kind words
Hiring Lucile Glessner as a designer was one of the best decisions I made for our project, and I recommend her wholeheartedly.
Our project involved a complete house re-build. Lucile Glessner helped us accomplish a beautiful finish, harmonizing the architecture and interior design. We could not have done it without her. Some of her critical contributions included: -Exquisite designer with an uncanny ability to understand a client’s sensibility, guide it and realize it. We have received multiple compliments to our design which are to her credit.
Extensive network of suppliers and vendors, from cabinet makers to lighting supplies and everything in between, she can get the best value hands down across the many, many purchases (too many to track) we made for the house.
Very knowledgeable on sustainable / green building practices with experience (she knows what works) that brings a lot of clarity as to how what makes sense to do in this area.
Detailed project management, responsiveness and meet-the-deadline attitude. She knows what’s going to be needed when, is a step ahead when needed and ready at an instant when a decision needs to be made. She stays involved through the design-construct-source-install process keeping everyone informed and staying on top of what’s needed when. Finally, as projects get complicated and difficulties sometimes arise, Lucile is the ultimate professional, able to work through challenges to find solutions that meet budget, design, timeline and construction requirements. Lucile is a pleasure to work with!
Laura Garcia-Manrique
Menlo Park homeowner
Lucile really delivered. She did not give me her taste; she educated and developed mine. Lucile’s professional model is well-thought through and delivers real value.
I found Lucile Glessner through a referral in May 2011, just after buying our new house in Portola Valley. The structure is a loft-like, open-plan, rustic design with very high ceilings and lots of light. To say the least, it is very different from the traditional center-hall styles I had inhabited to date. I needed a lot of help. I chose Lucile over others I met with because I really liked her energy, personality and complete lack of snobbery. This said, I also selected her because I knew she would challenge me the most. She did not just tell me what I wanted to hear in that first meeting (or ever afterward.). She was honest about what things would transfer well and which things would have to retire. Most importantly, she took me seriously when I asked her to educate my eye. I do not move and design a home very often, so I really wanted this to be an educational and developmental experience for me. She really delivered. She did not give me her taste; she educated and developed mine. Lucile made me take risks. I got better and better at this and am so much happier with the result than if I had worked with someone who let me play it safe. The scope of our project involved a kitchen re-design, fireplace rehab, new lighting, new doors/fixtures, build-out and design of 7 closets, sound system integration, and complete interior design/art consultation using both old and new pieces.
The result exceeds every expectation I could have had. Here is why:
–Creative Vision. My home looks nothing like anything that I saw in Lucile’s portfolio of past work. This tells me that she is constantly pushing herself to discover new approaches to design and be inspired by the space at hand. This said, she also leverages her experience. She knew what materials would work well; she knew how to analyze the space flow and lighting patterns; she is technically adept with CAD software, which let us experiment (cost-free) with various ideas; she favors things that are both “simple and unique.” And that is how my house turned out: utterly simple and totally unique.
–Unbelievable Resources and Project Partners. (Yes, I can actually say I LOVED the contractor Lucile brought into this project, which must be pretty rare given the stories one hears.) All of the people Lucile brought in to help with the project were superb, talented and fun to work with. The fabricator built a gorgeous stone hearth to Lucile’s specs. A local metal-working artist created a coffee table from old wood and copper cladding. Two assistants helped with everything, including a wall-sculpture for the hall from old batik presses (designed by Lucile.) All of the artists she exposed me to and the out-of- the-way resources she showed me are integral to her professional practice and truly wonderful.
–Efficiency. Lucile was efficient in two ways. First was with time. I hired her in mid-May and was moved in, with all major construction and design done, by June 30. The second was with money. Lucile’s professional model is well-thought through and delivers real value. It is a cliché to say that I saved a lot by working with her, but it is true. Beyond cost savings, Lucile also knew where to splurge for impact and where to cut corners and be extra-creative. We did at least twice as much as planned and still stayed on budget. This was a true collaboration with a gifted partner and one of the best personal experiences I have had. Congratulations and many thanks to Lucile!
Martha Josephson
PORTOLA VALLEY HOMEOWNER
We were impressed with Lucile’s teamwork, knowledge and design ideas, and her responsiveness.
We worked with Lucile this past year renovating our first home. We were homeowners to a very old Eichler built in 1950. We decided to work with Lucile because she had prior experience designing Eichlers, and we were impressed with her overall vision. We knew that we wanted to keep the mid-century modern look and feel, and we wanted to highlight the architecture that made our Eichler so beautiful. After meeting with Lucile, we were impressed with the teamwork, Lucile’s knowledge and design ideas, and how responsive Lucile was to our design questions and ideas. Lucile honestly made our renovation come to a reality. The interior of the house is almost complete, and our house looks and feels like the home we always dreamed about. We can’t wait to raise our children in our new home.
Los Gatos' homeowner
The project was a success! I would highly recommend Lucile Glessner for design work as she is highly capable and always willing to work with her clients to achieve the best possible results.
Her decorative vision for these rooms was tasteful and inviting. Her choice of fixtures and finishes were well received. There is no question that as a result of this work there is added value to the property. We have received many positive comments from the residents and visiting real estate agents. I believe one of Lucile’s strengths is the attention she gives to her clients. Her willingness and ability to work with many association members and various committees was outstanding. She was able to positively interact with the members who offered suggestions. Her presence during the coordination of the work and construction was instrumental in keeping the project on schedule. she is a team player. Lucile worked very well with our architect and the outside contractors. Her ability to communicate with all the hired professionals helped the project run smoothly. I would highly recommend Lucile Glessner for design work, as she is highly capable and always willing to work with her clients to achieve the best possible result.” Doug Greene general manager of the palo alto condominium owner’s association
“Lucile is an exceptionally creative professional who brought new ideas and perspectives to our project. She deftly managed multiple constituents and opinions to arrive at a solution that met our short and long term needs. The project came in on time and we’ve been thrilled with the results.
DOUG GREENe
General Manager of the palo alto condominium owner’s association
Lucile is an exceptionally creative professional who brought new ideas and perspectives to our project.
She deftly managed multiple constituents and opinions to arrive at a solution that met both our short-term and long-term needs. The project came in on time and we’ve been thrilled with the results.
ED JIMENEZ
RESIDENT AND REMODELING COMMITTEE MEMBER
I recommend Lucile without reservation and hope to work again with her.
Lucile provided design expertise to Arena Solutions when we moved to our new headquarter this summer. We wanted our new space to reflect the company’s culture and values without being too trendy or pricey. Lucile was able to filter our varied design tastes, expertly balance our budget requirements and help manage the many vendors involved. She did it all with an infectious charm that made her feel like part of the family. I recommend her without reservation and hope to work with her again in the future.
Jan Russo
Senior Director of Human Resources at Arena Solutions
We were extremely lucky to meet and work with Lucile.
After interviewing her on May 13, 2013, we knew we had the right partner for our relocation. Under her guidance, we quickly converted a 22,000 square foot “diamond in the rough” sublease into an outstanding headquarter office. Budget conscious, quick decision making, and effective use of technology made the process smooth and enjoyable for our July 15, 2013 occupancy. The build-out under Lucile’s careful eye made our job easier and our employees love the result.
Ken Bozzini
Chief Financial Officer
Lucile was great to work with in connection with designing and decorating our new office.
She faced a very challenging assignment that involved a limited budget and a large design committee with strong and differing opinions. Lucile did a very good job of managing the process and accommodating the various viewpoints. She was able to come up with ideas that look great and stayed at or below our budget. Her aesthetic sense is fantastic. She regularly went above and beyond her assignment in terms of the effort she put in. We would not have had as great a result without Lucile’s extraordinary efforts.
John Hollingsworth Partner
GCA Law Partners LLP
Lucile is very communicative, detail-oriented, and dependable… and the finished product is a beautiful work of art.
I started working with Lucile in 2014 when she was in the first stages of designing an office remodel for our space in Palo Alto. The project was divided into a few phases, so I had the pleasure of working with Lucile for about two years. She is very communicative, detail-oriented, and dependable. She was quick at making changes to the design when it came to our budget, and the finished product is a beautiful work of art. Lucile created something really fun and functional for us, with some really cool statement items that visitors are always amazed by (including the cool biplane that hangs from the ceiling!). I would definitely recommend Lucile to anyone looking to redefine their office space; she has great contacts in the Bay Area and will certainly work very hard to create something you’ll love.
LEAH CERNOSEK
PALO ALTO COMMERCIAL PROJECT
Working with Lucile is a real pleasure, as a customer, and as a collaborator.
Her insight, intuition, and creativity are invaluable for projects of any style, or genre. She is very comfortable with minimalist/modern themes, as well as more classical designs. Lucile brings very strong international sensibilities, from Japan, to Paris, to all her work. I am especially impressed with Lucile’s ability with color. I am continually pleased with her choices every time I walk into my offices.