People
Andrea Schweibenz
Designer [email protected] |
I grew up in the Philadelphia area, but I was fortunate enough to travel starting at a young age. These travels involved visiting some battlefield or historic fort at some point (thanks, Dad) but I always loved experiencing any new place we went. I found myself fangirling over the different architectural styles and the variety of places people would call home, and I realized that I wanted to create spaces that people would love to live and grow in. Higher education was a crucial step to get there, so I spent a few years at Temple University getting a Bachelor’s in Architectural Preservation followed by a few more years for my Masters in Architecture.
After graduating, I spent over 5 years working at residential architecture companies around the Philadelphia and DC areas before coming to work at Designed Happy. I love finding creative design solutions and working with client’s on unique and exciting projects, but ultimately, I want to help people to live happier in their homes. |
Arlene Penrose
Designer [email protected] |
I believe great design comes from empathy and this is translated into each project through a strong emphasis on client interaction. I naturally build a close relationship with clients, and this forms a basis for understanding how they use each space and translating their personality and ideas into reality. I facilitate this through my dedication, attention to detail and technical understanding. My goal is to create a meaningful experience and discover the potential of each space by looking through the eyes of the user, client, and environment.
I fell in love with the historical architecture in Boston which inspired me to study architecture at Boston Architectural College. After furthering my work experience throughout the US, I achieved my master’s degree in Dublin and have since held positions at renowned studios, gaining extensive experience designing prestigious projects across Europe, North America and the UK. When I am not designing, I enjoy gardening, museums, art crawls, and traveling! There is an incredible design community here and I love being able to attend events that inspire me. I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a great city and love exploring new areas and meeting local artists. |
Katie Cashin
Director of Happiness [email protected] |
I bring a unique perspective to my role here, combining my background as a clinically trained therapist with my passion for human-centered systems. Before joining the Designed Happy team, I founded and grew B'well Counseling in Towson, Maryland, where I spent ten years helping individuals and teams thrive.
Now, I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to create joyful, well-organized experiences for both our clients and our team. I enjoy helping others reach their goals by staying open to new ideas and communicating directly to keep everything moving forward. When not working, you'll most likely find me looking for something good to eat in the DC metro area or on stage in a regional theater production! |
Sherri Crane
Designer [email protected] |
As a DC Metro native with over 14 years of experience in the design industry, I have had the privilege of working on a diverse range of projects, including my recent role with a luxury design-build firm and prior experience as a senior designer at a prestigious high-end design firm in McLean, VA. My passion lies in creating relationship-focused designs, collaborating closely with clients to solve unique design challenges, and bringing their visions to life. I believe that great interior design should not only reflect a person’s unique personality and lifestyle but also integrate the inherent character and architecture of their spaces. My goal is always to create beautiful, functional spaces that truly make people feel happy.
I hold a BA from Marymount University and am currently pursuing my NCIDQ certification. I am dedicated to staying current with the latest design trends, styles, and best practices, and have participated in several local designer show houses, including the DC Design Houses. Outside of work, I enjoy entertaining, spending quality time with family and friends, and being a baseball mom. I love decorating and designing my own home, alongside my three young children, husband, and dog. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a creative field where every day I can help people live happier at home! |
TJ Monahan, AIA
Founder, Managing Director [email protected] 571-422-2286 |
Designing houses is really the only thing I can ever remember wanting to do (other than playing center field for the Yankees - spoiler alert, I didn't get much further than little league). As a kid, lego was my gateway to residential design. Lego eventually turned into cardboard models of houses. Cardboard models turned into drafting classes in high school. And drafting classes turned into two degrees in Architecture from The Catholic University of America.
I've been working in the industry since 2001, and have had the chance to work at a handful of great companies and with a lot of great clients. Now, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to take all of that experience, and use it to make Designed Happy the absolute best place to work at for our employees, and best place to work with for our clients. |
Ready?
Let's take the first step toward a happier home:
