above: One Greenwich client’s large dining room was transformed into a more practical multiuse space with a spot to play backgammon and an area to lounge and chat. A table was addded in the center of the room that can easily be used for more formal dining, but there’s also a bistro table for two.
COURTESY OF STRIPE STREET STUDIO
When visual architect Stacey Herman found herself helping friends going through divorces find ways to navigate their new spaces, she knew she’d found her niche. “I saw this overlooked need and a different type of client that I really enjoyed working with,” says Stacey. And while selecting furniture and decorating rooms were at the base of Herman’s decision to start her own design firm, Stripe Street Studio, there was so much more behind her motivation.
“The whole process is about helping my clients reclaim a sense of identity and create a welcoming space for their kids and feeling grounded again,” she says. Navigating divorce attorneys, financial planners, working and taking care of children are all full-time jobs themselves, and Herman’s clients usually just don’t have the time to focus on their homes. “That’s where we step in as ‘home investment advisors.’ We know that starting fresh is an overwhelming process, and we develop personalized step-by step-plans for helping them get organized and design their new homes with purpose and clarity,” she explains.
Stripe Street Studio works on projects across the country—Chicago, Washington D.C, San Francisco, Charleston, New York City and here in Greenwich. There’s no space they can’t transform. Stacey and her team have tackled everything from lake houses to homes in the mountains to apartments in the city. After reading an article about Stripe Street Studio in the Wall Street Journal that his sister had sent to him, one of Stacey’s Greenwich-based clients reached out to enlist her help.
“My biggest goal was to create a nice and fun space for my daughter. I wanted my new home to be set up quickly, with ease and with good taste. There were also a few spaces I wasn’t sure what to do with. Stacey and her team came up with smart, creative solutions I never would have thought of,” he says.
During initial consults, Stacey asks clients about their goals and needs so that she can create an itemized list for each room. “It can be overwhelming to think about everything at once, so we make a list for each room highlighting what stays, what goes and what’s needed with estimated budgets,” she says. “
Stacey prioritizes what she refers to as the “sit, eat and sleep essentials” when she’s helping clients initially get settled, knowing that once things slow down they’ll be able to concentrate on the other rooms. “After a huge life shift, I meet my clients wherever they are emotionally and practically. I want it to be a fun process. Divorce isn’t fun, and this is a new chapter and a fresh start. I want to help clients keep their old traditions while also making new memories,” she says.
Stacey’s Greenwich client explains how much Stripe Street Studio was able to take off his plate, “from selecting new pieces, managing the budget and overseeing installation—they handled everything. Most importantly, I didn’t have to worry about making our new place feel like home for my daughter. They made sure of that.”
“My favorite part of our home is what we like to call the ‘hotel lobby.’ The house came with a massive dining room, but since I don’t entertain much, a formal dining setup didn’t feel practical. Stacey had the brilliant idea to turn the space into an area where multiple activities can take place—like a hotel lobby. Now it’s an alternate space for breakfast, a go-to spot for homework, crafts and quality reading time.
Not only does it look amazing, but it truly fits the way we live.”
“I’d recommend Stripe Street Studio to men like me—going through a reset and trying to build a home that feels right,” adds Stacey’s client. “I’m especially thankful because my daughter now has a space she can really thrive in, whether she’s doing homework in our new ‘lobby,’ watching movies in the living room or getting a good night’s sleep in her bedroom. She truly loves our home.”
stripestreetstudio.com; s.herman@stripestreetstudio.com