Testimonials
Shila has great taste, so that was a plus. I also really valued the project management process. We couldn't have gotten through a renovation of this size without it. I also really appreciated how hands-on Shila was. If something wasn't working right or sizing was off, Shila was on site to troubleshoot with both us and our contractor to make things work. She really made you feel like her top priority. I remember we weren't sure about the stain to use on the hardwood floors and she was right there to help us manage it with the flooring team looking at swatches that would work best for the space.
Every time that I have worked with Shila, at the end of a project, I can only look back and see how much Shila had to do with the overall success of the project. That success begins from the first day with Shila.
She is professional and organized. This starts with contacting me early on to be sure that scheduling, design and budget concerns can be worked out long before work will commence. This care for both the client’s needs and the needs of the people she brings in to complete the project persists until the final day.
She has a great eye. This comes through every time I work with Shila. As a designer and woodworker of 15 years, I can say that it is a rare person that can seamlessly bring vision and creativity while incorporating the ideas of her clients and collaborators on the project. This care is put into every detail.
She listens. This allows whatever expertise I have to merge with her overall vision. Every time we have worked together, she has been strong enough to stand her ground and humble enough to take in any suggestion that can improve the project.
She communicates. Communication and organization are a constant with Shila. She makes sure everyone involved is on the same page. This is immensely important if several trades are involved in a project. In my experience, the result is a clean job site, clients that are happy throughout because they know what to expect, and the people working are happy because the work flow is organized and efficient.
I could go on but I will leave it at this. I love working with Shila and recommend her without reservation.
- David Wing - David Wing Design
We knew we wanted to update our living room and do a kitchen renovation, but for the living room, in particular, were very frustrated by the process of trying to pull together a new look ourselves without design skill or knowledge of products that were available.
Shila's deeply developed knowledge and esthetic sense made the difference between a nice kitchen and living room, and spectacular ones! In addition, she helped us work within our budget for the entire project.
It was wonderful being able to share with Shila our dreams, current, and imagined, future lifestyle, then have her translate that into a concrete plan with furniture and accessory options and kitchen treatments, and finally to buy them and see the final results when the project was completed. Everyone who comes into our house raves about it!
We look forward to working with her on some small final touches in the kitchen and the dining room at some point!
- Karen + Nick Hendershot - Parry Ave Living Room + Kitchen Reno Update
SG23 has been an integral part of our design & marketing team. Shila is currently working on two separate projects for us. The first is a 17 unit apartment building in Fishtown. The second is a 33 unit mixed-use building in Brewerytown. As real estate developers, we have a vision of the type of living space we want to provide to our tenants; however, it is always a struggle to deliver innovative, well-designed living spaces at a price point that makes sense. Shila provided us an overall direction of the design and led the material/product sourcing that execute this design at an affordable price point. Her strong work ethic and execution ability is unmatched and will help us put together a great living experience for our tenants. Not only does she have a great eye for design, her technical skill-set (architectural CAD skills and organizational skills) sets her apart from many other designers in the business.
There's moments where I walk into a room in our house and I still can't believe it’s ours. Shila was able to recognize and understand our style immediately. In the end, she made the entire process a breeze and helped us prioritize what needed to be done. My wife and I could not be happier with the finished product.
M. Taylor - Newlywed Kensington Townhouse
Shila has such a positive attitude and in a room full of chiefs and wanna be chiefs she has the ability to keep everyone focused with solutions that solve everyone’s needs. Her taste is impeccable. I’ve been so majorly impressed with her throughout this entire process of watching our project come together and would and do recommend her to anyone!
- Ashley May Brenner - E-Built
It is a very rare person that not only exceeds your expectations, but finds new ways to raise the bar on the definition of professionalism. Shila Griffith is that person. Shila’s creativity breathed life into our home kept us on track and on budget. But Shila did so much more than just envision a beautiful space, she made it happen through her fantastic project management skills, problem-solving ability and sheer hard work. Whether she was working up color schemes, running down one-of-a kind items, or directing craftspeople at the site, she gave us the confidence to take risks and enjoy the process as we brought to life our shared vision for our new home.
- Chris and Laura, Homeowners - Shackamaxon Townhouse Project
“Shila was such a pleasure to work with and the amount of resources that she provided for our project was outstanding. We love our office design!”
- Tenira, Radnor Financial Advisors
Working with Shila during the planning phase for my kitchen was invaluable. Her ideas allowed us to expand our vision for the room into the adjacent den to allow for a breakfast noon. She helped me work out many functional details that I would not have thought about prior. Many believe that you hire a designer to make a space "look" better but if you're working with a qualified designer like Shila you will learn quickly that she provides much more than that!
- Carla, Homeowner - Cherry Hill Kitchen Renovation
Shila was great! Patient, prepared and energetic. In her ideas, her flexibility, and her guiding nudges, we ended up with a truly stunning bath, which was an amazing transformation from the prior 70s motif :)
- Phil Rutter and Jonathan Collinge, Homeowners - Pitman Mid-Century Modern Bathroom