My Foundation
What I've learned is that great design doesn't announce itself. It invites you in.​
​
I began my career in Michigan, working side-by-side with respected custom-home builders and trusted trades. Grand Rapids--once called Furniture City for the heritage brands it built, from Baker, Knapp and Tubbs to John Widdicomb--set my first benchmarks for craftsmanship. I didn't come from design school; I came from job sites and on-the-job learning. That foundation grounded my approach and earned credibility with both clients and construction teams.
​
Through those years, I built a reputation for delivering work with substance, clarity, and modern vision with of process and craft, often joining assembled craftsmen to manifest large custom homes and renovations that demanded working knowledge. The momentum opened the door to new opportunities abroad, where I spent nearly a decade immersed in demanding. large-scale projects across the Arab Gulf.
​
My overseas portfolio came to include contributing to hospitality environments, private beach resorts, medical campuses and royal compounds--each requiring close collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. My concepts often relied on the unique skills of artisanal workshops specialized in producing furniture, textiles, and decorative objects that brought our installations to life. During this period, I deepened my understanding of luxury as an experience shaped by clarity, intention, and well-orchestrated execution.
​​​​
"Joseph is a design arbiter. His passion for sourcing unique pieces from around the world and creating an element of surprise in his rooms lends his work a global sensibility not often found."​​
--Ariane Nardo, Editor-in-Chief, SHELTER Magazine
​​​​​
This desire to imagine and execute a singular vision is what drives my work today. For all projects regardless of scope, my goal is the same: to create spaces that serve as the backdrop of a life well lived.
​
