The Design Studio
The Design Studio is a Modesto, California-based interior design firm serving residential and commercial clients. Founded in 2013 by Gretchen Arbini, it is currently on a 2026 strategic pause and not offering design services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersModesto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Design Studio does
The Design Studio is a privately held interior design services firm founded in 2013 and based in Modesto, California. Its sole product is interior design consultation and execution for residential and commercial clients, delivered by a small team of 1–10 employees under founder Gretchen Arbini. The company has operated as a single-service, local design practice with no disclosed technology platform, proprietary tools, or differentiated methodology documented in available data.
In 2026, the company announced an intentional strategic pause and is not actively offering interior design services while it evaluates the next chapter of the brand. During this pause, no pricing, customer acquisition, or service delivery is occurring. Founder Gretchen Arbini's primary operational focus has shifted to Crown Painting Inc., a separate residential and commercial painting business she continues to lead in the region. There are no funding rounds, investors, partnerships, awards, patents, or regulatory milestones associated with The Design Studio in the available record, and the firm's revenue model, customer segments, and marketing channels are all undisclosed.
The Design Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Design Studio
- Website
- https://thedesignstudioca.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Design Studio is a Modesto, California-based interior design firm serving residential and commercial clients. Founded in 2013 by Gretchen Arbini, it is currently on a 2026 strategic pause and not offering design services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Design Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interior Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where The Design Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Modesto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Design Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
The Design Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Design Studio is an interior design and general contracting firm offering interior design consultation and project services to residential and commercial clients. As of 2026, the company has paused interior design services while it evaluates the next chapter of the brand; founder Gretchen Arbini continues to operate Crown Painting Inc., a separate residential and commercial painting business.
Product overview
The Design Studio is a single-service interior design firm offering residential and commercial interior design services. The company is currently taking a strategic pause in 2026 and is not actively offering interior design services during this evaluation period. The founder, Gretchen Arbini, continues to lead Crown Painting Inc., a separate painting services business.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Interior Design Services Interior design consultation and project services for residential and commercial clients, historically delivered as the company's core offering. As of 2026, these services are not being offered while the company is on a strategic pause evaluating the next chapter of the brand.
Companies that use The Design Studio
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
The Design Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Design Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HOK: Large global design, architecture, and engineering firm with a significant interior design practice. Broad incumbent that competes for the same type of interior design work as The Design Studio but at enterprise scale.
- RH (Restoration Hardware): Luxury home furnishings brand that operates an in-house Interior Design service offering across its galleries. Broad incumbent that bundles interior design with retail, competing for high-end residential design clients.
- CB2 Design Services: Crate & Barrel's modern home brand offering in-store interior design services. Broad incumbent providing comparable consumer-facing interior design services alongside a retail assortment.
- Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with a large interior design practice across commercial, hospitality, and residential projects. Broad incumbent operating at vastly larger scale but overlapping in core interior design services.
- Pottery Barn Design Services: Williams-Sonoma home brand offering complimentary interior design services to its customers. Broad incumbent using a retail platform to deliver a similar consumer-facing interior design experience.
- West Elm: Williams-Sonoma-owned modern home retailer that offers in-store and online interior design services (West Elm Design Services). Broad incumbent bundling interior design with retail, comparable in end-customer service.
Direct peers
- Modsy: Tech-enabled interior design service that combines 3D renderings with designer-led room makeovers. Direct peer offering consumer-facing interior design services with a differentiated delivery model.
- Havenly: Online interior design platform matching customers with professional designers for residential projects. Direct peer in the residential interior design services category, though delivered via a virtual model rather than a local studio.
- Decorilla: Online interior design marketplace connecting clients with vetted designers for e-design and full-room projects. Direct peer providing residential interior design services as the core offering.
Emerging players
- Interior Define: Direct-to-consumer furniture brand with an integrated interior design service component (Joss & Main / Interior Define designer offerings). Emerging player combining product sales with designer-led service in a similar end market.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat1 record
Key risks4 records
Key highlights3 records
Customer concentration
The Design Studio social profiles
Digital presenceThe Design Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Design Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Design Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Design Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Design Studio
What does The Design Studio do?
The Design Studio is an interior design and general contracting firm offering interior design consultation and project services to residential and commercial clients. As of 2026, the company has paused interior design services while it evaluates the next chapter of the brand; founder Gretchen Arbini continues to operate Crown Painting Inc., a separate residential and commercial painting business.
When was The Design Studio founded?
The Design Studio was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Design Studio based?
The Design Studio is headquartered in Modesto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The Design Studio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HOK, RH (Restoration Hardware), CB2 Design Services, Gensler, Pottery Barn Design Services and West Elm. Direct peers are Modsy, Havenly and Decorilla. Interior Define is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Design Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Design Studio.
What industry is The Design Studio in?
The Design Studio's product category is Interior Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 1520.