Glenna Stone is the founder of a Philadelphia area interior design studio known for thoughtful residential work shaped by both creativity and technical discipline. Her path into design began in a very different environment. Earlier in her career she worked at Procter and Gamble, where she developed experience managing projects inside a large corporate structure. With a background in industrial engineering, she built strong skills in organization, process, and operational thinking.
While successful in that environment, Glenna began to question whether the corporate path aligned with the life she wanted long term. During that time she began exploring creative interests outside of work. Photography and cooking classes eventually led her to enroll in evening interior design courses at the Rhode Island School of Design. The experience revealed a field that combined technical problem solving with creative expression in a way that felt natural to her.
Soon after, she made the decision to pursue a master’s degree in interior architecture and design at Drexel University. The move brought her back to the Philadelphia area and marked the beginning of her transition into professional design practice.
Approach
Glenna approaches design through a balance of structure and creativity. Her earlier corporate experience continues to influence how she runs the studio, from operational systems to project workflows and team collaboration. Process plays an important role in how projects move forward, allowing complex work to unfold in an organized and thoughtful way.
The studio works on a wide range of residential projects across the region surrounding Philadelphia. Within a relatively short geographic radius the team moves between urban apartments, suburban homes, rural properties, and coastal residences. This diversity allows each project to respond to its own environment rather than follow a single stylistic formula.
Collaboration is central to the practice. Architects, builders, landscape designers, and specialized craftspeople all contribute to the development of each project. Glenna sees these partnerships as essential to both the creative outcome and the overall experience for the client.
Beyond Design
Outside the studio, Glenna has been involved in initiatives connected to sustainability and collaborative work environments. One concept emerged from her graduate thesis, which explored how spaces could bring together organizations working on sustainable business practices.
The idea eventually developed into a network of coworking environments designed to connect nonprofits working in sustainability and encourage collaboration across the field. While she later stepped away from the project as her design practice and family life expanded, the experience reflects her ongoing interest in how design can support broader communities.
Today Glenna continues to lead her studio with a perspective shaped by both analytical thinking and creative exploration. Her work reflects a belief that strong design emerges through collaboration, careful process, and the willingness to explore new directions when opportunity appears.
Glenna Stone on Career Pivots, Process Driven Design, and Building Through Collaboration
