A Conversation with Janet Stone
The rooms don't design themselves.
Behind every thoughtfully designed home is a story—of creative ideas, unexpected challenges, countless decisions, and the people who bring it all together.
For Janet Stone, founder and Principal Designer of Stone Design Associates, a career spanning more than two decades has been shaped by creativity, curiosity, and a belief that exceptional design should go beyond beautiful.
From a career in advertising to commercial interiors and ultimately luxury residential design, her path hasn't been entirely conventional. But the common thread has always been a passion for creating something meaningful.
In this conversation, Janet shares a little about the journey, her approach to design, and what continues to inspire her work.
1. Tell us a little about Stone Design Associates and what you do for clients.
Stone Design Associates is a full-service interior design firm specializing in residential design. We work on everything from new custom homes and major renovations to elements like fireplaces, feature walls or wine rooms.
Our work encompasses space planning, lighting, finish selections, furnishings, and the custom features and details that give a home its character. We look at a home from the inside out, considering not only how it functions and how the pieces come together, but where there are opportunities to do something more interesting—an unexpected material, a custom detail, or a feature that gives the home a point of view.
It’s that combination of big-picture thinking and attention to the details that allows us to take a project beyond what might otherwise be expected.
2. How has your business evolved over the years?
I’ve been in the design industry for more than 20 years. I began my design career in commercial interiors before moving into residential design, which ultimately became the focus of Stone Design Associates.
Over the years, our work has expanded beyond what most people traditionally think of as interior design, with a much greater emphasis on space planning, technical drawings, and the design of custom and architecturally detailed features—not simply the finishes and furnishings people often associate with interior design.
Today, we’re often part of the team from the earliest stages of a new build or renovation, collaborating with architects, builders and trades to carry a cohesive design vision all the way through the project.
3. Why did you choose interior design as your life's work?
Creativity has always been a driving force in my life. My advertising background gave me an appreciation for visual storytelling and the power of a well-developed concept, but interior design offered something different—the opportunity to create environments that people actually live in and experience every day.
I've always been drawn to the relationship between form and function, and the challenge of finding solutions that are both imaginative and practical.
There's something incredibly rewarding about taking an idea from its earliest stages and seeing it become a space that has a lasting impact on someone's daily life.
4. What is your work philosophy?
I believe a home has to be more than beautiful. It needs to function for the way people really live, feel authentic to them, and have enough depth and personality that it doesn’t feel designed simply for the sake of being designed. That’s really what “Beyond Beautiful” means to me.
I tend to think about a room in layers—how architectural features, materials, textures, furnishings and lighting work together to create visual interest and give a space depth and character. Within those layers, I’m always looking for something that gives the home its own identity—what I think of as its defining moment. It might be a striking architectural feature, a material used in an unexpected way, a great piece of furniture, or an idea that develops along the way.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic (but it can be); it just needs to feel right for that particular home and create something worth remembering.
5. What keeps you passionate about design after more than 20 years?
I still genuinely love design. After more than 20 years, I’m probably more curious about it than ever. I notice details—how materials come together, the proportions of a room, a beautifully designed piece of furniture, an interesting ceiling, the way lighting changes a space. There is always something new to learn or something that makes me look at design a little differently.
That curiosity fuels the creative side of what I do. I love taking an idea and pushing it a little further, looking at materials or familiar elements in a different way, or coming up with something completely unexpected. I don’t want to repeat the same formula from one project to the next. I want to understand the home, the architecture and the people who will live there, and find the ideas and details that make that particular project its own
6. What aspect of your work are you most proud of?
I'm proud of the creative work, of course, but I'm equally proud of the problem-solving that happens behind the scenes.
Design and construction rarely unfold exactly as anticipated. Unexpected conditions arise, materials change, and sometimes an idea that looked great on paper needs to be reconsidered in the field.
We have a phrase for those moments: Design on the Fly.
It's about thinking creatively and making informed decisions quickly without compromising the overall design intent. Experience plays a significant role in that process.
There's a real sense of accomplishment in finding a solution that not only works but sometimes turns out even better than the original plan.
7. What do you promise your clients?
First and foremost, that I'll listen.
I believe clients deserve someone who understands their priorities, advocates for their interests, and helps them navigate what can be a complicated process.
Building or renovating a home involves hundreds of decisions and can become overwhelming very quickly. My job is not only to create a cohesive vision, but to help clients understand their choices, anticipate issues, communicate with the rest of the team and keep that vision intact throughout the process. I want clients to know that someone is looking at the whole picture and thinking several steps ahead on their behalf.
But I also want us to have fun. Creating a home should be exciting, and while there will inevitably be stressful moments along the way, I want my clients to enjoy the process. I think some of the best ideas come when clients feel comfortable enough to explore, take a chance, and enjoy watching the home we’ve imagined together come to life.
My commitment is to bring creativity, experience, and clarity to every project while maintaining a collaborative, enjoyable working relationship. Ultimately, the goal is to create a beautiful, functional home that reflects the people who live there—not simply the signature of the designer.
8. To what do you attribute your professional success?
I think it's a combination of creativity, adaptability, and the experiences I've accumulated throughout my career.
My background in advertising taught me to think conceptually and communicate ideas. Commercial design strengthened my technical foundation and understanding of construction. Residential design has brought those disciplines together in a much more personal way.
I've also learned the importance of listening, building strong relationships, and surrounding yourself with talented people who share a commitment to doing great work.
And perhaps most importantly, I've never lost my curiosity. After more than 20 years, I'm still learning, still exploring new ideas, and still genuinely excited about what comes next.
Beyond the Beautiful Rooms
While the finished interiors may be what people see first, the real story is everything that goes into creating them—the conversations, collaboration, creative exploration, and countless decisions along the way.
For Janet, the most rewarding part of design isn't simply creating a beautiful room. It's creating a home that feels personal, functions effortlessly, and offers something unexpected that stays with you.
Because every home deserves a defining moment.