Topnotch Design Studio

Topnotch Design Studio is a kitchen-and-bath design studio in Hanover, on the South Shore, that doesn't build anything itself — it designs, then partners with outside general contractors, architects, and interior designers to construct what it draws up. The company says founder Patty Winberg started it in 2006, and that her design team now averages more than 20 years of industry experience apiece. The renovations people actually hire them for run bigger than a single room. One recent client describes working with designer Sara Babson on what they call "a huge restoration and renovation project" — a new kitchen, three bathrooms, a mudroom, a pantry, and a laundry room relocated to a different floor. Other reviewers name a second designer, Christina, as easy to deal with and responsive from the design phase through installation. Across platforms the ratings hold at 5.0 out of 5 — 29 reviews on Houzz, 9 on Google — with no negative reviews turning up recently, and Houzz separately credits the studio with 9 Houzz Awards and 58 documented projects. The one thing worth nailing down before signing on: Topnotch designs and coordinates, but hands construction off to a partner general contractor, so ask upfront who that will be and how the design fee splits from the build cost. For a full kitchen-and-bath overhaul rather than a single fixture swap, this looks like a design partner with a clean five-star history behind it — just make sure you're as comfortable with the contractor they pair you with as you are with the designer.