Top Shelf Design Inc.

We bought our home with a plan to renovate the great room including the kitchen. That was at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and we had no idea of what challenges that would present. Enter Top Shelf Design to the rescue. At first, we were impressed by the website, showing not a singular look, but a wide variety of beautiful homes’ interiors and exteriors, indicative of a design team that created for the clients’ individual preferences and lifestyles. It also showed a highly qualified group of professionals including designers recognized by the Interior Designers Institute of BC, who can attend to and support all the construction and architectural details as well as the look of the final project. With this vital skill set, Sarah Gallop and her team at Top Shelf Design worked seamlessly with our builder to easily manage the unexpected. They guided us through the big picture with multiple creative floor plan options and then through the myriad of choices for flooring, ceiling details, cabinetry, tiling, lighting, colour palette and furniture. The design team made our decisions easy by presenting just a few carefully selected options, so we weren’t overwhelmed. Additional options were always available on request, but we often returned to the team’s original suggestions. The result was a timeless and comfortable kitchen and great room that will function well now that the pandemic restrictions are lifting, allowing us to bring our extended family and friends back into our wonderfully updated home.

While planning a reno on our older house, we knew we needed help. We met with a couple of designers but were really impressed with Sarah and her team. We hired Top Shelf based on our first meeting. Sarah's ability to look at a space and come up with a completely new layout was amazing. Many people had tried to reimagine the space, but no one came up with the layouts that Sarah did. We were given six different options to consider. This let us match possibilities with budgets. The entire process was amazing and just helped reduce stress. Once a layout was picked, the Top Shelf team and Niki did a great job helping us pick the finishings. The amount of time and stress that was saved is immeasurable. Sarah and Niki worked closely with us and got everything together quickly. We always felt like a priority even though we were just doing a smaller reno compared to their full house projects.Having a comprehensive plan to hand to the builders meant that the vision became reality. The project moved along swiftly thanks to all the work that the Top Shelf team did.Working with Top Shelf was the best decision that we made with our reno. It made sure we avoided the common reno disaster stories and just have a beautiful new space that we couldn't be happier with.

Once again Sarah Gallop and her team have proved they are exactly who you want to guide you through your home renovation, big or small. From design to final details, Sarah will always find a way to make your project work not only for your budget but also for your lifestyle. As the homeowner, I felt like an active member of her design team.Top Shelf is respectful of your needs (and wants!), trouble shoots for you whenever necessary and is always available to take a call. Homeowner satisfaction is number one with Top Shelf. I can't imagine doing any renovation or new build project without Sarah and frankly I won't!

We approached Sarah Gallop and decided to hire Top Shelf Design Inc. when we determined that it was time to change the look and feel of our home. We really wanted to brighten up our place – with its dark floors and dark cabinetry, the north facing home just did not get enough light! Our objective was simple - give us light, warmth and a contemporary look - and don't ask us to pick out a thing! They really listened and were able to translate our objective into a design that completely transformed our home in ways we could not have imagined.The open concept with its large widows, warm palette, clean lines and unique stone and wood features has turned our home into something really special. The feature wall in the staircase is particularly outstanding! An added bonus in the design, and one that Sarah paid attention to even though it was not on our radar initially, was the clever use of custom millwork throughout creating stylish functionality and storage opportunities without compromising the bright, warm contemporary feel.From the first meeting, Sarah understood who we are and what we would like and, while the finished home is very much us, what you see is entirely the result of the designer we chose. They also referred us to our builder, Aaron of Finnish Builders Inc. who did an amazing job with the construction and all of the unique finishing details - and under budget!We are very impressed by our experience with Top Shelf Design and would certainly recommend them; they listen to who you are and what you want and then translate that into a design that is uniquely you.

When we purchased our townhouse at our dream location, we made a decision to update it into our dream home as well. Although we had some vision of what we wanted, we knew perfection could not be accomplished without the expertise of a designer. Sarah Gallop and the Top Shelf Design team were recommended to us by friends who had used their services in the past. From the very first meeting with their team, they did not disappoint. They explained their process in detail, leaving no questions unanswered. They listened to our ideas and visited our home before starting their design plan and took great care to include all things that were important to us. Actual samples of suggested colours, tiles, flooring, etc for each room were professionally presented to us in their showroom. And alternate samples and suggestions were available on the spot if needed. And all the while, they remained patient as we considered the all the options. The end result is everything we had hoped for and more. We often say to ourselves “Wow … do we really live here?” It IS our dream home and we thank and are so grateful to Sarah and the Top Shelf Design team for helping to make it a reality.

We hired Top Shelf Design after searching Houzz for designers that worked in our area and we are absolutely thrilled with the results. From start to finish, Sarah and the team made the entire process pleasurable, and we now have a home that we love!Just before the pandemic, we decided were wanted to renovate our 1990’s home instead of moving. We contacted Top Shelf to explore how we might not only update our entire home, but also redesign it to better use our space. Sarah, Niki and team took the time to listen to our needs and they turned our tired, dark, outdated 1990’s house into a stylish, bright, welcoming home that reflects our personalities and tastes. Thanks to Sarah’s creative ability to re-imagine space, we made structural changes to the kitchen, the master bedroom, and added additional windows. We now have a large bright kitchen with a backsplash that I would never have selected on my own, but I admire every day (thank you Niki for such great tile selections!) and a large walk-in closet -one of my “must haves”. The entire house is integrated in terms of style and function- starting from the entry way to the home offices, washrooms, bedrooms, kitchen and the mudroom, including the furniture throughout, the house now has a beautiful flow. Sarah and her team also successfully negotiated the fact that my husband and I have opposite tastes - they balanced our differing levels of comfort with colour, and we are both equally happy with the result. Lastly, due to Sarah’s suggestions, our old unused spaces are now functional and inviting, and the final product is both stunning and practical!Not only were Sarah and her team supportive during the design process, but throughout the renovation, they were willing to listen and offered suggestions that were invaluable and greatly appreciated. It is without hesitation that I recommend Top Shelf for anyone looking to renovate their home. With excellent design skills, attention to detail and commitment to client satisfaction- the entire team really is “Top Shelf”. We are delighted with the results they achieved, and we look forward to enjoying the beautiful space they have created for many years to come! Thank you SGDI!