled with highly defined taste, the process from start to finish was long and time consuming, but the result is simply stunning and so much better than we could have imagined; in fact the open live-in-kitchen is so beautiful that it is now my favourite place in the house. The fact is we could not have achieved this without Valerie. She has added tremendous value to the house by maximising the space, including the creation of an additional bathroom where originally a utility room was planned. Last but not least, the fact alone that she handles all purchases and deals with any problems that might occur is reason enough to take her on board. As it happened our cooker, (which we had selected ourselves) started rusting after only 6 weeks and I did not have to do anything other than send Val the photographs and choose a new one. She dealt with the rest. Brilliant!
Toby Fielke, Lymington
We had decorated our lounge many years ago and it was due for a change to a fresher modern look. Val carefully guided us through the options and design without being pushy; her advice and foresight was invaluable. The finished Lounge is exactly what we wanted and is a joy to spend time in being crisp and bright. Val is thoroughly recommended.
Graham and Fiona, West Wellow Hampshire
Having recently moved to the area we knew that our new home needed a new bathroom and a major revamp décor wise. Our friends recommended Val - an inspired suggestion. Val is personable, professional and very easy to work with. She has a keen eye for: colour and visualisation of the end result; she was able to re-use and re-arrange our existing furniture to maximise space and light. She recommends qualified and professional trades people to complete the work.
After four months all is now complete; a new contemporary bathroom, cloakroom, fabulous bespoke wardrobes, new dining room furniture and redecoration throughout.
Our new home is now elegant, light and modern.
We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and Val's invaluable expertise is greatly appreciated. We would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.
Kate and Tony, Lymington
I contacted Val for assistance with two apartments, each with a different focus and end use. Val actively listens to her clients, working with their agendas (not her own) and developing their ideas. She combines her expansive knowledge and professional experience with a practical, flexible approach, which includes working within the client's budget. Val seeks solutions to problems and 'goes the extra mile' with enthusiasm and energy. The apartments now have different styles, which totally suit the way they are used. The end results are perfect, and we had a lot of fun along the way.
Hazel Coomber, Canford Cliffs, Poole
Val helped us find a colour scheme that I am sure we would have never looked at ourselves. The result is a lounge that just blends together in a wonderful way.
With all large projects there are always numerous contractors and suppliers that need finding, co-ordinating and chasing. Val managed all this in such a professional and efficient manner that we had little to do. Information and progress reports were regularly and promptly communicated.
Richard & Alison Martin, Brockenhurst
Thank you so much Val. Moving to a new home was such a frantic rush in the last few weeks, but we achieved such a lot very quickly with your expert help. We are delighted with all of the additions to our new home in Highcliffe, which all our friends admire. We were struggling in particular to find non-flowery fabric for lounge curtains to complement our coral settees. Your brilliant sense of colour and patient attention to detail quickly found the perfect solution. We had previously seen and admired your work which encouraged us to ‘seek you out’ – indeed we did not know that several of the ‘finishes’ we achieved even existed such as ‘wave’ curtain headings and chain-link free vertical slats which are so much more convenient.
Perhaps best of all – utilising your services cost us no more than if we had done all of the hard work ourselves! All in all we would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending your services to others in a similar situation.
Bob & Bernice Taylor, Highcliffe
My wife and I are very pleased with the work Val of At No 19 did for us. She is a very easy and delightful person to work with and nothing is too much trouble. The workmanship was 110%, this covered carpets, curtains, electrics, decoration, light fittings, mirrors etc, but above all, Val has a great eye for colour.
Chris & Carol Kilroy, Milford on Sea
My husband designed the new upstairs lounge/dining room by having plans drawn up to knock down two interior walls and to replace the two large windows with even bigger windows to give a panoramic view of the sea front, Isle of Wight and The Needles. It was his idea to have an interior designer, Val Plummer, advise on furnishing the new room - no easy task with very little wall! Val was able to source super curtain fabric hanging from discreet runners on the ceiling. She also advised on the sofa configuration - 7 people can be seated and two people can actually sleep on the sofa head to head. The fabric is easy to keep clean - it has been tested by two visiting toddlers! Val suggested we have a material covered ottoman for storage and a coffee table. It is quite heavy but people can sit on it and bare or socked feet are allowed to rest on it. The fabric is lovely, I love the ottoman. The carpet runs down the stairs into the front hall, is a light colour and is easy to remove marks. Val recommended a superb craftsman to build a bespoke dresser, designed by my husband (I am thrilled with my dresser) and another craftsman to build a remote control friendly TV unit with ample storage for DVDs and CDs.
Lynne Kendal, Milford on Sea
Valerie, a special gratitude on my part for being so very fortunate to have crossed paths with someone as rarely trustworthy, reliable, selflessly helpful and most efficient and professional as yourself.
Very many thanks.
Mary E, Milford on Sea
Val was recommended to us by a friend following some work she did for them and we are delighted with the work she has subsequently done for us. When we bought our new flat I had a very clear idea of what I wanted, but Val was able to show us alternative furniture and fabric choices which looked much better! We were impressed with Val’s patience, especially during those times when I chose something and then changed my mind in favour of something else the very next day! A true professional.
Rosemary & Tom Bellin, Lilliput
Val, just a note to say thank you very much indeed for organising our beautiful new curtains, we are absolutely delighted with them and so pleased that you were able to find such a perfect fabric to work with our existing loose covers and carpet – the whole room has been transformed.
Wendy & Derek Hancock, Lymington
Living in Belgium, refurbishing our 3 bedroom holiday apartment in Milford on Sea would have been an almost impossible task without the assistance of Val Plummer of At No 19. Not only did she design a completely new layout, achieving two bathrooms where formerly only one existed, she thrived on the type of detail that would drive me to distraction. Dealing with issues way beyond her contract, she was full of good ideas, had a wealth of knowledge of the latest product innovations and maintained focus on every aspect to such an extent that she was more committed to the project at times than me, the client! We are absolutely delighted with the end result.
Anne & Colin O’Brien, Milford on Sea
Val, thank you so much for your enormous help with the interior design of our new holiday flat, which we purchased ‘off plan’. It would not have been possible to achieve the superb overall finish without your expert guidance. Your patience with our various whims and fancies was much appreciated!
Michael & Dotty Large, Milford on Sea
Moving house is always a stressful experience, particularly so when purchasing a property ‘off plan’. However, on this occasion you made the process so much easier for us, because of your vast experience and expertise in specification. Your knowledge skill and contacts are awesome! Thanks Val, you have two very happy and satisfied customers!
Tony & Margaret Coghlan, Milford on Sea
I contacted Val of At No 19 for help with my new flat after seeing the work she had done to the show flat at Junnell Homes’ development in Eastergate (Corner House). I was very taken with the obvious care she had taken to put together a flat that looked elegant and homely and I was struck by the beautiful blending of colours. Val helped me to avoid costly errors in choice and was always able to come up with options to suit the look I wanted. At times I drew a blank with certain rooms and she offered a number of considered options. She has always been a pleasure to consult, friendly, professional and patient. I highly recommend her.
Tony Zahn, Chichester
Phil, just wanted to mention we were very pleased with Val Plummer, who you kindly recommended. From the first meeting to signing off the work last week, she has been very professional, highly responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Best of all, she showed good judgement in anticipating our needs and interests and then acted on them quickly. We are still scratching our heads how she managed to get sofas delivered from snowy Scotland a few days before Christmas! She should maybe run Heathrow! Seriously though, we would be pleased to recommend her to others in our situation. Thanks for your recommendation of her to us.
Mike & Karen Wittich, Crow, nr Ringwood (to proprietor of Bryant & Trowbridge)
Val, thank you for all you did to transform and oversee the make over of our guest room, as you say, it has been a long journey, one which proved to be far more complex than was first imagined. However, the result is very pleasing and it must be said that your entire team, comprising of specialists from many different trades, is quite exceptional. They could not have been more efficient, professional and friendly, and we are most grateful to them all. Please pass on our gratitude and appreciation. If ever we find ourselves planning to do any more renovation or redecoration work, please stand by for the call!
Stuart Morris, Milford on Sea
Val – I just wanted to write a few words to say thank you for the enormous amount of help you have given us in the complete refurbishment of our home, encompassing kitchen and bathroom design, lighting, furniture , window dressings and soft furnishings. With two small children under 5, the enormity of the project would have been completely overwhelming without your patient assistance. You introduced us to things we did not even know existed and encouraged us to take steps we would not have previously considered. The end result is an outstanding, stylish, yet practical family home, which is much admired by all of our friends - we could not be more delighted.
Susie Elliott, Chichester
Val, thanks so much for your patience, enthusiasm and commitment during our recent house renovations. We are delighted with all the results especially in the lounge where with your positive help we found the perfect solutions for combining the huge modern window with the comfort of a family home. We look forward to working with you on the final stage of our project.
John & Sue Hague, Canford Cliffs
We would highly recommend Val. She is organised, efficient and totally committed. Our show apartment is fresh, inviting, with clever touches and interesting features to draw buyers into the development and surrounding area.
Amanda Docherty Bond Developments (South) Ltd, Lymington
Inviting Val to become involved in specification and a show home in a second development speaks for itself. Her creativity and passion for Interior Design is tempered by common sense and a sound understanding of the practical requirements of our purchasers.
Nihad Obagi Leo Developments, Bournemouth
Val, I have been down to site today and seen the show flat, we are absolutely delighted with the results. If that does not help to sell the flats, then nothing will!
Tim Bird Riva-Properties, Chichester
