The Designer’s Journal: How Studio Dos Design Creates Authentic Spaces

For best friends and design partners Francia Flores and Steve Pistello at Studio Dos Design, every project starts with a story. Guided by an ethos that’s authentic, intentional, and bold, their work is all about creating experiences that feel personal, layered, and full of energy.

“Good vibes start with good design, or maybe it’s the other way around,” they laugh. Drawing inspiration from architecture, history, travel, and even a walk around the neighborhood, their process is rooted in curiosity and detail, resulting in spaces that invite people in and keep them coming back.

From mixing vintage treasures with modern finds to breaking the so-called rule that “less is more,” Studio Dos isn’t afraid to push design boundaries. We caught up with the duo to chat about their rule-breaking philosophy, the statement-making details they love most, and why the Sidnie Portable Lamp has become their go-to for layering mood and color into any space.

Describe your design style in three words.

Authentic, intentional, bold. At Studio Dos Design, we create experiences that feel personal, thoughtfully designed, and aren’t afraid to push the design boundaries.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

We’re always looking at everything around us through a design lens and considering how it impacts the lived experience. Whether we’re at a restaurant, traveling, walking around the neighborhood, or flipping through a magazine, something always catches our eye, and we’re constantly telling each other about cool things we’ve seen or new places we need to check out together next.

What is your design ethos?

Good vibes start with good design, or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, we begin every project by building a story that pulls inspiration from the architecture of the space, the history of the building, the urban fabric of the neighborhood, the brand, the kind of music they’ll play, and most importantly, how the space should make people feel. The result is a cohesive experience that draws people in, keeps them coming back, and inspires them to share it with others.

What design “rule” do you always follow, and which was made to be broken?

Follow: “God is in the details” (Thanks, Mies!). No detail is too small for us to sweat.

Break: “Less is more” Sometimes more is more, and that’s okay (Sorry, Mies). We believe in spaces that are full of layers and personality that create a comfortable, more engaging environment.

Do you have any design mentors?

Honestly, each other. We’re best friends who met early in our careers and have been inseparable since. Our partnership is built on friendship, trust, and shared experiences. We’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders and sources of inspiration. Growing and learning together has truly been a dream.

What’s your favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?

It’s all about layers and balance. We love mixing old and new by bringing in found pieces from vintage shops or Facebook marketplace alongside new items. Personal objects and artwork by local artists make a space feel like home. To maximize a project’s budget, we focus spending on the things that catch your eye or need to be the most durable to stand up to daily use.

Can you share your favorite Schoolhouse product?

The Sidnie Portable Lamp adds good mood lighting along with a fun pop of color, which works perfectly as an accent light on tables, shelves or counters where an outlet is out of reach in both homes and restaurants. Plus cords don’t look all that pretty, so having a cordless option that looks great and comes in some great colors is a game changer.