Forbes-Ergas Design Associates Inc

I have been a proud resident and shareholder at Scarborough Manor in Westchester for the past 35 years. Recently, the management and board of directors made the decision to hire the design firm Forbes Ergas Design to renovate the hallways in our unique building.

The shareholders were given a choice between two similar designs, and after a vote, the most popular design was selected. I am thrilled to report that the hallways have been completed, and they are absolutely stunning.

The design team, led by Kevin and Karen, was incredibly professional, creative, and experienced throughout the entire process. They conducted a thorough Zoom meeting before the project began, addressing every question posed by residents with clarity and patience.

From the carpet to the lighting, every detail has been impeccably executed. I am truly grateful to Kevin, Karen, and the entire design team for their hard work in enhancing the beauty of Scarborough Manor while remaining cost-effective. Thank you for acting in our best interests and for transforming our hallways into spaces of beauty and elegance.
I highly recommend this design team on every level
From residential to commercial projects.
Thank you again

via Google

Forbes-Ergas was the team we hired for our lobby renovation. They stood out from the other options for their desire to collaborate with us on creating the perfect reflection of our building and shareholders. I can write here, "mission accomplished".
From the start Karen Jack and Kevin McGowan took an open approach to our project. Having recently completed our hallways with another firm, they walked through the building, took into consideration the building architecture, and our proximity to the water in approaching the job ahead. We formed a smaller committee of Board members to lessen the voices at the table and to streamline the conversation. All updates were shared during Board meetings. There was talk of the overall "big picture", some logistical concerns and the intersection of form and function or aesthetics vs. practicality.
They listened and responded with options. They never forced their ideas but merely presented them and if they felt it necessary they made a presentation with "pros and cons".
They provided us with diagrams, sketches and different materials and innovations of which we might not have been aware. Karen attended every meeting and interacted with the contractors we selected as well as the mason. She promised to be our advocate and she never dropped the ball once. That level of support is invaluable. The devil is in the detail and although the timeline may have been prolonged, the investment of time paid off.
I highly recommend Forbes-Ergas. Our lobby is a testament to their ability and has added value to our community. FIVE stars!

via Google

After conducting an extensive search for an interior design firm that would best suit the needs for our coop building’s hallway renovation, Forbes-Ergas overwhelmingly stood out from our shortlist. We knew this would be a challenging project because it had been about 25-30 years since the hallways were last upgraded. Our plan called for a gut renovation to remove and replace every element - floor to ceiling to walls - with a stylish design treatment that re-established the look and feel of the interiors to our mid-century modern aesthetic.

Karen and Kevin, the firms leadership, are incredibly knowledgeable, creative and experienced with every element and phase associated with a major hallway project such as ours. They were on top of all details, and responsive to questions or issues that surfaced - and no matter what, there will be an unexpected issue under the old carpet or behind the old wallpaper. Most important, they quickly and efficiently came up with good solutions for the few instances of the “unexpected”. All in, our scope and few change orders came in close to our original budget - this is due to Kevin’s negotiating skills and positive relationships with vendors and our GC. So crucial!

We are very happy with the end result and so proud of our stylish new lobby and hallways at Highpoint on the Hudson. It might or might not be a coincidence that a number of apartments have sold since the project finished.
Highly recommend… F-E is a fantastic interior design firm to work with!

- Board Director | Hallway Design Team Lead

via Google

Our Manhattan co-op used Forbes-Ergas Design to renovate and modernize all three of our lobbies. We formed a building lobby committee that spent over 6 months exhaustively filtering design firms to find the one that best suited our needs. In the end, Forbes-Ergas was chosen not just for their skill and ability but for their trustworthy approach to our project. They were upfront with their design proposal, showing us in detail their vision of our project. They lived up to their end of the bargain - Karen held weekly meetings to ensure that everyone on the project (management, contractors, staff and board) was on the same page and that things progressed smoothly. Needless to say, with this sort of attention, the end result was extremely gratifying – and also on time and on budget.

Now two years later, the lobbies still look brand new and we have buyers in our building who point to the new lobbies as a key reason for their decision.

I was so impressed with Forbes-Ergas that my wife and I used Karen and Kevin’s expertise to renovate our apartment. The attention to detail (even for our small project) was equally impressive. As others have mentioned, Karen and Kevin are great advocates for the client and treat every project as if it were their own home. If the final product was not up to their standards then it would be re-done until it was perfect.

Having used Forbes-Ergas for institutional and residential work I can strongly recommend them in either capacity. You will be dealing with highly skilled, trustworthy professionals who have your best interest at heart.

via Google

Karen and Kevin have been excellent partners from inception to completion in our hallway and lobby renovation. From the initial design phase to contractor selection through to execution and completion, they have been a consistent advocate for our building. Their attention to detail and design expertise has resulted in a successful project that has garnered numerous compliments from existing and prospective shareholders and will undoubtedly increase our shareholder value. As treasurer for our building, I am especially pleased that this project has come in within budget with no surprises and completely in line with the initial vendor pricing. If you own or are on the board, I urge you to meet with Karen and Kevin and take a look at some of the buildings, including our own, to get a taste for the finished product that is a direct result of the leadership of Forbes Ergas.

via Google