ABOUT TRADE
We design one-of-a-kind, contemporary projects, and are devoted to working with clients and colleagues toward innovative solutions. We understand the complexity of our industry and provide a seamless experience nurturing lasting relationships, and creating sustainable, thoughtful environments.
Our History
Trade Design Build started in 2016 as a joint vision between Michael Barnoski and Gideon Stone. As former architecture students at Cornell, Michael and Gideon shared a mutual understanding that the traditional design-bid-build process—which segregated architects, craftsmen, and clients—was uncollaborative, leading to a disjointed final product.
By establishing a symbiotic foundation between designers and craftsmen, they could amplify each trade’s strengths to produce a superior product. This approach resonated with Chris Willett who joined Trade Design Build as a partner in 2017. Chris brought 20 years of project management and construction operations to the team, and his leadership further enhanced the collaboration between designers and builders.
The result?
- Experienced architects oversaw critical design decisions at every stage of the project to better advocate for the client’s vision.
- Craftsmen informed design choices from the start, ensuring the designs were feasible and grounded throughout the project.
- Streamlined collaboration eliminated decision fatigue by providing clients with more cohesive recommendations and expert guidance.
- An integrated woodshop delivered high-quality custom furniture and cabinetry to realize client needs.
Our Philosophy
Design is a continuum.
To be fluent in design is to go beyond the basic requirements and craft better solutions that reflect a client’s identity, organizational structure, or way of living.
That’s why we place design at the forefront of every step in our process. From high-level concepts that enhance your lifestyle to tactile features that shape the overall feel, our designers and craftsmen are empowered to make meaningful decisions that work toward our clients’ vision.
The final product is a custom space attuned to you, your environment, and your future.
Our Values
Integrity
We honor our commitments with accountability and care, aligning people and the planet with profit.
Function
We provide an enjoyable process that balances creativity and practicality.
Pragmatic
We meet clients where they are, solving problems thoughtfully and delivering solutions that serve their unique needs.
Beauty
We believe in creating spaces that enrich lives and enhance the world’s natural beauty.
Inspired
We are driven to deliver meaningful, purpose-driven work that connects people to place.
Posterity
What we do isn’t temporary, we’re building for the future.