By Lauren Schiffman, Contributing Writer
Westborough – As founder and owner of Westborough-based Rooms with a View, Kate LaCount shares in the excitement of her clients’ home remodeling and renovation projects. In addition to leading the business’ design work, she also manages renovation projects, estimates project costs and works closely with renovation and trade professionals to determine each project’s material and labor needs.
Largely self-taught with some “architectural drawing, design and business management courses early on,” LaCount has long held an interest in home decor. Her career began in her home, where she designed and fabricated window treatments. LaCount then established and managed a flooring department at a local home center. There, her interest in home design and its construction began to develop. That eventually led her to hone her expertise in design and estimating, eventually leading her to open her own retail tile and home decor shop in 2000.
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Today, Rooms with a View offers clients such services as interior/exterior home and commercial design consultation; design, budget planning project management and trade coordination for bath and kitchen renovation projects; specifying tile and home finishes; and coordinating installation services.
When working on a home renovation, clients may choose from tile, stone, wood and vinyl flooring; and glass enclosures, countertops, plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware. LaCount’s trade partners also can secure bathroom and kitchen cabinetry and custom woodwork for projects like built-ins or fireplace mantels.
The variety of products come “from all over the world,” said LaCount. “Most of our ‘international’ offerings are resourced through local distributors with whom we have long standing relationships.” Other products come from specialty manufacturers, like Mediterra Tile and Arto tile, the latter of which offers handmade ceramic and concrete tile. Finally, LaCount and her daughter, who is also part of the team, work together to identify other products they know will meet their client needs as well as their budgets.
LaCount encourages potential clients to visit the Westborough showroom at 45 East Main Street to see the products for themselves. “Browsing is encouraged,” she says, “but for personalized design assistance,” she suggests making an appointment.
What can clients expect when they choose Rooms with a View for a project? First, an interactive meeting helps both the client and Rooms with a View team to articulate their ideas, interests, needs and expectations.
“Our ‘team’ approach offers all the needs related to a design and build project without the typical mark up… I have a flat fee structure for planning, budget and construction phases, which is transparent. Well-established relationships amongst our dedicated and like-minded team make it easy for us to deliver our projects on time and on budget,” LaCount said. She added that project timelines are established and executed efficiently and effectively, which is “critically important” to the Rooms with a View team.
The Rooms with a View showroom is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit www.roomswav.com or call 508-870-2211.