In 1990, designers Denise Welch-May and Martha von Ammon founded dpf Design as a surface design studio, seeing an opportunity to broaden the scope and scale of their personal artistic practices. Denise, a studio artist and fabric designer, and Martha, a ceramicist, came together over their shared love of material-driven artistic process and captivating interplay of color, surface, and space. dpf Design began formulating finishes for walls and furniture but the business soon expanded to include furniture fabrication and color development services. By demand, the business grew into a full-service interior design firm. In 2000 Denise and Martha joined in partnership with Ann Shriver Sargent. The firm earned a reputation for unique, personal designs and careful attention to color and texture, which remain priorities of the studio. In 2011, Martha retired to Costa Rica, Ann left to begin a related practice, and Denise became sole owner. She has directed dpf Design since as lead designer and managing principal.
The dpf Design team continues to benefit from its founding legacy in the tactile visual arts. This experience has translated into a hands-on approach to designing architectural interiors, where we maintain a dual focus on individual elements of color, material, and form as well as their cumulative, harmonic effect within a completed space. We believe that a well-designed space can do powerful work— creating vibrant energy or calm, and affecting our willingness to work or linger. Our process is driven by the client, who provides the project’s mission and the design framework in which creativity thrives. We help our clients articulate and fulfill their ideal interior experience, listening carefully to their needs and always working together to hone and achieve the end vision. We value the strong relationships we develop with our vendors, whether they be a factory or individual crafts- or trades-people, these collaborations help make every project a team effort.
dpf Design has designed for residential, commercial, and hospitality environments. We offer a full range of interior design services, skillful project management, and custom product design. When we are able to join a project team early, we are actively involved throughout the planning process — from blueprints through construction to painting, soft furnishing, and accessorizing. We are willing to take on a project during any of those phases. Wherever our point of departure, we will work with you to pursue and realize the environment you wish to live in.