From the President Archives - Hartman Design Group

HDG is Pleased to Announce Two Promotions

Posted on: May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023 Rockville, MD: Commercial Interior Design firm Hartman Design Group has experienced solid growth in recent years and is proud to announce two leadership promotions.

Anny Falgas has been promoted to Managing Partner of the 36-year-old company that specializes in multifamily, senior living, and hospitality interior architecture. Anny was introduced to the world of design by her father, a furniture designer who owned a bespoke millwork shop in Puerto Rico where she grew up. During her early years as a design professional, she worked in and later served as Head of Interior Design for a commercial interior design firm in Puerto Rico before founded her own award-winning firm there. Her portfolio from those years includes projects for Marriott, Intercontinental, Hilton, Swissotel, Wyndham, and other brands as well as independent boutique hotels. These projects garnered the recognition of Architectural Digest, Conde Nast Traveler, and Lodging Hospitality.

Upon joining HDG as a Senior Designer in 2012, Anny focuses on the multifamily space where she brings a high-level vision, creativity, and expression to each project she oversees. As Director of Design, her work has been featured in Multifamily Executive Magazine and Interior Design. She has been instrumental in winning numerous national and regional awards for HDG. In 2022, she opened and manages Hartman Design Group’s branch office based in Tampa, Florida.

“Anny has proven her value over the past 10 years with HDG,” said Phyllis Hartman, President and founder of Hartman Design Group. “We are thrilled that she has risen to partner level. Well deserved!”

Daniela Maniezzo has been promoted to the role of Managing Director. Daniela joined HDG in the role of Senior Managing Designer in May 2022. Prior to that time, she was a Senior Interior Design Manager with Marriott International, had her own design firm, and was an adjunct professor at Montgomery College. Other leadership roles include the design of multiple hotel projects, both new construction, and renovation. Daniela holds a Master of Science in Electronic Engineering, a Ph.D. in Information Engineering, and a Masters in Architecture and Interior Design.

“Within a short time, Daniela has demonstrated that she is a natural organizational leader showing skills in mentorship, team building, and collaboration management,” Phyllis said. “Her desire to continually learn, grow and seek to improve the process and practices of design will will take us to new heights. Congratulations, Daniela!”

ABOUT HARTMAN DESIGN GROUP
HDG is an award-winning commercial interior design firm founded in 1987, specializing in multifamily, senior community and hospitality interior architecture. With a distinctive body of work that spans four decades, HDG has partnered with some of the most highly respected developers, architects, contractors, and owners. Learn more: www.hartmandesigngroup.com

Turning to our Natural Surroundings

Posted on: August 13, 2020

Posted in: From the President

Have you noticed how many people are walking and hiking since the Coronavirus has forced us to stay home? Physically distanced from our family, friends and favorite haunts, we have turned to our natural surroundings to help us emotionally heal during this stressful time. Stepping into one of the many preserves the DC area is blessed with, the internal monologue of to-do lists and worries begins to melt away.

I love to hike and find that communing with nature lifts my spirit like nothing else can. When wandering through the woods, one of my favorite activities is looking for unexpected inspiration. In nature, there is an ever-present tension between warm and cool; between raw and refined that creates a sense of mystery, balance, and beauty. Integrating the palettes of nature and its organic textures into the design of interior space creates a sense of peace and tranquility. Something we could all use more of now.

-Phyllis Hartman

7 Tips That Make Working From Home a Breeze!

Posted on: June 1, 2020

Posted in: From the President

Set Up Your Office

Carve out a space where distractions can be minimized. If you have a room that allows you to turn off the lights and shut the door at the end of the day, it will help you to separate work from your personal time.

Look the Part

While casual is fine, take time to look presentable. Resist working in your pajamas (no matter how cute they are). You never know when one of your colleagues is going to facetime you! And when you look good, you are more prepared to meet the challenges of the day.

Develop Structure

Keep a daily schedule for work and personal time. Routine will help you to stay on task. To develop the mindset that will drive productivity, get up at the same time as you would on any other workday and commit to a time to “turn on the lights” in your home office.

Refresh

For those of us who love to be around our colleagues and clients, working from home can be isolating. Take a break to clear your mind and boost your endorphins. A workout or a walk will sharpen your focus and help get you in touch with the world.

Eliminate Distraction

Eliminate background noise like TV, radios, podcasts, etc. Most of us are used to an active, social atmosphere and feel uncomfortable with quiet. Embrace silence and concentrate on the task at hand.

Control Urges to Multi-Task

In the office, there is no opportunity to bake a cake, run the vacuum, or throw in a load of laundry. When working remotely, fight the urge to get things done around the house. It can throw you off your work-from-home productivity.

Organize

Keep your workspace tidy. Straighten up at the end of each day so you can start fresh the next morning.

Q&A with Phyllis: Multi-Family Renovations Part II

Posted on: July 20, 2015

Posted in: From the President Interviews

Multi-Family Renovation: 4 Valuable Questions to Ask Your Team

In our last post, Phyllis shared her insight on a commonly asked question about multi-family renovations: “How much will it cost?” Once the design team has a clear understanding of the project restrictions & goals, they can begin to move forward with planning. Here’s more insight from Phyllis on other commonly asked questions about multi-family renovations.

Question 1: How will you incorporate design & lifestyle trends so that our property is competitive in the marketplace?

Due to social media, generational shifts, and market competition, we have found that design trends are rapidly accelerating. In the past, most owners would contemplate a repositioning when the property or previous renovation was 10 to 12 years old. Today’s residents and prospects shop the competition, are extremely informed and expect the very best for their money. Those properties that are beginning to show wear and suffer from an amenity shortage will most likely see a resident exodus and may have to drop rent pricing to compete. Today’s modern resident wants a lifestyle. As units get smaller, great amenities have become critical. They serve as an extension to the resident’s living space. Buildings that opened 5+ years ago are already behind in the trends. These buildings can be updated by transforming every available space to a resident amenity. Lobbies that were previously designed for visual impact can be turned into a socially active amenity by adding the right kind of furniture and creating intimate seating for groups and singles alike. Adding plug-and-play areas and communal tables will turn a dead lobby into space with a great, active vibe. In today’s rental market, we recommend an evaluation of the common areas after 3 to 4 years. If the design has a timeless appeal, a simple refresh (ie: pillows, accessories, art) may be all that is required. At 6 years, it will most likely be time to deeply evaluate the market trends, the competition, resident expectations, and condition of the finishes.

Question 2: When is the best time to start construction?

March through October is the prime leasing season. To avoid disruption during this time, it is ideal to plan the construction start for the end of October and completed by March or April of the following year.

Question 3: What does the renovation timeline look like?

Whether simple or comprehensive, any kind of refresh or renovation takes time. Every client wants to spend their renovation dollars wisely, so it is important to allow time for the design team to program, design, vet, and budget the renovation. If permits are required, additional time should be allotted. Even a furniture refresh takes time to plan, and in today’s furniture world, it could take from 12 to 16 weeks to procure. For example, HDG designed a renovation on the first floor of Gables Dupont Circle Apartments in Washington, DC. Even though the space was a mere 1,500 square feet, the planning, vetting, budgeting, coordination, permit drawings and construction all took one full year.

Question 4: How to keep residents happy during a renovation?

Make it fun! Have the staff wear colorful hard hats.
Keep the residents informed of work schedules.
Have a kick-off construction party for the residents.
Plan for extra services during construction, like coffee and bagels in the morning, then cookies and tea in the afternoon.
Display finish boards and renderings to get the residents excited about their new home.

Q&A with Phyllis: Multi-Family Renovations Part I

Posted on: July 13, 2015

Posted in: Interviews From the President

Renovation Costs: How to Nail Your Renovation Budget

After over 28 years of business, we’ve found that many of our clients come to us in the beginning stages of a project with many questions about what a multi-family property renovation looks like. To give you a glimpse of our process we sat down with our Hartman Design Group president, Phyllis Hartman, to discuss some of the most commonly asked questions. This will be a multi-part series so stay tuned for part two!

Question 1: How much is the renovation going to cost?

Working within a budget when renovating a space or an entire building is usually the owner’s primary concern, meaning “how much will it cost” is usually the first question we are asked. In order to best help our clients set priorities, as well as create a realistic budget and project structure, our design team must first understand many aspects of the project, asking questions such as:

What is ownership expecting to achieve by renovating? For instance, is the building being repositioned from a C to a B, a B to an A, or is the goal to make the property the best B in the marketplace?

Will the renovation involve only finishes and furniture, or will spaces be re-arranged?

How old is the building and what is the current condition? A 5-year-old project may only need a quick furniture refresh, while others that are over 10 years or older may require a complete overhaul to remain competitive in the market.

Can the property compete in the current marketplace?

Are you losing residents or prospects? If so, try to determine if the condition of the interior is a factor. What is being said on social media about the property?

What is the schedule? An accelerated schedule can cost more than following a normal design and construction schedule.

Will the work be phased or completed at one time? Phasing is usually more costly.

Will building operations need to move to another part of the building during the renovation? It is important to factor this into the budget.

Can the contractors and subs work in the building during normal business hours?

Will there be security concerns during the renovation that may require either additional staffing or cost?

In an effort to gain the highest return on investment, we encourage collaborative discussions to determine where the clients can best spend their money. Phasing the design and construction is a great way to spread the budget over several years, though it is important to consider that phasing does add to the total cost, and can be frustrating to residents and prospects. Living or working in a building that is in a state of perpetual construction can be difficult.

The Meridian at Carlyle located in Alexandria, VA is an example of one of our projects that were finished in phases. Because the building was 12 years old when the repositioning began, the first priorities were the lobby and leasing spaces. The corridors have been phased over four years, and the clubroom was renovated two years after the lobby. This allowed the owner to spread the cost of the renovation over 5 to 6 years.