Glenna Stone’s path into interior design began in a very different world. Before founding her studio, she was building a successful career inside a Fortune 500 company. The work was structured, strategic, and steady, but over time she began to question whether that path reflected the kind of life she wanted to build. What followed was a gradual exploration of creativity that eventually led to a complete professional pivot
A Turning Point From Corporate Life to Design
Early in her career Glenna worked at Procter and Gamble, managing projects within a corporate environment built around presentations, spreadsheets, and operational strategy. While the work was engaging and the career trajectory was clear, she began to wonder whether continuing up the corporate ladder would bring the kind of fulfillment she was looking for.
“I kind of saw the career path,” she explains. “I was in my early thirties and I was kind of like, is this the life that I want, climbing the corporate ladder for the rest of my life?”
During that period she began experimenting with creative pursuits outside of work. Photography classes and cooking classes eventually led to an introductory interior design studio at the Rhode Island School of Design. The class revealed something she had not previously considered. Interior design could combine technical thinking with creative expression.
“That was kind of my light bulb moment,” she says. “We were talking about CAD and construction and floor plans, but we were also looking at furniture and fabrics and materials.”
Taking the Leap Back to School
The real decision point came when her corporate role was preparing to relocate to Cincinnati. At the same time she had already begun taking design courses and considering whether to pursue the field more seriously.
Continuing her corporate career would have meant a promotion and a stable path forward. The alternative was returning to school to earn a master’s degree in interior design, a decision that meant stepping away from a successful career and starting over.
“I could take this giant leap and go back to grad school and make no money for the next three years,” she says.
She chose the leap, enrolling in Drexel University’s graduate program in interior architecture and design and returning to the Philadelphia region where she and her husband had long planned to settle.
Building a Studio on Process and Structure
Although Glenna changed industries, she did not leave her previous experience behind. Her background in engineering and corporate operations continues to shape the way she approaches design practice today.
“I would not trade anything that I’ve done,” she says. “Those experiences trained me to understand process and efficiencies and building a foundation.”
Running a design studio allows her to balance multiple roles within a single day. One moment may involve marketing strategy or operational planning. The next may involve reviewing construction drawings or working through technical design details. For Glenna, that variety is part of what makes the work compelling.
Designing Across a Wide Geographic Landscape
Most of the studio’s projects are located within roughly a two hour radius of Philadelphia. Within that range the team works on a surprisingly diverse mix of homes and environments.
Urban apartments in Manhattan, rural farmhouses, suburban renovations, and coastal properties along the Jersey shoreline all fall within that geographic circle. The variety allows the studio to move between different scales and architectural contexts without being tied to a single project type.
“I think if you look at our portfolio, it’s not the same kind of project every time,” Glenna explains. “All the homes that we work on are very different.”
Collaboration as the Backbone of the Work
Complex residential projects require strong collaboration among architects, builders, landscape designers, and specialized craftsmen. Glenna sees these relationships as central to the studio’s work, not only in terms of design outcomes but also in the overall process.
The goal is to build teams that share a similar philosophy around problem solving and client service.
“We’re all working on behalf of the client,” she says. “If something comes up, we get together, we figure out a solution, and we present it as a team.”
That collaborative mindset also allows her internal team to work with greater confidence and autonomy, knowing that complex problems can be solved collectively.
Pushing Creativity Through Custom Work
One recent project represents the most custom environment the studio has undertaken to date. Nearly every surface in the home has been carefully designed and detailed, from plaster and lime wash finishes to textured stone, upholstered walls, and custom architectural elements.
“It sounds like it might be over the top,” Glenna says, “but it’s actually very subtle.”
Even furniture pieces are being designed specifically for the project, including a marble desk with hidden cable management built directly into its structure. The level of detail has pushed the entire team to explore new ideas and refine their craft in ways they had not previously attempted.
Looking ahead, Glenna is also working on a hospitality project that includes an entertainment barn and a ten bedroom inn designed to host corporate gatherings. For her, the project represents another opportunity to combine architecture, interiors, and collaborative thinking in a new setting.
Across every chapter of her career, one theme remains consistent. A willingness to explore new directions, and the confidence to take a leap when the moment feels right.
