distinctive design studio

What distinctive design studio does

Distinctive Design Studio is a privately held, design-led architecture and interior design firm headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, operating as Distinctive Design Studio, LLC. The firm integrates architectural design with interior design from project inception, providing custom home design, whole-home renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, and commercial architecture for clients across eastern Wisconsin, including Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Fond du Lac Counties. Its team includes licensed architects, Certified Kitchen and Bath Designers (CKBD), interior designers, and in-house carpentry staff, with named principals Steve Peskie and Mary Grunow.

The company's core technology is an integrated design-build methodology combining architecture and interior design under one collaborative team, supported by 3D rendering and visualization tools, custom cabinetry design (positioned as furniture-quality pieces with bespoke finishes), and space planning. Product offerings include Custom Cabinetry, Countertops, Window Treatments, and Furnishings, supplied through vendor partnerships with manufacturers such as Woodharbor, Kallista by Kohler, and Ann Sacks. Notable project wins include a 20,425 sq.ft. Humane Society of Sheboygan County facility (Spring 2022), corporate office design for Merit Financial Advisors, hospitality design for The Blind Horse, and multiple high-end residential renovations. Recognition includes Best of Houzz, NARI awards, and Qualified Remodeler honors.

The firm operates a sales-led, direct-to-client services model generating revenue primarily through professional services fees (architecture and interior design) supplemented by hardware sales on integrated product offerings. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed. The customer base spans SMB residential clients (custom homes, renovations) and commercial clients across hospitality, financial services, and nonprofit verticals. The firm was formed in its current structure through the April 2019 merger with LJM Architects of Sheboygan, which expanded its commercial and governmental project capabilities.

Name

distinctive design studio

Legal name

Distinctive Design Studio

Website

https://distinctivedesignstudio.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Distinctive Design Studio is a privately held architecture and interior design firm in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, serving homeowners and commercial clients in eastern Wisconsin with integrated design-build services, custom homes, renovations, and complementary product offerings including custom cabinetry and countertops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI), Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC), Custom Cabinet Design & Build (HSAPAIAA)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Interior design services
• Custom home design
• Residential renovation services
• Commercial architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheboygan Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture Services: Custom home design and commercial architecture services provided to homeowners and businesses in Wisconsin
2. Interior Design Services: Space planning, materials and finishes selection, furnishings, custom cabinetry, and design coordination services
3. Custom Products (Cabinetry, Countertops, Window Treatments): Integrated product offerings including custom cabinetry, countertops, hardware, window treatments, and furnishings with professional installation

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Distinctive Design Studio provides integrated architecture and interior design services for custom homes, whole-home renovations, and commercial projects throughout eastern Wisconsin. The firm brings architectural design and interior design together from project inception through a single collaborative team, and complements these services with in-house product offerings including custom cabinetry, countertops, window treatments, and furnishings with professional installation.

Product overview

Distinctive Design Studio is a full-service architecture and interior design firm offering integrated design and build services. The company combines architectural design with interior design from the start of every project. Their product offerings include Custom Cabinetry (furniture-quality custom cabinetry with bespoke colors and materials), Countertops (stone surface options including quartz), Window Treatments, and Furnishings. These products are integrated into their broader service architecture, which encompasses Custom Homes (architectural design and construction of custom residences), Home Renovations (whole home renovation projects), Commercial Architecture (commercial space design), and Interior Design services (space planning, materials and finishes, design coordination). The studio's approach brings architecture and interior design together from project inception, creating cohesive, intentional spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Homes Architecture Architectural design and project delivery for custom-built residences in eastern Wisconsin, integrating architecture and interior design from project inception through construction.
• Home Renovations Whole-home renovation services including kitchen reconfiguration, bathroom transformation, mudroom and laundry room design, and living space redesign for residential clients in eastern Wisconsin.
• Commercial Architecture Architecture and interior design for commercial clients including hospitality venues, corporate offices, nonprofit facilities, governmental, industrial, educational, recreational, and religious buildings across eastern Wisconsin.
• Interior Design Interior design services including space planning, materials and finishes selection, furnishings, custom cabinetry, and design coordination delivered to homeowners and commercial clients.
• Custom Cabinetry Custom-designed cabinetry with bespoke colors, materials, and details crafted as part of the overall design composition to deliver furniture-quality results for kitchen and bath projects.
• Countertops Stone surface options including quartz and natural stone materials selected and installed as part of the firm's kitchen and bathroom projects.
• Window Treatments Window treatment solutions integrated into the interior design process for residential and commercial projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 out of 5 homeowners renovating kitchens or bathrooms hire a professional designer
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gen3 PlumbingminorOthersPlumbing vendor partner for residential and commercial projects, providing installation services for plumbing fixtures and systems
• Optimum ElectricminorOthersElectrical contractor providing electrical installation services for renovation and construction projects
• Kallista by KohlerminorOthersLuxury bathroom product supplier providing fixtures including tubs and bathroom elements for high-end residential projects
• Ann Sacks TileminorOthersTile supplier providing eclectic and high-end tile selections for bathroom and kitchen projects
• Woodharbor Custom CabinetryminorOthersCabinetry vendor providing custom cabinetry for kitchen and bathroom projects with finishes including Snow White and Hale Navy enamel
• Wagner ExcavatingminorOthersCivil design services provider for site infrastructure and dog park development in collaboration on the Humane Society project
• LJM ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheboygan-based architectural firm that merged with Distinctive Design Studio in 2019, bolstering commercial architecture and preservation services including commercial, governmental, industrial, educational buildings, recreational and religious facilities, residential and hospitality projects. Combined firm operates as Distinctive Design Studio, LLC

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• LHB: Minneapolis/Midwest architecture and engineering firm with commercial, residential, and institutional practices. Comparable Midwest regional architecture peer with overlapping commercial and residential project types.
• Wendel Companies: Midwest-based architecture, engineering, and infrastructure firm. Operates in adjacent geographies and competes for similar commercial and institutional clients in the upper Midwest.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Global architecture and interior design firm operating across all major building types and geographies. Represents the scaled, broad incumbent whose integrated architecture + interiors offering DDS emulates at a regional level.

Emerging players

• Havenly: Online interior design platform connecting consumers with designers for room-by-room design services. An emerging technology-enabled competitor targeting the same residential interior design demand that DDS serves, but at lower price points.
• Decorilla: Online interior design marketplace offering room design services from multiple designers. Represents the digital-native alternative to traditional local design firms like DDS, with overlap in residential interior design.
• Modsy: Virtual interior design service using 3D renderings to deliver room redesigns online. Comparable in its use of 3D visualization (a DDS specialty) but competes on convenience and price rather than full custom design.

Others

• Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry: Custom cabinetry manufacturer supplying DDS's kitchen and bath projects. Ecosystem/partner relationship rather than direct competitor, but representative of scaled cabinetry manufacturers whose production capacity DDS relies on.
• Kohler: Wisconsin-headquartered luxury kitchen, bath, and home products brand. Ecosystem/partner via Kallista by Kohler for DDS projects; comparable Wisconsin luxury home brand rather than direct design competitor.

Direct peers

• JLA Architects: Wisconsin-based architecture firm offering residential and commercial design services. Comparable in scale and regional focus, providing a directly comparable Midwest architecture practice operating in adjacent Wisconsin markets.
• Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA): Milwaukee/Wisconsin-headquartered architecture firm with commercial, residential, and mixed-use practices. Comparable in its Midwest roots and breadth across architecture and interiors, with a similar regional brand presence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuACbm_ceEZQk3WeHb8zWJA
• Facebookfacebook.com/distinctivedesignstudiowi
• Instagraminstagram.com/distinctivedesignstudio
• Pinterestpinterest.com/distinctivedesignstudio/pins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/distinctive-design-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about distinctive design studio