The Story

Lee and Rick did an excellent job on our full house renovation project – 3 floors total. We hired them for both design and project management. It was a great pleasure to have Lee assisted us to go through the whole process which lasted little over 1 year. Lee and Rick are both very open-minded, creative and their design is top notch. We have a traditional house that was built in 1950 and really wanted to transform it to a contemporary style. Lee recommended Transitional style, not only it fits our house’s existing structure but gives a very sharp and elegant look. Colors are always very tricky and tones/shade can change depends on the time of the day/year. Lee took the time and explained the science behind it. He knows exactly what the trendy colors are. Lee is available to talk even at very late of the night (just text him before calling) and willing to accommodate our schedule at last minute. They have various supply vendors throughout the NYC and we were given the best deal you can possibly get. Their high-low strategy helped us to achieve the look we want at a price we can afford. Overall, we are very satisfied with the design and services pleasant living has provided for us. Pleasant Living lives up to its name.
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We first worked with Rick Shaver and Lee Melahn in 2001. We were renovating and expanding our Princeton, NJ home, a 1950's modern structure. Every aspect of the house was tired. Not only did Rick and Lee assist in the design of the new addition, they transformed all aspects of the existing structure. They listened to our desires, interpreted our sometimes confusing direction, and pushed us outside our comfort Zone. They worked seamlessly with our architect/builder team making the entire experience a pleasure. The result: stunning. We continue to enjoy the beauty, sophistication and comfort they created in our Princeton home. Next, we asked them to provide a facelift to my first, small, dark, one bedroom NYC apartment, now used as our pied a tier. It is located in a pre-war building on the upper west side of New York. I gave Shaver/Melahn complete free reign. They took down a wall, installed a new kitchen, repaired and painted walls and designed a fresh, new look in fabrics and furnishings. Literally, I saw the place before and then after. All completed on time, on a shoe-string budget, and with great style. Finally, in 2007, we asked this team to manage and execute the interior design of our new 10,000 sq. ft .Naples, Florida home. Once again, they were an important part of the architectural and building team, and oversaw every detail in the design. The project lasted over 2 years. Rick and Lee stood by us at every turn. Once again, they were able to capture our personality and lifestyle and create a comfortable, elegant space. The outcome is extraordinary. Bottom line, this design team knows how to create environments that work. They understand "on time and on budget". Their ability to find unique solutions when working on a tight budgets is remarkable. And yet, they took our larger home and budget and created a showstopper. I look forward to our next project together.
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My company has been working with Rick Shaver and Lee Melahn since 2012. We have worked with them on numerous projects since that time and have had a positive experience all along. Both are talented designers and are professional in their approach to their projects. They have always treated our staff with kindness and respect which I know carry's over to their clients. Much of the work we have done for them has been on a custom basis and their communication skills are superb. It is imperative that we have solid communication when working on large projects of custom pieces, and they did not disappoint. We value our relationship with Rick and Lee and look forward to many years of continued collaboration.
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It is always a true joy to work with the Pleasant Living team. The Vision Council has executed numerous successful events over the years with the help of Pleasant Living's design expertise - specifically, media-centered events at vision trade shows, as well as at South by Southwest conferences. The Pleasant Living team offers assistance from start to finish of all projects, keeping the clients' goals and budget top of mind throughout. They work extremely hard to understand the vision of the project, and without a doubt have always exceeded our expectations. Not only that, but they're just lovely to work with and be around, making each project they're on feel that much more seamless and enjoyable. The Vision Council would highly recommend Pleasant Living to absolutely anyone on the market for a top-notch design team!
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We were lucky enough to have Lee and Rick as neighbors for many many years and have learned a lot from them. Other than being big fans of their work, they are a pleasure to work with!
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Pleasant Living's expertise changed the quality of my life 100%. Their outstanding sense of design, their thorough attention to detail, and their restrained sophisticated taste transformed my environment multidimensionally-- working with color, flow, function, lighting, pattern, composition, layout- all the while creating a unified whole.
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Having worked with Rick & Lee previously we had no doubt we would work with them and their team on our latest project. Not only are they professional and creative but enjoyable as well. They were respectful of our budget and took whatever amount of time and attention required to meet our needs. We would not hesitate to work with them again and can highly recommend them.
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Rick and Lee are consummate professionals who consider all aspects of their clients' projects, and give great time and thought in researching the most appropriate vendors for the projects. Their courtesy and patience for all players within in the process create long lasting relationships that are valued for their integrity and enjoyment.
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