For full service residential interior design, we serve the Niagara region, Hamilton and Burlington areas, including: ​ St. Catharines | Niagara-on-Lake | Niagara Falls | Fort Erie | Stoney Creek | Burlington | Hamilton | Oakville ​ Not from one of these areas? Contact us to discuss our remote design options.

An interior decorator works with an existing space cosmetically, using finishes, furnishings and fixtures, to enhance the function and aesthetics. This is done by applying finishes to existing surfaces, replacing existing fixtures, and adding furnishings and decor. An interior designer creates an entire space, by working with all the integrated structures, systems, and finishings, including structural assemblies, electrical and lighting, HVAC systems, millwork, furniture and finishes. An interior designer works alongside other professionals, such as architects, engineers, and contractors, to ensure all of these components work together to achieve the overall vision of the space with special consideration for accessibility, life safety and sustainability.

Jen Nickel, of Invision Design Solutions, is a professional Interior Designer and a member of ARIDO (Association for Interior Designers of Ontario). She has her NCIDQ certification (National council of Interior Design Qualifications) and over 20 years of experience in the Interior Design field in both commercial and residential applications.

As soon as posssible! If you are thinking about involving our team in your project, it's best to get us involved right from the beginning. This way, we can provide valuable input into the early stages of site planning and architectural design that will impact your interior space. With our holistic approach, we prefer to work as part of a complete design team. If you don't have one, we can help connect you with a dream team of collaborators (architects, engineers, builders, tradesmen etc) to start your project off on the right foot.

As Interior Designers, we love many different styles! But what is more important is your style is. Our design approach is always client-centric. It is our job to identify and understand your style, whether it’s traditional or ultra-modern or somewhere in between, and to create a space that speaks to you. That being said, there are some characteristics that are consistent throughout all of our design work at INVISION Design Solutions: Simplicity: By simple, we don’t mean all clean lines and minimalist style (though we do love those things!). More so, design that creates simplicity in the use of the space. We believe that less is more, and each piece in a space should have significance in function, aesthetics or sentiment. A well-designed space should bring simplicity to day-to-day routines and bring joy to the people using it.​ Colour: Colour has a significant impact on the energy of a space and the personal feelings one has while using that space. Different colours speak to people differently, and scientifically, certain colours have specific benefits. Whether it be pops of bright colour or layers of muted tones, we feel that colour plays an important role in every space.​ Natural materials and inspiration: There has been much research on the impact of nature on human health and wellness. Incorporating nature into your space, either directly (plants and daylight etc.) or indirectly (natural materials or nature-inspired colours and patterns etc) can improve your physical and mental wellness. Healthy spaces need some natural inspiration.

Our design team collaborates with multiple local skilled craftsmen, contractors, and tradespeople to produce the custom designs we create for our clients. There is a lot of design management and facilitation involved in achieving excellent end results, which is a part of the value of working with our talented team.

If our holistic design approach sounds like what you need for your residential project, please fill out our residential project form here. We will contact you to set up a 20-30 min Introductory Phone Call (free of charge) to discuss your further to see if we are a good fit. If you'd like to proceed, a consultation (paid) is step 1 of our design process.

Our consultation is a two hour information-packed session customized for your space and your needs. It is an opportunity for us to see your space (or discuss your new build plans), provide you with design guidance as well as learn more about you and your project. After the consultation, we will provide you with a proposal for one of our design service packages. Learn more about our residential design consultations here.

Our team is highly collaborative, and each of our talented designers is involved in the success of each of our projects. At the onset of the project, you will meet with Jen Nickel, who oversees each project, as well as another one of our designers, whom you will also be communicating with for the duration of the project.

This will vary depending on the size and scope of the project, but most full-service projects typically have a minimum duration of 1 year from our introductory phone call to project completion. New build projects can be up to 3 years from start to completion.

Our residential design consultation is $595 for up to 2 hours. During this consultation, we will determine a scope of work for your project for which we will provide a customized design proposal. Design service fees are determined by the size and scope of a project, and the service level you require. As a guideline, you can plan for the total fees for full service design for a residential renovation or new construction project to be between 10-15% of the total construction cost of a project.

We will always respect your budget, but more than that, we will help you understand what a realistic budget looks like for your project and end goals. We can guide you in determining where it would be wise to make larger investments in quality products, and where you can save money or scale back. There may be times that it makes sense to divide a project into phases to work with the budget. In our initial consultation, we will address these questions before moving into the design concept of a project.

We love incorporating our client’s existing pieces and heirlooms, as this not only adds personality to a space, it encourages a more sustainable approach to design. We will, however, be honest about whether or not the piece will pose limitations on the design, require some modifications, or simply won’t work.

During the implementation phase of your project, we will collaborate with a general contractor (G.C) to oversee the construction of our design. The G.C. will be responsible for scheduling and managing all sub-trades, as well as ordering all of the materials and fixtures that we have specified for the design.

As part of our premium full-service design package, we provide procurement services for all furnishings, window treatments, and decor items. This allows for a stress-free experience where we take care of all of the logistical details for you, and opens up access to our wide range of high-quality, fully-customizable and locally-crafted trade-only sources. If you are looking for a reduced scope of our services, we also offer other service level packages in which we can specify furniture for you to purchase on your own from local retail sources.

INVISION Design Solutions works with suppliers and manufacturers who sell their product only through qualified members of the trade, including interior design professionals. Through our relationship with these companies, we are able to access and sell high quality, customizable products not found in retail stores, and in some cases negotiate discounts off retail pricing especially for our clients. The benefits of purchasing trade-source products through INVISION Design Solutions include: Quality: We offer high quality products that are manufactured locally or within North America. Customization: We offer a wide range of products, many of which are customizable especially for our clients. Price: We offer competitive pricing, extending special discounts to our clients when possible.

We encourage clients to find alternate lodging for the duration of the implementation phase as renovations are very disruptive to everyday life, especially for a family. During the Concept phase of the project, we can give you an idea of the length of time you would be away from the site so that this can be worked into your total investment value and so that you can begin to plan. Living in a renovation state does no favours to the sanity of everyone involved in the project!

Inevitably, interior design often leads to exterior design, with outdoor living areas being integral to the flow and design of a home. We will delve into exterior design typically when it is integrated as part of wider scope of work involving interior design. This may include exterior facades, integrated deck/patio spaces, outdoor kitchens, sheds/pool houses, and overall landscape concepts. As always, for any work outside of our expertise, we will collaborate with the appropriate professionals required, such as architects, engineers, and landscape designers.

INVISION Design Solutions is professionally certified, and has extensive experience in designing commercial and retail spaces that are visually beautiful and highly functional, while meeting requirements for accessibility, life safety and sustainability. We understand how strong interior design solutions can help small businesses and their employees thrive. See examples of our commercial and retail work here.

Every commercial project begins with an introductory phone call to discuss project scope and design service requirements, and to see if we are a good fit for your needs. We will determine our next steps - whether it is an on-site consultation, assessment of architectural drawings, or review of tender request - in order to provide a proposal for design services. To book a commercial or retail design introductory call, please fill out our commercial project form.

During our introductory phone call, we will discuss the scope of your commercial project and your interior design service needs. Design service fees are determined by the size and scope of a project and the service level you require. If an on-site consultation is required to properly assess the project, our consultation fee is $595 +HST. After determining the scope of work, we will provide a custom design proposal. As a guideline, you can plan for the total fees for full service design for a commercial renovation or new construction project to be between $5-15 per square foot of the space to be designed.

We will always respect your budget, but more than that, we will help you understand what a realistic budget looks like for your project and end goals. We can guide you in determining where it would be wise to make larger investments in quality products, and where you can save money or scale back. There may be times that it makes sense to divide a project into phases to work with the budget. If needed, we will work with you and the project design team to value-engineer our design to align with your budget goals.

INVISION Design Solutions has worked successfully with many retail and commercial clients to ensure that the interior design project allows the business to continue to operate safely and effectively, using different strategies depending on the type and scope of the project. This may involve strategically phasing a project or creating a temporary space for business. It is our goal to make the process is as smooth as possible for you, your customers, and your employees.

INVISION Design Solutions will align the design strategy and aesthetic with your corporate brand look, feel, colour palette, and philosophy. We believe that thoughtful interior design is an integral part of a company’s experiential branding. We will work in accordance with your branding guide documents, or if you do not yet have a branding strategy in place, we will recommend consultants that we have successfully worked with in the past. A strong branding strategy is the first step to a successful interior design project.

INVISION Design Solutions will work collaboratively with other creative partners that your business uses for brand ideation, signage, or marketing strategy to ensure the new interior design plan is on brand. Our interior design plan will support and showcase the corporate brand.

INVISION Design Solutions can assist with tendering construction services for our design of your commercial space. We can work with the tendering process requirements of your governing organization, or we can guide you in creating a tender package, with the use of our detailed interior design drawing and specification package.

INVISION Design Solutions will provide project management services during the construction of your commercial project, including regular site visits and meeting reports, communication and collaboration with general contractor and subtrades, reviewing shop drawings and submittals, issuing change orders, and verifying progress for payment certification.

Exterior design is an integral part of a cohesive branded commercial space. We will delve into exterior design typically when it is integrated as part of wider scope of work involving interior design. This may include exterior storefronts or facades, integrated deck/patio spaces, outdoor kiosks, and overall landscape concepts. As always, for any work outside of our expertise, we will collaborate with the appropriate professionals required, such as architects, engineers, and landscape designers.

As part of our premium full-service design package, we provide procurement services for all furnishings, window treatments, and decor items. This allows for a stress-free experience where we take care of all of the logistical details for you, and opens up access to our wide range of high-quality, fully-customizable and locally-crafted trade-only sources. If you are looking for a reduced scope of our services, we also offer other service level packages in which we can specify furniture for you to purchase on your own from local retail sources.

We define sustainable design as design strategies, construction methods and product choices that are healthy for people and the planet. This includes looking at the impact of a project in terms of health and wellness, environmental impact, and social responsibility. There are parameters within these categories that can overlap, and products and methods that can be sustainable in one area but not in another. If sustainable design is a priority for your project, it is important to discuss your overall goals at the beginning of the project, to have a direction to aim for. Interested in learning more? Check out our online resources

Sometimes sustainable design is not on a client’s radar, and often times, it is overwhelming when you start to learn about the many ways our homes and other buildings impact the planet! Any step in the right direction is a great step to take. We take an educational approach with all of our clients and meet them where they are. We can show you many ways, big or small, that can improve the impact that your space makes on your health and the health of the planet.

Yes and no. There many healthy and sustainable design choices that can be simple and cost-effective, like using non-toxic paints instead of conventional paints. And there are also many sustainable design options that can be much more expensive than conventional options, like using solar power. Oftentimes healthy material options are more expensive than unhealthy options, not because of the wellness factor, but because the quality is better. It can be difficult navigating truly green options from "green-washing". That’s why we are here to help guide you in this area. We can help you prioritize which areas to invest more in, and which areas to scale back, identifying the ways that will make a significant impact on the health and sustainability of your space.