Cloth & Kind Showroom — Local services in Ann Arbor

This firm was recommended to us, and we first met them in 2023. Our project was to update our first floor living room, dining room, and sunroom. There was no construction involved. They were “not a good fit” for us and we parted ways after a few months and switched to an individual interior designer. This review is to let others know about our experience with C&K.

There were three C&K staff involved in everything, all of them charging by the hour. We understood that up front but thought that we would get more for that than we did. Once we started working with someone else, we realized how little we did get.

For example, they had us each fill out an initial questionnaire about what we wanted, our tastes and preferences, but that information was not used. Their suggestion for three different layouts for the living room kept the furniture in the same place but suggested different size rugs. One of the layout options for the TV room didn’t have the TV in front of the couch. It felt like they included that so they could have more than one option for that room. Working with someone else we got more creative and usable ideas.

The budget that they created for us had a low and a high estimate of costs. Even the low budget seemed high to us considering that it excluded the subcontractors who would be pulling up the carpet, refinishing our hard wood floors, painting all the rooms, and making electrical updates. It wasn’t a matter of not being able to afford it. But, like 98% of us, we wanted to see that we were getting what we were paying for.

When we said that we thought that the furniture estimates were high even at the low end and talked to Krista about it, she said, well of course they could go lower. This undermined our trust in them and fed into a feeling that they were upselling us.

They would show us options that they described as beautiful, and when we said we thought a specific option was unattractive, they changed their judgment and agreed. We didn’t feel as if we could have an honest exchange of what they thought would and wouldn’t work for our lives and in our space.

They told us that managing the subcontractors (floor, electrical, painting) was something that either they could do or that we could manage. I had the time and was comfortable doing that. We had completed other remodels of our home that included a kitchen and two bathrooms so understood how these projects flow.

I asked for their timeline, so I could schedule the subcontractors. What I got back did not have enough detail for me to use. The timeline that their project manager sent didn’t even have the finish electrical in the correct order. I began to doubt the quality of the underlying work that I had taken for granted that they would be on top of.

They later told me that no one ever volunteers to manage the subs. Apparently, they were not set up to do that, yet they presented it as if it was a standard option.

We worked with them for a few months and then parted ways. They did refund our retainer.

When we moved to working with an independent interior designer, we got more creative ideas that were suited to who we were and our tastes for less money. As an example of this, we asked C&K to include some of our current family furniture in the update plans; they did not. With the independent designer, this was an easy conversation with suggestions up front about where some of it could be used. The communication was clearer. The process was less stressful, less time-consuming, and more fun and productive.

Don’t let their many awards, beautiful merchandise, and website cloud your judgement. If you are considering working with them, talk to other designers including some who work alone. Carefully consider what you are getting for the money that you will be spending, and trust...

I wanted everyone at Cloth & Kind to know how much I appreciate your excellent work, help and service you have provided a very important client of mine on his new home! With so many key decisions on the best finishes, styles, patterns and products, you immediately stepped in and took all of the heavy lifting off his hands. Going beyond is how I would categorize your efforts to make sure everything fit his needs and his budget, with the end product putting a huge smile on his face. I will make it a point to recommend your business, shop, and showroom to all of my future clients who want the very best in interior design help and support...

Anyone considering employing this firm should give serious consideration to the incredibly specific, detailed, and likely highly credible review previously posted by Eve.

While I do not have the time to go into such extraordinary detail as those who have posted before me, I will simply advise that I wouldn’t even want Krista in my house let alone designing the layout.

To sum it up: I wouldn’t trust Krista as far as I could throw her. Anyone seeking a second opinion should consult others who know and do business with her professionally. Proceed with caution is...