DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse

33 Reviews

Interior Designers

28 Hires on Houzz

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About Us

References available

Offers Custom Work

Family owned

Pittsburgh Full Service Interior Designer & Best of Houzz 2016-2018

I’ve been a designer all my life. I started out choosing the bedspreads and paint colors for my bedroom at age 13 and selecting wallpaper at my grandmother’s farmhouse while in high school. All of this led to a career in the design and home décor field for more than 15 years all while my wife and I were raising five boys. Hence, the name DesignFive, because if I can have a stylish, well-designed home with five active boys, surely I can help you. Everyone should live in a space that has style and functions for their lifestyle – whether you’re a young professional, busy family, or empty nester. When the day is done, your home is your respite from your hectic life. There’s no reason why your home can’t look great, but from my perspective, form should always follow function. I like to say “make it work, then make it look good.” As my happy clients have experienced, there is no reason the process shouldn’t be enjoyable. Our goal is to make a process that can be stressful into a fun experience. While there may be thousands of design ideas on your Pinterest board, we will simplify the design process and work with your budget to help with anything from interior and exterior paint colors, furniture and accessory selection, and layouts to more extensive renovations including kitchens, bathrooms, and new construction. Our team has the capability to provide as much or as little project management as needed for your situation. We also have a comprehensive network of contractors to complete any project. Let's get started on your next project!

Services Provided

3D Rendering, Art Selection, Basement Design, Bathroom Design, Bedroom Design, Closet Design, Color Consulting, Custom Bathroom Vanities, Custom Blinds & Shades, Custom Bookcases, Custom Built-ins, Custom Cabinets, Custom Entertainment Centers, Custom Fireplace Mantels, Custom Furniture, Custom Home Bars, Custom Kitchen Cabinets, Custom Shelving, Custom Storage, Design Consultation, Dining Room Design, Entry Design, Floor Plans, Furniture Selection, Home Office Design & Construction, Home Staging, Home Theater Design, Interior Design, Kids Bedroom Design, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodeling, Laundry Room Design, Lighting Design, Living Room Design, Mudroom Design, Nursery Design, Outdoor Kitchen Design, Playroom Design, Project Management, Space Planning, Universal Design, Wine Cellar Design

Areas Served

Allison Park, Aspinwall, Avalon, Baldwin, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Bethel Park, Bloomfield, Carnot-Moon, Castle Shannon, Cecil-Bishop, Crafton, Dormont, Edgeworth, Emsworth, Glenshaw, Green Tree, Heidelberg, Imperial, Ingram, Jefferson Hills, Leetsdale, McKees Rocks, Mount Lebanon, Mt. Lebanon, Oakland, Pennsbury Village, Pittsburgh, Pleasant Hills, Rosslyn Farms, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, South Park Township, Thornburg, Upper Saint Clair, West Mifflin, Whitehall

Awards

Houzz Recommended Professional - 2015 Best of Houzz 2016

Projects

Modern Lake House

Pittsburgh, USA

Clean + Cool Primary Bathroom

Light + Modern Kitchen

Light + Modern Entry, Sitting, and Living Room

Elegant Kitchen Refresh

Pittsburgh, USA

Modern Basement Build-Out

Pittsburgh, USA

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Business Details

Business Name

DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse

Phone Number

+1 412-960-4874

Website

designfive.com

Address

Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Followers

106 Followers

Socials

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Credentials

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Featured Review

beckchush

Working with DesignFive was a joy! Seeing their vision for our kitchen renovation become a reality was amazing. Steve and Mark really understood how to improve the design of our space to make it work better for our family. Read Full Review

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33 Reviews for DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse

Newest first

4.9|33 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

Lilly Madrid

It was an absolute pleasure working with Steve and his team. They were extremely kind, thoughtful, and professional. They listened to us at every step of the way, kept the project on track, and we could not be happier with how our kitchen turned out. In addition to having a positive experience with the DesignFive team, we were extremely happy with all of the people they brought in to support different elements of the project, such as cabinets, countertops, and construction.

23 June, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks Lily, we loved working with you and Alex and appreciate all of the referrals that you have already sent our way.

bgm43493

Impressed with DesignFive's completed and ongoing projects at my son's home, I asked them for help choosing rugs. Rugs led to light fixtures, and then to drapery panels. I love all the colors, patterns and fixtures they recommended. Definitely not "high-pressure", Steve and Mark exude confidence in their recommendations while allowing me to have the final say. I smile when I walk in my front door and know that their decorating skills elevated my house from pretty [boring] to wow! There are still a few areas I want to address and, without a doubt, DesignFive will be the first call I make when I'm ready to start.

6 June, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

We appreciate your kind words, Emily. We have loved making selections for your home and seeing the impact they have on your spaces. We're so happy with how everything turned out and really enjoyed working together.

L.S. Werner

I have engaged Design Five several times over the years for both small and large design and renovation projects. Steve and his staff have always been prompt and receptive to my inquiries and sensitive to my esthetics and budget when offering design alternatives. I highly recommend Design Five for all your design needs.

6 June, 2023Last modified:6 June, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks, Linda. We've enjoyed helping with your home and working together to create designs and find solutions. We love how everything has turned out.

beckchush

5 June, 2023Last modified:6 June, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks so much, Becky. We all loved working on your kitchen and seeing the transformation was a great experience for us. We're so glad you all love it and we think the finished space looks amazing.

Greg Vose

Steve, Mark, and Delaney did an excellent job coordinating all aspects of the interior design of our new home. We started working with DesignFive shortly before we moved in, where we needed help furnishing several floors of living space and also making modifications to the kitchen and powder room. DesignFive seamlessly guided us through each step of the redesign, and we actually ended up having a lot of fun throughout the entire process. They provided slideshows of each room we were furnishing with different options that we worked through until we arrived at a result we were thrilled with. One of the biggest advantages to working with DesignFive was that they did all of the coordinating with the furniture companies, painters, laborers, manufacturers, contractors, seamstresses, etc., making the process so much easier and enjoyable. Substantively, DesignFive did a masterful job taking our ideas and feedback and turning them into the home we always wanted. We look forward to working with DesignFive on future projects!

4 June, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks so much for the kind words, Greg. We loved working on your home and had a great time coming up with designs and collaborating with both of you. The finished spaces are amazing and we love how everything came together to create a beautiful home.

quadroplet

Design Five worked with us to redecorate our living room/ dining room. They really understood our aesthetic right from the first meetings and gave us designs that were exactly what we were looking for. Now we have built-in bookcases that look original, new lighting, all new furniture and rugs, and an accent wall with a wallpaper mural that I absolutely adore. Steve and Mark were great to work with, and we would highly recommend them!

22 February, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

We really appreciate your review, Lesley. Our team enjoyed working with both of you and loved designing your spaces. We are so glad that you are happy with the finished rooms!

Melissa

Steve & his team helped me redesign the entire first floor of my house. I could never have imagined or envisioned the suggestions they came up with to redesign the space. They were attentive & listened. Their expertise in the entire process was impressive. We redesigned the space, helped me with color palettes, painting, flooring, lighting & furniture choices. If I did not like a suggestion or choice, they respected it & offered new ones. I really appreciated not feeling pressured to listen to the expert & staying true to my likes & choices. Steve has many vendors & experts he trusts & works with. From closet designers to tile experts, to window treatment services, he made sure I had the right teams, the price range I needed, & the choices I wanted. I am extremely pleased with my first-floor renovations & would highly recommend them for any type of design service.

31 January, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

We appreciate your kind words, Melissa. Our team enjoyed working on your project and we're so glad that you're pleased with the finished designs.

Jeff Hitchan

Do you know your "Style"? We don't but Steve and his team do! From the paint colors, fabrics and layout, Steve and his team put it all together. We love coming home and melting into our "Style"! Theirs is an awesome gift that we enjoy more each day. Jeff and Diane Hitchan

31 January, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Wow, what a glowing review! We're kind of embarrassed but in a good way. I wouldn't expect anything less from such a sweet and genuine couple. We have always loved working with the two of you.

Jon and Maria

We hired DesignFive on a recommendation from our contractor. From the planning phase through to finishes, Steve and his team were a pleasure during our 10 month project. They were patient, polite and professional throughout the project. In fact, we were so pleased, we hired them for design work at our business, They took our ideas into consideration every step of the way and somehow managed to make each one even better than we had imagined. We highly recommend DesignFive and will hire them again in the future.

31 January, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thank you Jon and Maria, we appreciate your kind words. We are so happy with how everything turned out at your project and we really enjoyed working with both of you.

Jim Malone

Steve and his team were a huge help for us after we purchased our new home. We needed somebody with local knowledge and connections who could also provide us with guidance on how best to improve our home to meet our needs as new parents adjusting to a new city. The DesignFive team assisted us with furnishing the first floor of our house and also expanding the primary bathroom and closets. The project wrapped up a few months ago and we are very happy with the results.

25 January, 2023

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks Jim, we really enjoyed working on your project and we're glad to hear that you're happy with the finished spaces. Everything turned out great.

Joanne Currie

I have known Steve since before he launched his design firm and feel so fortunate to have finally had the opportunity to work with him on our own home. He has helped us with a re-design of our master bathroom to an expanded footprint. He gave suggestions for how to update our living room and dining room at minimal cost; and has now led us through a redesign of our kitchen. Stay tuned for before and after! We just ordered the cabinets. He is patient and kind, unpretentious and extremely talented. He listens, he understands, he interprets and advises. It has been a wonderful collaboration. We trust him completely and highly, highly recommend him.

26 May, 2021Last modified:26 May, 2021

Kelly Cullen

Steve decorated our living room and kids’ room and later our kitchen and powder room. As you can see from our repeat business - Steve is fantastic! He quickly figured out our style and provided options we loved installed by talented contractors. The process was easy and we are thrilled with the results!

13 October, 2020

Kathleen Fischer

Steve was great to work with! He listened to my requests, and after our initial meeting he and his team came up with a design that would work for me. He brought samples to my house to make choosing materials easy and cohesive. He was willing to make changes when requested and worked with me until I was satisfied. Steve stayed in touch throughout the process to make sure things were going smoothly, and he offered suggestions when any problem occurred. I would recommend DesignFive!

18 April, 2020

Comment from DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse:

Thanks Kathleen, you were really easy to work with and the kitchen turned out great. Thanks for the kind words.

Mary Spires

My husband & I purchased a beautiful home in Pine Township in Fall of 2016, However, it really needed major design updates in the interior and some minor design color changes to the exterior. We didn't realize how much we needed an outstanding designer until about a week before we closed on the house. I was up late one night researching designers. When I read and saw the quality designs of Design Five and Steve Shorthouse, I was immediately impressed. The great part was when I called him the very next day, he responded immediately to my request to meet for a consultation of the entire home, over 3000 square feet. Luckily, we had about 6 weeks before we needed to move in to get everything designed from a paint color perspective. He arrived the day after we closed and we went room by room and selected each paint color. It worked out perfectly! Steve has a natural ability for selecting paint colors to match existing furniture and home decor. He was also very easy to work with, accommodating to your schedule, and made the entire experience a lot of fun! Since our very first meeting, he has been actively involved in other house projects for us and continues to be our main home designer. He redesigned a beautiful shower for our hall bath. He has helped pick other furnishings and fixtures. He is our designer and also a very trusted and good friend to our family. We feel very fortunate to have met Steve and look forward to working with Design Five for many more projects in the near future.

5 February, 2020

Carole Sup

I can't imagine having done this project without Steve. We built a new townhouse (the "Modern Townhouse" in DesignFive's photos), and Steve was instrumental at every stage from structural decisions, to finishing selections, to furnishings and accessories. He listened to our priorities and taste, and was true to our vision and made it even better with great ideas. He takes every detail seriously, always with a positive and upbeat attitude -- he was great to work with. We had a weekly call to keep the project on track, and Steve was always organized for the call. Steve was responsive throughout. Retaining Steve was one of the best decisions we made, and I would do so again in a heartbeat.

28 April, 2018

TH Trade Design

WE LOVE STEVE! He is an incredibly talented designer and we love working with him here at TH Trade. We highly recommend him for any of your design needs!

30 January, 2018Last modified:30 January, 2018

Quinn Johnson

I would give Steve six stars if I could! We needed his help in a hurry and he jumped in as if he had always been on the project. He helped us find a design that fit our style and fit seamlessly into our home's original design. He also made great recommendations on how to be both stylish and kid friendly at the same time. Steve is a paint and color genius and worked well with our contractors. My only regret is that I did not bring him into our project sooner.

3 October, 2017

Jennifer Simonsen

Steve did a fabulous job decorating our home. He helped us with everything from changing the island, and backsplash in our kitchen to wall colors, furnishings, carpeting, lighting, wall art, window treatments and table top décor in our family room, sunroom, living room, foyer, extra bedroom and bath and our master bedroom. He not only has great taste and ideas, he takes the time to learn about how you live and what you are trying to achieve with your living spaces and comes up with practical ideas that fit in with the design and decorating. Plus he is a pleasure to work with. We could not of been happier with the work he did for us.

24 July, 2017

Joe Kotelnicki

Steve is the consummate professional. We contacted Steve when, at the end of a renovation project, we became paralyzed in our ability to make one more decision. We were in a time crunch, but Steve made time to come over and assist us with wall colors, furniture selections, furniture placements, art placement and recommendations for area rugs. He became our "calm in the storm." His advice is thoughtful, reasonable, and feasible. He is good at "reading people" and could quickly fill in the blanks for us just through questions and conversation.

26 February, 2017

Melissa W

We'd never worked with an interior designer before we met Steve. We were worried a designer would be overly opinionated, too expensive and make us feel like we had no taste! Steve was the opposite--he was completely open to our ideas and what's more, improved on all of them. We initially hired him for advice with paint colors and flooring options, but we liked him so much we had him design a new bar and backsplash for our kitchen. Steve has contacts with great contractors, so that made the job that much easier. Steve monitored their work and made sure everything was done professionally. He stayed in touch with us at every step, was very budget-conscious, and what's more, he's a really nice guy! We highly recommend him.

8 February, 2017

sachdevu2

I've known Steve for years. He is so professional, and has always done an excellent job! He is diligent, hard working, and works well with a budget.

23 November, 2016

blandish

Steve has an extraordinary eye for detail and color. Plus, he's easy to work with and was imaginatively responsive to this client's needs.

7 July, 2016

reneezav

Steve is absolutely wonderful. He made himself available very quickly (because we needed someone on short notice.) Was extremely friendly and easy to talk to. He puts colors together very well and came up with fantastic ideas to make a room look chic and classy. From floors, trim, rugs, furniture, tables, countertops - he does it all!!! You can buy your own stuff ad he helps pick- or he can pick it for you. He is willing to work with any budget which is very helpful. He adds in ideas that you would have never thought about which makes me really grateful that we hired help with our kitchen and living room. Able to see where things should be placed without it even being there! Will definitely use for the rest of this project and future projects!

8 January, 2016

amitashah17

Steve is great person to work with. He helped us build our new house. He is great at suggesting color combination for wall colors, back splash, furniture color matching to room. He is very accomodative with your time. Me and my husband both being physician, have less time to run around. He helped us make our decision for different selections very quickly. He is honest too. If your selection wont look good, he will tell you upfront. It worked out very well for us. I would highly recommend Steve for interior designer.

14 December, 2015

rosedavidson611

Steve was very helpful pulling my project together. He understood my needs and found us what we needed! He selected the perfect back splash tiles and added the designer touch to the layout! We will call him again.

1 October, 2015Last modified:3 November, 2015

dawnsauter

I have worked with Steve over 10 years. I have hired Steve to work on my home and on projects through a contract furniture dealership that I own. Steve has an incredible sense of color. He is thorough and listens to client input. He is mindful of a budget and gets the most with the resources available. He does a great job of researching the options and suggesting 3 or 4 that provide enough choice but not so much as to overwhelm.

1 October, 2015

aspinola

Steve Shorthouse is very knowlegable with a pleasant attitude. He did a fantastic job on the interior design of my dining room and living room.

17 April, 2015

kathmajewski004

Steve is a great designer! We have used him in 3 different houses. One of the houses he designed was a spec. From the blue prints, he was able to identify needs for additional windows, select all lighting, paint, cabinets, furniture and accessories, etc., all sight unseen. We get so many compliments on his work.

8 April, 2015

chrispie

I have worked with Steve on several projects over the past few years, including my living and dining rooms, a master bedroom and bath remodel, and a powder room. Steve is easy to work with and full of creative ideas. He is able to stay within a budget, respects the client's vision, and understands that ugly family heirlooms must sometimes be incorporated into a design. Steve has a great eye for color and fabric but he will also work with items the client already has. He is willing to do as much or as little as the client desires. He is also unfailingly polite and punctual.

8 April, 2015

kkanavy

Steve did a great job in arranging my pictures on the wall of my front room and painted my chimney wall too. Very professional and on time. He also arranged my bookshelves and the placement of my furniture in the front room.

6 April, 2015

Jerry Horn Construction, Inc.,

Working with Steve was great! He's a very vibrant, upbeat person and is willing to listen to your thoughts and ideas and incorporate them with his own to give YOU what you truly desire in your decorating scheme!

6 April, 2015

teamej

For several years, Steve provided us with interior design advice for our townhouse. He was consistently creative, professional and reasonably priced and we were very happy with his work. Based on that experience with him, we hired him to be a full service Project Manager when we bought a single family home this summer that required very extensive renovations. This was a project of enormous scope and expense and Steve handled it like the pro that he is. We essentially gutted a four bedroom home and Steve was responsible for managing multiple contractors (working simultaneously) on all aspects of the construction as well as all of the interior design work. Working side by side with us, Steve turned a shell of a house into a showplace. His recommendations and advice on everything from light switches to kitchen cabinets reflected not only his enormous talent in interior design but also his familiarity with the nuts and bolts of major construction work (including plumbing, electrical, etc.). He designed rooms, instructed contractors on how to implement his designs, then filled the finished rooms with beautiful paint colors and furniture. For over six months, he was completely devoted to our project and is an extremely hard worker. We couldn't be happier with his work and have recommended him to many of our friends and colleagues.

28 March, 2015Last modified:6 April, 2015

karenreinecke

Steve designed and decorated a new kitchen and family room area and new master bath for our home. The results are amazing. He has a great eye for color and detail, pays attention to budgeting, stays on schedule and communicates project information between suppliers and owners efficiently. We were not on the premises for the renovation of our master bath and Steve oversaw the whole process for us, kept us posted and everything was completed on schedule. Couldn't be happier working with anyone.

27 March, 2015

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14 Comments

Commented: Is the artwork available for retail purchase somewhere?Hi, thanks for your interest in this art. That particular piece is an original painting from Saatchi so it is no longer available for purchase. However, Saatchi does sell prints of that piece. Click h...

5 February, 2023

Commented: where is the wood sculpture fromHi, thanks for your question. Are you referring to the stick wall sculpture on the green wall?

4 December, 2019

Commented: vanitySorry for the delay in responding. The vanity is from Mouser Custom Cabinetry and the supplier in the Pittsburgh area is JacobEvans (Mike Bonato 412-922-1200)

16 August, 2016

Commented: consoleYes, it's from the Corridor line from BDI. It comes in different sizes and two colors. Let me know if you need help finding a retailer in your area.

5 May, 2016

Commented: Blue pendants cI'm glad you like the pendants. They are one of my client's favorite items in her home. We purchased then from ABC Home in New York. They are called Happy Kiss Pendants. Here’s the link: http://w...

29 April, 2016

Commented: What colour of grout did you use on the floor?Choosing grout depends on the specific tile. I selected this grout by looking for the one that blends in or disappears within the entire range of colors in the floor tile. Anywhere you purchase tile...

13 March, 2016

DesignFive - Steve Shorthouse