KTJ Design Co — Attraction in Stockton

I worked with Kathleen and Sandra for over a year on what started as a kitchen remodel and (of course) ended as a full home remodel. I can't say enough great things about both of them. Everyone in my family happened to be remodeling their homes at the same time (4 houses in total) so I was able to compare my experience to that of 3 other remodels, and all I can say is I am very glad to be me.

Design: I have, without a doubt, eclectic tastes that skew towards bright colors, quirky touches, and bold contrast, but Sandra and Kathleen were eager to work with my unique style and didn't try to force me in directions that aren't right for me (i.e. anything brown or beige ☠️). My home includes both a life size papier mache zebra and a deer wearing a Hawaiian t-shirt in the dining room, so they had their work cut out for them, but they managed to help me keep my fun loving style and layer it with a bit of refined balance to make the space beautiful and irreverent all at once. And on top of that, it is SO FUNCTIONAL. Everything has a place, and its so easy to keep clean! This is definitely not something I thought about, that was all their doing.

Accountability: In any construction project, things will go wrong, it's a guarantee. One of the largest differences between my experience and those of my family members was that when things went wrong, the KTJ team was proactively on top of them. They almost always caught errors before I did, thoroughly checking every tiny detail of each installation after someone had been at my house and calling subs back in to fix any work that wasn't up to snuff. I kid you not: when workers installed the bolts in my staircase at a slight angle instead of driving them straight down, KTJ had someone fix it (I was both appreciative of this and greatly amused by it 😂). Multiple times when there was an unforeseen issue I was worried about I'd check my email and see that KTJ had already sent me a message saying they'd reordered the part/eaten the cost of fixing the problem without me ever asking them to. Meanwhile my family members were coming home to shoddy workmanship that hadn't been inspected by the designers and then having to fight over who would pay to fix the issues that weren't their fault to begin with. Yikes!

Communication: KTJ is meticulous about communication. You always know what is happening and when. I always received texts about who would be at my house and when they would be arriving, and had weekly emails about the progress of my project and the schedule for the upcoming week. They are always prompt and proactive about communication and if anything got changed or delayed, I received an update on it in my weekly email.

Subcons: If you choose to use KTJ's sister company Jenco for the actual construction, they contract with the most delightful people. I really loved my experience with Anthony and the team at MA (who did the GC work) as well as the electrician, plumber, and tile contractors, all of whom were unfailing polite and treated my house respectfully. The plumber and electrician even helped investigate and fix issues elsewhere in my house while they were working on the remodel, which was such a blessing because I was having trouble getting anyone out.

Overall I just can't say enough good things about my experience with KTJ. The year I've worked with them has happened to be one of the toughest of my life and threw me many unexpected curveballs, including some financial ones (not good during a remodel!!!), and I had no spare time or emotional bandwidth to think about this remodel. But luckily I didn't have to! They kept the project moving along at all times and I barely had to lift a finger the entire process other than deciding on designs and wiring money. They handled every detail, from permits to ordering and warehousing items, to QA and scheduling. And even though I was off thinking about a million other things and not paying attention to this remodel at all, it turned out perfectly: bright, colorful, quirky, and functional. I...

I hired KTJ Design Co. for a Remodel Clarity Session, paying $800 with the expectation that it would provide professional guidance, full measurements of my project areas, and actionable next steps such as cost estimates. Unfortunately, my experience fell far short of what I, and most homeowners, would reasonably expect.

While there was a walkthrough, some measurements, and a schematic drawing of my kitchen, several critical things were missing: • Not all areas were measured (the office cabinetry and mudroom were left out). • No usable estimate or cost range was provided, even though that’s a basic and standard part of clarity sessions at many other firms. • I waited more than a week for communication and only received a response after following up myself, at which point I was told my project was “not a fit.”

For $800, I believe clients deserve more than partial measurements and a schematic drawing, followed by a rejection. At the very least, providing a cost estimate or projected range is an industry norm and gives homeowners something they can use to move forward.

When I raised these concerns, I was told the session was “non-refundable,” despite the service being incomplete. That left me with no actionable deliverables and the loss of $800.

Advice for Homeowners Considering KTJ Design Co.

If you are considering engaging with this firm, here are a few best practices I recommend: Get the scope of services in writing. Ask exactly what is included in a Clarity Session: measurements, drawings, written notes, cost ranges, and communication expectations. Clarify what “deliverables” mean. Many firms include a budget range, written summary, and full measurements in clarity sessions. Confirm if KTJ Design Co. will provide these in your session. Ask about communication timelines. Ensure you will receive feedback promptly rather than waiting a week or more for a decision. Request examples. Ask to see a sample clarity session package so you know what you’re paying for.

What a Clarity Session Typically Includes

(Industry Standard) • Full walkthrough of all relevant spaces • Complete measurements and photos for reference • Brainstorming/design ideas with layout sketches • Cost estimate or at least a projected budget range • Written summary of recommendations and next steps

These elements ensure homeowners walk away with actionable information, even if they don’t continue with that particular designer.

Final Thoughts

I share my experience so other homeowners can enter into agreements with clear expectations. Every homeowner deserves transparency, complete services, and prompt communication, especially when paying premium...

I'm a guy who is a builder that thought I could design. Well that didn't work out so geat on a couple of house I bought for investments. So after looking at several Design companies I picked KTJ Design. Now that is one of my best moves I ever made. I bought a duplex and called Kathleen. She came up to sacramento and did her thing. She had me replace things and keep things that I would never had done. I was skeptical all the way to finish until the real estate agent walked in and tore the comps he brought. He said it was the best place in the area by far. Then I had the rental agent come in. The end results was, rented it in 1 week for way more then the payments for everything and 200.00 over other rentals in the area. The next thing I did was sell one of the rental properties ( which I did the designing ). She suggested what to do and picked out all the stuff. Again way different than I would. This time we had several offers and the house sold in 5 days for 5k over asking. Kathleen always asked me what I thought of everthing she picked out. So I feel confident that she would work well with a partnership. They also answered the calls and got right back to me. Which is a big deal to me. If you need designing done, look no further. I would use DTK Designs with out hesitation. It paid off for me !!!! Oh ya, She taught me one of the most important lesson I've learned. Stick to the building which I do well and let her do the designing which she...