Client Testimonials

Marianne has a keen eye for design and intuitive nature for getting to know her clients' style. We really appreciate the way guided us through the process of designing & choosing materials for our renovation, collaborated with all the vendors, builders, architect, and picked just the right design elements for us. If you are looking for a professional, experienced, and collaborative designer, you will be in good hands with Blue Hot Design!Read More

Marianne helped us with many decorating decisions when we built our home in Delafield in 2008! Paint, tile, fixtures, countertops, lighting--Marianne was great in assisting us with the many choices we had to make! At the beginning of November, 2021, I contacted Marianne again to help me choose a new paint color for my kitchen/living room area. Together we chose a great color and the new look is just what we wanted! She is my "go to" expert in all areas of design and decorating! Thanks Marianne!!Read More

We have been working with Marianne for 4 years. As a professional Marianne has excellent design ideas, can be flexible with design, and gets creative when we need it. Every customer we have sent to Marianne feels comfortable with her from the beginning. As a remodeling contractor we appreciate how easy she is to get along with and she responds quickly to any of our requests or questions.Read More

Marianne helped us with our kitchen remodel, and we could not be any happier with the final results. We were very impressed. She is very professional, knowledgeable, and has wonderful ideas. We highly recommend Marianne, she is the best!Read More

Our project needed a quick turnaround, as we bought our downtown condo at the end of October 2019 and we wanted the kitchen and two bathrooms remodeled while we were gone from February to June 2020. Marianne understood our urgency and really listened to what we wanted. She provided excellent designs and very efficient material selection assistance. Her relationship with suppliers was invaluable in this process. With her guidance, we had everything in place to begin demolition in two months! She and our contractor had a great rapport and worked together seamlessly. She was onsite when needed in our absence and communicated with us in a very clear and timely manner throughout the entire project. We love our new kitchen and bathrooms! And we could not have done it without Marianne!Read More

Marianne is great to work with. She listens and then finds materials that meets the vision for your remodel. She was efficient and very organized which was great for my budget! She also follows through on things and is very responsive.Read More

We’ve had the pleasure of working with Marianne of Blue Hot Design on multiple redecorating projects over the years. She is a talented, experienced, efficient and excellent designer. When requesting assistance with updating our home, Marianne helped to define the scope, review possible options and suggest plans reflecting our style and staying within our budget. She always listens to our ideas/concerns and we work as a team; she confirms that the final plan is exactly what we want. Marianne is respectful of my time, responds promptly to questions and makes every effort to be available within my schedule. Also, her wealth of experience and familiarity with contractors and stores in our areas saves me a ton of time when looking for materials and furniture. Redecorating/remodeling is exciting but tends to be stressful as well – at least for me. Marianne’s guidance and reassurance in seeing a project thru to completion (down to the smallest detail) has been most valuable. I commented to her in the middle of our last project, as she was assisting one afternoon with coordination of contractors, that I couldn’t imagine how someone goes through this process without an experienced designer! We have scheduled Marianne for our next project and highly recommend her to others considering home decorating projects.Read More

Marianne is very professional and highly experienced in her field. She is always a pleasure to work with as a colleague, because she is highly organized and facilitates our projects running smoothly and efficiently. She's great at listening to her clients wants & needs, and guiding them to a beautiful end product.Read More

Marianne and I have worked on many projects through the years and I have always found her to be friendly, knowledgeable and decisive. She is a true professional who knows how to work through the various issues that arise during the construction process. She is a pleasure to work with.Read More

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Marianne on my new construction condo project! She was extremely flexible and open-minded while blended her great designer's eye to my quirky style. She was a great help in sorting the details and making sure the design, layout and flow merged seamlessly. Marianne was a huge help with design ideas and sources for products, all the while working around my busy schedule and an unpredictable build schedule.Read More

I hired Blue Hot Design to recreate my dining room. Marianne was amazing. She took me out of my comfort zone and found some pieces that truly transformed the room. It’s now my favorite room in the house!Read More

If you need design help big or small, give Marianne a call! She helped us in a complete first floor remodel including a kitchen, dining room, mud room, and converting an under utilized formal dining room into an office & pantry. Marianne was a true professional, always on time, and very responsive. She also helped ease our mind when we were concerned with certain aspects of the project. She made sure our space was not only beautiful, but she thought of great details to increase the function of our space too. We loved working with Marianne and promise you will too.Read More

I am very pleased with the help Marianne provided! We have a modest home that she knew what was worth doing or not doing. Our kitchen, bath, and family room are functional and beautiful. She was very easy to work with and answered all my questions. Thank you!!Read More

I called Marianne when I was so overwhelmed with the decisions I had to make on our kitchen renovation plus. It was a major change to our old house. My GC had a design, and some vision of the surfaces, but they were a bit different from mine. But I had never done anything like this before. Just from a few words on the phone, Marianne knew what to bring as samples for the surfaces. This was a great starting point and she accompanied me on all the exhausting trips to pick things out, gave me great ideas and taught me a lot. I was utterly obsessive about everything, and she was patient through it all. She accompanied me to speak with the cabinet maker, was there for the electrical plan walk through, and made sure I thought about everything the contractor would ask me for a selection on. I was so torn on some things; Marianne went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable with my choices. I needed her less as the project went on but she was always there for me. She is easy to talk to, responsive, professional and kind. Don't hesitate to call her. I could not be happier with the end result. (photos...soon, I hope...)Read More

We had been considering remodeling our master bathroom for quite some time. The project finally got some traction when we contacted Marianne at Blue Hot Design. She carefully listened to our preferences and then created a design that is at once contemporary, elegant, and timeless so that we know we will love it as much years from now as we do today. In addition, Marianne selected a contractor whose quality of workmanship was exemplary. Thank you Marianne for helping us. We are looking forward to working with you on our next remodeling project.Read More

I have worked with Marianne on several projects. She was able to organize my projects, and keep me on schedule. Marianne has a great eye for design and attention to detail. I am currently working with her again on a custom build home.Read More

We hired Marianne to help us with our Whitefish Bay kitchen renovation and couldn’t be happier. With an artist’s eye and thoughtful consideration for our unusual must-haves, Marianne helped us transform our awkward 80's kitchen into a beautiful, open space that really works for our family and friends. She helped us choose materials that would bridge our differing tastes and enhance our historic home’s unique personality. She also came armed with a portfolio of top-notch industry professionals to help us execute our vision on time and on budget. We highly recommend Marianne’s design services for projects big and small.Read More

I've been working with Marianne for over two years now. We met at the advice of our general contractor to assist with product and material choices for our full first year kitchen remodel. She was exactly what we needed - picked up on our style instantly, and got right to business helping us pick out cabinets, floors, stains, fixtures, paints, etc. She never steered us wrong! Since then we've been partnering with Marianne on furniture and design decisions. She is warm and personable, professional and efficient. And always respectful of both my time and budget. I have recommended Marianne to a number of my neighbors, and will do so again with confidence!Read More

Enjoyed working with Marianne! We did a remodel on a master bathroom. She listened to my concerns and was able to update my bathroom without a total gut job! She worked in a timely fashion and was always accessible. Great job. Hope to work together again. Highly recommend!!!!Read More

I was referred to Marianne for our master bath remodel. By the end of our first meeting, we had tile, tile design, cabinets, counter, fixtures, and wall color all picked out! It didn’t take her long to pick up on my style and desired look. She was readily accessible via phone, text, and email when questions came up during the project. The end result is fantastic. We love our bathroom!Read More

We hired Marianne to help us with a kitchen remodel. She was professional, personable, and patient in guiding us through the process. She really listened to learn who we were so that she could present us with materials and designs that reflected our style. She was able to narrow selections down so well that we never felt overwhelmed with options. Her expertise allowed us to feel stress-free and confident in making choices. She realized our vision and then elevated it to create a kitchen that is not only unique in its look but seemingly timeless in its style. We would not have the beautiful kitchen we have without her, and we are very happy with the results. We would welcome working with Marianne again. She is amazing!Read More

Marianne was referred to us by our remodeler. We had a small but urgent need to find a product that added texture/estheticism to niches in our foyer. Marianne was a godsend as she handled our request promptly, efficiently and with great care to keep our style, interests, lighting needs and cost in mind! The product she recommended worked out beautifully and her help in detailing product installation created a very satisfying and visually appealing end result! We couldn’t be more thankful for Marianne’s help!Read More

Marianne is a master designer. Each project unique, fitting to the client, and done exceptionally well. She has a meticulous eye and knows how to translate concepts into reality. I always receive a prompt response, she's very professional, and a pleasure to work with.Read More

Marianne was very professional, thorough, and helpful in our new home interior design! She caught on quick to our "taste" and style of our home and offered good opinions and recommendations. Thank you for your help! Can't wait for her to see the finished project!Read More

I have worked with Marianne for years. She brings the utmost in professionalism and a clear understanding of color and proportion to each customer she helps. I know she is going to be honest and create a look tailored to the customer and the space. I always look forward to our next project together.Read More

We have worked with Marianne Kohlmann of Blue Hot Design on three home remodeling projects and have been incredibly happy that we did so each time. Our most recent project involved redesigning and remodeling our master bathroom and kids' bathroom. Marianne's design perfectly captured our hopes for the spaces. Her ability to get to know us, her keen ability to listen to our needs and wants AND stay within our budget, and her attention to detail are but a few of her assets. She has a vast knowledge of products and services which makes selections and interactions with others involved in the process efficient, easy, and fun. Her advocacy for us and involvement throughout the project are additional bonuses. We highly recommend Marianne Kohlmann and will most certainly involve her in all future projects.Read More

Marianne designed my bathroom and selected materials for it. It turned out beautifully! She had a terrific sense of how to design the space for ease of use, proper lighting and practical details. She was very attentive to what I liked when picking out tile, paint and stain colors and how they would give the room the look I wanted. She was very detail-oriented, and gave the contractors everything they needed to build the room I wanted. I'm convinced the project never would have gone as smoothly or finished as quickly as it did if not for her upfront planning work and attention to detail. I've worked with other contractors and designers before - including some pretty good ones - but Marianne is the best I've worked with by far.Read More

My husband and I hired Marianne to consult on several DIY projects we are planning to update our new (to us) home. We couldn't be more pleased! She offered us many fantastic ideas on interior/exterior color palates, recommendations on maximizing space and light, and budget-minded changes that will make a huge difference in our overall project. She's been amazing to bounce ideas off as we progress on each project and we will definitely be hiring her for some of the larger projects we can't tackle ourselves. Marianne is truly a gem!Read More

As recent "empty-nesters", my husband and I made the decision to "re-do" our 1940's lannon stone ranch rather than move. This big project included our entire main floor including a new kitchen, dining, two new full bathrooms, new "open concept" living space and re-designed bedrooms. Marianne was referred to me by our remodeling firm and from the first day we shopped together, I knew she had the right vision for what our "new" home could be. To say we are HAPPY with the end result would be a gross understatement! I get up in the morning, look around and SMILE! Marianne helped me with all material selections including sinks, faucets, toilets, fixtures, tile, cabinets, wood floors, carpet, ETC! She kept with the style of our home, but gave it all a contemporary flair. I had complete confidence in her selections, and she came through with flying colors!!Read More

My husband and I have worked with Marianne on several projects over the past 15 years. Our first project with her was a kitchen re-model that we are still thrilled with. Marianne is one of the most creative people we know. She listens and understands what is important to us then creates something that reflects us perfectly. We would never think of doing a project without Marianne at the helm. She's phenomenal!Read More

We hired Marianne to help with our master bath remodel. Marianne was extremely easy to work with and listened to what we wanted. She also made suggestions that we would not have thought of/or known about. Marianne helped us with the design process and material selections. She also help secure the contractor. We would recommend Marianne to our friends for their projects. Looking forward to seeing our new bathroom!Read More

i hired Marianne to help me with material selections for my new home in Virginia and I couldn't be happier. Marianne took time to understand my vision and make great recommendations. She respected my budget and educated me on where it makes sense to spend more/less money. Her design recommendations were spot on - everything we chose is beautiful and reflects my style (and also elevated it) !!! Fortunately, Marianne identified areas where more lighting was needed and she was exactly right. Without her advice, I would be facing a costly electric upgrade in the future. I'm glad I trusted her advice at every turn. Marianne, thank you for being a dream to work with, and for helping me make my dream of a beautiful home come true!Read More

We just completed a whole house remodel, and Marianne was very helpful in a wide variety of ways. She was just about the first person who walked through our home before any work began, and from that first day until just recently when she helped us decide where to hang our photos and art, Marianne's guidance was ever so valuable. She met us at showrooms and at our home and assisted us with tile, carpet, paint, counter, and window treatment selections, as well as helping design our bathrooms. Marianne was always prompt at responding to emails and phone calls, and we never had to wait long in scheduling our meetings. We thoroughly appreciated Marianne's guidance throughout our year long project, and recommend her to others without hesitation.Read More

Marianne was great to work with.! She helped us design a kitchen that we still love 8 years later! She was very professional, creative and a joy to work with!Read More

Blue Hot Design updated a 1913 home (we are only the third owners and have been here since 1955) - new bathrooms, fresh paint, light fixtures, carpeting, sanded wood floors, new electrical & plumbing. Now enjoying the results!Read More

Marianne designed our master bathroom remodel in fall of 2013. We enjoyed the process so much we asked her to do the design work for our kitchen remodel. She was attentive to our needs, worked well within our budget, and had very quick turnaround times. She took our vision, made it a reality and then improved it! You will not be disappointed!Read More

Marianne has been helping us with a kitchen/basement remodel. She has made material selection a snap by coordinating appointments with vendors and organizing my selections. Her taste is impeccable and she is a joy to work with! I highly recommend her services!Read More

OMG. We had "Blue Hot Design" do our kitchen, and were totally delighted (Big Time). So much so, we then had "Blue Hot Design" design our: Master bath, Master bedroom, Powder room, Basement, Garage, and even our Boat. Our only regret is that we ran out of spaces for another new concept. I marvel everyday how beautiful and functional our living spaces are. As they say elsewhere: Buy with confidence and A++++++++, Janet and DennisRead More

Blue Hot Design is a comprehensive design/ build company. Marianne listens to her clients and pays attention to detail. She establishes a great rapport with her subs and treats them with great respect. We highly recommend her expertise and vision for any project.Read More

Marianne was everything you would want in a room designer--organized, prompt, a good listener, professional, respectful of our ideas but not afraid to twist them a bit, budget conscious and friendly. She even bought us lunch! She sent numerous renderings of our project and was great at finding stuff online. We would recommend her to anyone who wants their ideas to be integrated beautifully into the project, especially if time is of the essence. Thank you Marianne!Read More

Blue Hot Design provided design consultation for an extensive remodel of our house. This included meetings with us, providing sources for needed items, sampling wall papers, carpeting, and fabric colors. She saved us many hours. She provided recommendations for contractors, who were local and did an excellent job.Read More

I have worked with Marianne on a variety of projects and am never disappointed. She is very passionate about what she does and it reflects in the design aspects she brings to each one of our remodels. She gets along great with the customers. On the contractor side of things she is a pleasure to work with as she is conscious of the presented budget and very detail oriented. I wish I could incorporate her on all of our projects!Read More

Our company has hired Marianne of Blue Hot Design for material selection on several projects. She has done a phenomenal job for our clients and for our company. On some projects, I have specified exactly how I want materials to look and Marianne has found perfect materials within budget to fit the look. I would recommend Marianne to anyone.Read More

We hired Marianne to help us design our kitchen and it was a great experience from start to finish. We had ideas in our head and Marianne was able to help us sort through those ideas and put together what worked. We gave her a budget to work with and she respected that during the process, helping us pick materials and vendors that could provide the quality and service we expected, at the prices we desired. She always responded promptly to requests and questions, and made us feel comfortable with the whole process. We would absolutely recommend her, and in fact, we already have.Read More

We were puzzled at where to start and decided to ask our friend, Marianne Kohlmann , Blue Hot Design, to consult on our kitchen remodel. We got a wonderful design which incorporated old and new cabinets and drawers, new lighting, paint, flooring and updating trim on cabinets. She has a very good team, they were efficient, excellent at their work and prompt. The project was done in five weeks, faster than predicted and is really beautiful. Marianne was very generous and helped with the details of rehanging art and pottery. We absolutely love the kitchen and the appliances, sinks and hardware. Looks amazing in our 112 year old house.Read More

Marianne was very helpful throughout our entire project. She was always well prepared and brought an abundance of ideas to each meeting. I particularly appreciated how she brought to us ideas that were in line with our budget. Didn't feel like we were being pushed to spend beyond our plans. End result was a very nice project that gets great reviews from everyone that sees it.Read More

As the editor of a regional shelter and design publication, I had the opportunity to closely follow Marianne's work over a period of years, as she is much sought-after in the design-build community, with an outstanding reputation for consistently generating high-quality work. She was a regular winner in our annual design awards. I wrote several feature stories lauding her work, and when the time came to revise my own home, she was my first choice for interior designer. Marianne Kohlmann is a gifted interior designer, not merely for her keen, sophisticated aesthetic sense, but because she is able to put that rare sensibility in the service of realizing the client's dream for their home. I can unreservedly recommend Marianne Kohlmann for any project in need of a top-flight interior designer.Read More

We are working with Maryanne and Blue Hot Design for the second time on a complete remodel. We hired Maryanne again because, aside from being highly organized, creative and efficient, she will put on whichever hat you choose for he to wear--from running a project essentially on her own to working just as easily in collaboration (side-by-side) with the customer. She is extremely professional, available, and thorough as well as a complete pleasure to work with because she is calm in the midst of what could easily become chaotic and overwhelming. She obviously loves what she does, and the team she chooses to work with out in the field is also helpful, enjoyable, passionate and highly knowledgable about their roles, too. Maryanne's services are very reasonably priced and she is highly cognizant of adhering to the budget, offering the same quality regardless of what that limit might be.Read More

I was at a loss how to arrange my front living room. It wasn't conducive to sitting and chatting. It has low windows facing the road, 2 half walls and a huge wall unit on another wall, brought over from Germany. I wanted another place to entertain, other than the kitchen, to relax and converse. The limit of my ability to plan was to have 2 2-seater sofas and odd chairs. Very piece meal, and felt crowded, and like a maize. Marianne worked magic! It is now my favorite room! When I went to buy new furniture, which was badly needed, I knew exactly what to get...I had a professional plan in hand! Instead of lots of bitty pieces, Marianne chose to have the largest possible piece along one wall, to make it look bigger, and the rest she mapped out too. She took exact measurements, and using graph paper, custom drew the size and height of each item, to get the most for the room I had. I highly recommend Marianne's services, she is in demand for a reason, she has a natural talent for design! Thanks again Marianne. Best regards, KarenRead More

We have worked with Marianne on many projects over the years and have never been disappointed. Her professionalism, enthusiasm, and tremendous eye for detail are a big reason in why we continue to bring her aboard on projects. Aside from her many skills as a designer, Marianne excels as a communicator and facilitator of ideas, helping homeowners, tradespeople, and vendors work together towards a common goal. This is ultimately what makes her one of the best in the business.Read More

In the building, remodeling and design industry, it is so refreshing to find professionals who have the ability to provide clients with consistent vision, detailed and effective project management and a genuine reflection of a homeowners vision. Through material selections and inspired touches which create a unique space for each client, not only does Marianne provide this at a high level but she makes it seem effortless and natural. Prepare to have an enjoyable process throughout your remodeling journey; she is a true talent.Read More

We have referred Marianne from Blue Hot Design to several of our clients to help them with selecting new paint colors for the exteriors of their homes. Her ability to show multiple color schemes to a client is a huge plus. Marianne is a creative designer whose fresh prospective on colors, materials, and finishes sets her apart in her field.Read More

I have worked with Marianne Kohlmann on many projects as an interior designer where I was the architect. I highly recommend her work either as a consultant to an architect or directly with the homeowner. She is sympathetic to the architecture of the home to arrive at solutions that fit the place, whether that be modern, Prairie/Organic, or traditional styling. She is also very organized and efficient, working well not only with architects and homeowners but various builders and tradespeople that will be constructing or remodeling these homes. Successful communication between all parties is very important in these projects and Marianne excels at this.Read More