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THE GREAT INDOORS: A father and daughter's "Design Manifesto"
Striking a balance between architectural sensibility and eye-popping aesthetic, a father-daughter team navigate their way through the Philly design scene.
THE GREAT INDOORS: A father and daughter's "Design Manifesto"
Reporter Meg Augustin takes you inside some of Philly's most fab dwellings to showcase our city's unique grasp on design and architecture.
Maneuvering through the professional design world can be tricky. There are numerous competitive design schools, HGTV Design Star-style standoffs and now the self-made design bloggers of the world are a million and counting. So how does a new Moore graduate navigate through the design maze?
She asks her dad.
While father-knows-best mentalities hold little weight in the modern world, for Naomi and Andrew Stein, that’s where it all began. “I went to my father and made him a proposal: teach me design and I will run the marketing and business end of the company.” The recent graduate had grown up among residential construction sites and remodeling sketches that spawned a love of design and the Cinderella practice of befores and afters. Her father, a certified kitchen and bath designer, had spent his professional life learning about the construction of buildings via demolition sights and then later through a master craftsman. After honing his skills, he started his own residential remodeling company in 1973. Years later, when his own daughter approached him with a deal, he was ready to take it.
Naming their company Design Manifest the father-daughter team have worked together for seven years and it’s been the best decision for both them and their clients. Naomi notes, “We actually do have a lot of fun together. I think we both derive a lot of joy and pride from creating quality, beautiful spaces … I am the typical ambitious, impatient entrepreneur, where he is the wise, successful, patient one. We really do balance each other out well.” That balance is evident in their design. While many designers have difficulty translating their design objectives into construction lingo, the Stein’s shared respect — and family ties, of course — help them discover the details that get lost in translation. “Often times designers and carpenters have a hard time getting or relating to each other. This is where our father-daughter relationship really benefits us ... The design-build process is very intertwined. I consult with my father every step of the way as I develop the designs," says Naomi. "Good design really needs to work well and [he] always makes sure this is a priority.” While the father-daughter communication is evident in their design, so are their ages. The company benefits from Andrew’s wisdom and perfection that comes from years of being a carpenter and Naomi’s young passion and inspiration from modern design and finishing touches.
There’s nothing like a designer’s touch to take a house from 85 to 100 percent. For Naomi, design isn’t just about looking good, it’s about practicality, as well. “I want to know not only what makes a room pretty, but what makes a room work. What did they do with that awkward corner? How far apart is that sofa from those chairs? Details make good pictures, but layouts make good life.”
Interested in having your home featured in The Great Indoors? Email Meg at megan.augustin@citypaper.net.
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What an amazing duo! I loved reading about the brains and talent behind the beautiful work of Design Manifest. Seems like the perfect recipe for success!— nelya
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