My Story

Judith A. Neary, CMKBD

Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer

Read this first;

Most of my portfolio is on my phone.
I am the best kept secret on the island.
I don’t engage much with social media - I don’t have time. If I am on social media its usually a post, “And the conversation went like this…” - because its something funny and fun that has happened on a project.
In the long haul - its about the relationship and if we can work together. Its a small community and I am not interested in being run over in the Thrift-way parking lot.
It’s about you and what you want - not me. I get to live vicariously in the process of assisting you with your home.

Judith is a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD). Her career began at the age of four, designing block furniture and clothing for her troll dolls.

She eventually grew up. After graduating design school, she focused her career in medical, hospitality and commercial design. Thanks to the troll dolls she discovered a passion for custom woodworking, cabinetry and furniture design.

She found a new creative challenge working with a national retailer in merchandising, design and training. Her responsibilities included development and implementation of business processes, installation programs, showroom space planning and design. She then took advantage of a career change and moved to the manufacturing side of the business, reigniting her first passion for custom woodworking, cabinetry and furniture design.

As one of the professional instructors for the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), she offered a comprehensive learning experience to international markets. She is an founding member of the Jenn-Air Design Advisory Council. In service for eight years, she and other noted design professionals provided feedback from a designer perspective on the Jenn-Air appliance brand as well as other Whirlpool Corporation brands.

Judith contributes to trade publications for the industry by writing on a variety of topics of interest for both the design professional and homeowner. She frequently co-lectures across North America with Corey Klassen about the business side of interior design to other like-minded industry professionals. Judith and Corey are regularly featured guests of LuAnn Nigara on her podcasts “A Well-Designed Business”.

Her design practice celebrates the eclectic arts and food-avore culture of the Vashon Island community where her studio and home is located. Judith is known for doing “weird” really well.

In addition to her design practice she is the Director for Rjs Kids, an island based non-profit dedicated to supporting undeserved island residents of all ages.

Click here to find out more about me.

how i work

For those considering a design project:

It’s a three legged stool. You, me and the contractor. It’s going to be fun at first then your home will be turned upside down. There are thousands of articles and blogs on how to survive this. Here are my top words of wisdom;

You each get a non-negotiable from your wish list. Everything else becomes a compromise.
Have some additional funds for the surprises and the “OMG – I must have that!” moment. After the investment, both emotionally and financially, in the project you should not have the “I wish we had done that” moment at completion.
Be prepared to make decisions and commit to them. If you have uncertainty about anything - you need to say so before the hammers start swinging. Fixing things after the fact is just flat out painful for everyone involved.
Humans are involved. Unforeseen issues will occur in the construction calendar, delays due to product not being available, quality issues etc etc etc.

Awards & Accolades

2021 Kitchen & Bath Design News Innovator

“As a result of her association with the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Judith Neary, CMKBD, of Roadside Attractions Design Studio, in Vashon, WA, has had the opportunity to instruct professional development and certification preparatory classes across North America. As one of the tenured professional instructors for NKBA, she provides a comprehensive learning experience to designers of all skill levels. Her current work includes lead content coordinator and contributing subject matter expert for the soon-to-be-released revised and updated NKBA “Kitchen And Bath Planning Guidelines” as well as other professional development projects.

Neary has lectured at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and other industry events about the business side of design. She has also been a featured guest for “A Well-Designed Business” with LuAnn Nigara at her trade event and on her podcasts.

Her design practice serves a single zip code (Vashon Island, WA), where she is known for doing “weird” really well. In 2014 she and her husband established a non-profit to honor the life of their son. As director for the non-profit, Rjs Kids, her current project is building a multi-use outdoor recreation park that includes skateboarding, a pump track and public art features in support of underserved community members. The project includes apprentice training programs partnered with skilled craftsman and artists to create the art features in the park.”

Kitchen & Bath Design News

Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines

With Support Spaces and Accesibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I hire a design professional to help me with my project even though I know what I want because I saw it on Houzz?

Consider the professional designer as the third leg of the stool; you have the contractor, homeowner and designer. A professional designer can interpret the vision you have for your home. Contractors are going to ask for details. A professional designer can provide those details and help streamline the process.

How do I find the right designer?

It’s just like trying to find the right contractor. Every creative will have their particular “zone of genius”. Some may be good at interior furnishings, others may specialize in kitchen and bath design, some may be architects focusing on interiors. Because you will be working with them over an extended period of time it’s important to find the right fit for your personality and your project. A seasoned professional designer will make the project about you and not about them. In other words, they should be helping you with your vision - not imposing their personal vision of what they think you should have.

How much do you charge?

Here is my philosophy; every project is as unique as the homeowner and their expectations. So, my services should adapt to the project requirements and the homeowners needs. I use a “Menu of Services” for each project customizing my skills for the homeowners and contractors expectations. I offer a complementary initial consultation, this is best when the conversation is in the home. From that meeting I develop a proposal on how we can work together.

Why Should I Hire A Licensed Contractor When I Can Do It Myself?

The perception is that if you do it yourself you save money. In some instances, this has a positive outcome...in other instances, not so much. Every project has innumerable variables that contribute to a positive outcome. Hiring a licensed trade professional is one of those variables. Think of it as a surgical procedure – do you want to hire the person that has “some power tools” or do you want a qualified surgeon with a team?

How Do I Identify The Right Contractor For My Project?

Every contractor has a “zone of genius”. An example would be one contractor might be specialized in new construction, another contractor might be a handyman and only handle minor repairs. Another contractor might focus on remodels that include kitchen and baths. Some factors to consider in finding the right contractor; the overall project and your personality. They’re going to be in your home for a long time because some projects take a while. Make sure that it’s a good match professionally and personally.

What Should i Do Before I Hire a Contractor?

There are many things but here are a few that are important. In today’s world many people rely on a handshake or a text message that says, “let’s go ahead”. Always have a contract in place even if it’s a Letter of Agreement or a fully disclosed Contract. Always ask for referrals, both good and bad. Every project is going to go in a ditch or hit a bump in the road. It’s about how they navigate out of the ditch or over the that bump and finish the project. Ask the contractor for a project calendar with a start date and a possible end date. This is important because you’ll know what to expect over the course of the project. New construction has a different calendar than a remodel. Expect that the calendar is always going to change because of unforeseen circumstances.

Why Does It Cost So Much?

Consider where we live, the cost of materials and goods, the shortage of labor and housing and a very busy remodeling economy.

As A Homeowner, I Don’t Understand Why It’s So Complicated And why It Should Take So Long?

The number one delay in any project are unexpected issues with the site. Number two is the homeowner’s ability to make decisions; decisions must be made in order for the project to proceed. Changing your mind changes the outcome. Another factor is the availability of subcontractors at key points in the project – they may be on another project that has been delayed.