Mary Alyce Evans and Designers’ Studio

“My dream was to work in a custom business on Broadway. I could envision the business and the building, and after years of work, I’m back on Broadway! Our location is only two doors from the store I envisioned. All things are possible with work, dedication and a little bit of training.”

Designers’ Studio in Saratoga Springs, New York, is a place where design is in the details. Since 1980, Mary Alyce Evans, head designer, has become a well-known award-winning designer of kitchens and bathrooms. This talented lady once sketched her ideas by hand, and maintains this amazing personal touch. She and her team of designers understand the myriad of questions and decisions that need to be addressed when embarking on finding your signature style in the most inhabited rooms of your home.

By working closely with the homeowner from design conception to installation and project completion, the Studio fulfills its mission of making the creative experience enjoyable from start to finish. “Whether you are building a new home, remodeling or renovating, our passion for great design is imprinted in our unique approach to the design process, and our goal is to combine your vision with our collective artistry,” Mary Alyce expressed.

Her journey to becoming the designer she is now began at an early age. After attending Pratt Institute, where she studied fashion design and fine arts, she tells that she tripped into the kitchen business 43 years ago at the very beginning of kitchen design as an industry. “The word ‘design’ was used very loosely at that time; if the cabinets fit, you had a design,” she smiled. “It’s been interesting to see the business of kitchens and baths evolve from an offshoot of appliances sales to a fashion industry.”

Specifically, Mary Alyce specializes in the field of kitchen and bath design, broadening out to general space planning. “I landed a job after college working in New York City for a very large architectural firm specializing in department stores,” she continued. “I got a taste for color and shape and how it works in a space. Moving back to Upstate New York was a professional challenge, and ultimately led to a career in kitchens and baths.”

She believes having a background in art provides a special way of thinking about a space, and she has put that experience to work in her design work. After working in Saratoga Springs for the largest part of her career, she expanded her focus, designing kitchens and baths on the island of Anguilla in the British Virgin Islands. “Designers’ Studio presented itself as an interesting employment opportunity when I decided to focus on Saratoga. Over the years, I’ve learned to listen. I believe that listening is the most important design skill there is,” she revealed. “With good listening skills, any designer can create what’s in a client’s mind, making the dream a reality.”

The Studio is constantly evolving, with new displays and new design ideas all the time. Their most recent addition is a selection center, featuring a video that showcases some of their work. They display a few kitchens, taking the viewer from the initial hand-drawn conceptual drawings to reality. “In the past few years we have expanded to work nationally and internationally,” Mary Alyce explained. “We are working on a condo project in the Caribbean, as well as projects in Texas, Chicago, Florida and New York City. Of course, we like working at home the best, but with technological advances, working far afield is now possible.”

She is a big proponent of empowering women to follow their dreams, whatever way they present themselves. “I worked at Standard Builder Supplies, a store located over the old Standard Furniture Store on Broadway in Saratoga,” she related. “My dream was to work in a custom business on Broadway. I could envision the business and the building, and after years of work, I’m back on Broadway! Our location is only two doors from the store I envisioned. All things are possible with work, dedication and a little bit of training.”

Designers’ Studio has a great team of designers and design support staff. Mary Alyce believes her boutique concept of staying small but interesting offers something for everyone. “Our service is one on one and very personal, helping the client achieve their design goals and their dreams.”

Designers’ Studio is located at 376 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York. Visit 376design.com for more information.