THE PROCESS

Our design-build process gives you the structure of a renovation firm, the creativity of a design agency, the craftsmanship of your grandfather, and the heart of a neighbor.

Working with Still Am Studios is different—because our why is different. We didn’t start this business because we had to. We started it because we were passionate consumers who saw how the experience could be better.

We’ve felt the frustrations—outdated communication, vague timelines, overpriced work, and underwhelming results. That’s why our process is built from the ground up to fix the pain points. It’s structured, collaborative, and grounded in empathy for your time, budget, and style.

We bring design, craftsmanship, and clear communication together to make the process enjoyable—and the final product unforgettable. From the first call to the final install, working with us feels less like hiring a contractor and more like building something with your favorite coworker.

01 DISCOVER

Most people come to us with something specific in mind—a kitchen table, a better closet layout, a storage bench for the entryway. And that’s a perfectly fine place to start.

But those are tactics. What we help you uncover is the objective those tactics are meant to serve: a more functional space, a more beautiful moment, a better way for your home to support your life.

We believe that great design starts with asking better questions. That’s why our discovery process is about much more than just dimensions and deliverables—it’s about understanding what you need your space to do for you, how you want it to feel, and what style feels most you.

And yes—we talk about budget. But not in the “tell us your number so we can build exactly to it” kind of way. Instead, we treat budget as a creative input: one of the puzzle pieces that helps us ideate better, smarter solutions. By combining your priorities with a clear understanding of the financial framework, we can value-engineer multiple paths forward—each one tailored to your taste, your goals, and your reality.

We don’t build to a blank check. We build to what matters most. With thoughtful trade-offs and creative problem solving, we deliver more complete ideas—and better outcomes—than you’d expect from anyone else.

This is the step where we align on the goals, the guardrails, and the groundwork for everything to come.

02 IDEATE

This stage of our process can look different for different projects depending on the needs we identify together in the Discover phase. Whether you’re coming to us for a single piece, a full-room transformation, or anything in between—what we create (and how we present it) is calibrated to the scope and scale of your project.

Sometimes it’s as simple as a back-of-napkin sketch. Other times, it’s layered with mood boards, material samples, or renderings. And we cannot promise that sometimes our toddlers crayons are used to demonstrate a visual – we're a family owned and operated business afterall.

But regardless of form, what happens here is essential:

We take everything we uncovered—your objectives, your style, your functional needs, your budget framework—and we get to work on the smartest, most beautiful way to bring it to life.

This is the part where we:

Explore multiple concepts that solve for your goals
Present quoting alongside ideas, so you can weigh value and tradeoffs
Offer mix-and-match options to maximize impact within budget
Seamlessly blend form, function, and financial practicality

03 COLLAB

This is where we hit send on something exciting:

a mobile-friendly “pitch deck” that pulls together everything we’ve explored so far and lays out a curated path forward.

You’ll receive:

A quick-reference summary of your objectives + needs
Visual concept options to solve for them
Transparent pricing for each path
Mood boards, reference photos, and thoughtful “why we chose this” context
A preview of what next steps would look like for each option

Whether you’re scrolling it from your kitchen counter or flipping through it on your lunch break—this is the moment where you begin to play an active, collaborative role.

From here, we talk. We tweak. We listen.

You’ll tell us what’s clicking. What could shift. What’s feeling most “you.”

Together, we align on a final concept—one that balances vision, function, style, and spend.

Not a cookie-cutter deliverable. A custom path forward that you helped shape.

After all, you’re not just a client. You’re part of the team now.

04 CREATE

This is the part where others might send your project to a warehouse.

We send it to the woodshop.

At Still Am Studios, every piece is handmade by our in-house team of expert craftsmen—cut, joined, finished, and perfected one project at a time. No prefabricated parts. No “just-good-enough” sizing. No one-size-fits-most.

We create with care, from the inside out. That includes:

Selecting raw materials that match your style + performance needs
Cutting and building every component to your specs—not the factory’s
Hand-finishing and testing everything before it leaves the shop
Making adjustments in real-time to improve the piece based on how it’s shaping up
Communicating updates, photos, or even sneak peeks if you’re the curious type

Because this is your piece. Your solution.

And it’s being made—literally—for you and only you.

05 ARRIVE

Whether it’s a full-room transformation, a built-in storage solution, or a custom furniture piece—we bring the final result home. Literally.

Some projects end with a full-service installation, where we personally place and finish each element with care. Others wrap with a seamless delivery of your custom piece, ready to land in its forever spot. Either way, this is the moment it all comes together—the ideas, the craftsmanship, the collaboration—and takes shape in your actual space.

And we don’t just drop and dash. Every project includes time for a final walkthrough or check-in, ensuring that the little things are right, any final questions are answered, and that it feels as good as it looks.

READY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD CREATE TOGETHER?

We know this isn’t how everyone does it—and that’s exactly the point.

Our process was built to be different: more thoughtful, more collaborative, and way more fun. Whether you’re coming to us with a fully-formed idea or just a sense that something in your space could be better, we’d love to help shape what’s next.