Design Studio International

Savena and Dimitri were absolute professionals while working on our project. Savena's design was innovative, stylish, AND practical for our needs, and Dimitri was a creative problem-solver and a helpful consultant with choices on important finishes and countertops. Both Savena and Dimitri have warm, vibrant personalities and they treat you like family. We truly enjoyed working with them and recommend them without hesitation to all of our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Design Studio International is an easy choice you won't regret!!!

Savena and Dmitri were wonderful to work with from the very beginning! With clear and detailed drawings, our designs turned out perfectly. All along they way they eased our minds as we had to make tough decisions. Savena’s eye for design and Dmitri’s knowledge of the correct construction process proved to be invaluable. In the end we encountered trouble with our contractor and they stepped in to save the day! Their knowledge and communication really made this whole experience much more enjoyable. We can not recommend them highly enough and look forward to working with them on our master bathroom renovation soon! Brad and Char

Design Studio International has been a trusted partner for over 25 years. We are happy to work with them on all of their projects. Dmitri and Savena's award-winning work is always masterful and of high quality. From kitchens and baths to laundry and living spaces, Design Studio is one of Adelphi's premier dealers in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia metropolitan area.

My wife and are extremely satisfied with the final result of our total kitchen renovation. When we were looking for a designer (and contractor) for this project, we knew that we had quite specific requirements, as my wife has a background in architecture and to a lesser extent, design. After looking at a number of websites, we found Savena on houzz. We were immediately struck by the cohesive and stylish designs she had produced and displayed on houzz. Our initial consultation established not only that we wanted to work with her, but also that she and her husband (who acts as prime contractor) had a complete stable of accomplished electrician, carpenters, plumber, etc. with whom they had worked for many years. The design process was highly interactive-Savena was very flexible in trying to develop plans for what WE wanted or kitchen space to look like, while maximizing efficiency and optimizing the layout of the final design. She and her husband were with us throughout all the trips to choose stone, tiles, fixtures (both electrical and plumbing), flooring, color palette, and cabinetry. During the actual construction (start of demo to 1st use of the kitchen took 6 months), as is often the case, several issues were uncovered, particularly some structural and floor problems. She worked with us and an architectural firm to remedy the problems as rapidly as possible. In the end, the house was in better shape than when it was built! I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of good finish carpentry and its relation to the final appearance of a renovation. Indeed, our choice to award this project to Savena was strongly influenced by the fit and finish evident in her previous projects. At all times, she was transparent up front about cost and supplied an estimate, a final contract, and an itemized list of ancillary and unexpected work for our job. We appreciated her thoroughness as no one likes "surprise" expenses! All in all, the project turned out as wonderfully as we had hoped and Savena and her husband worked very hard to minimize all the disruptions associated with a full kitchen renovation. As a final endorsement, we are currently planning additional projects with Savena to be carried out in 2020!

I worked with Design Studio International to renovate a 1285 sq ft condo in Arlington. This included the kitchen, 2 1/2 baths, new lighting, doors, floors and woodwork etc. It turned out to be a bigger job than I was expecting. I am very happy that I chose Savena. She is an experienced kitchen and bath designer who is versatile enough to do a lot of other things. Savena completed the design, advised on the material selection, and consulted during the construction phase. Each of these roles turned out to be essential. Our family has been living in the renovated condo for 2 months and it is such a fantastic change from the old version that it is difficult to describe. It lives better for our family and looks amazing. I have Savena to thank for both the design as well as the execution because she was essential in finding new opportunities for improvement while the contractor was onsite. If you are looking for someone experienced and detail-oriented, then look no further. I considered a number of other designers and she really stood out. Since the firm is hers and Dimitri's, there is no bait and switch. She does all the work herself and spent countless hours, caring about the final results until the very end. We are planning on keeping the condo forever, so it was very important that everything be done right the first time-- as a result the project expanded in scope and I am glad that it did.

Savena did a wonderful job on designing my kitchen. I had a 30 year old untouched kitchen that needed to be gutted. She listened to how I would use the kitchen and came up with two designs. She allowed me to choose what would work for me all the while listening to my churning thoughts and ideas. A lot of time was spent just on that process and there was never a rush for me to decide. She let me work through her ideas and designs at my speed. Her drawings and step by step explanations meant the projected started on a calm note. The end result is a stunning kitchen that is user friendly and puts a smile on my face everyday. Her sense of design and color, patience and follow through on every detail to the end was outstanding. Her collaboration with my contractor was great. They were a great team. Savena designed my brother-in-law's kitchen which inspired me to hire her. My sister is now using Savena for her kitchen renovation. Having seen her work with two family kitchens we are excited to see the next. All are totally different types of houses. But Savena designs not just for the house, but for the person who is using the space. There is a sense of peacefulness in my kitchen which was never there before. It is a welcoming place after a long day at work.

Design Studio International designed and built a beautiful and functional kitchen for me. It complements our home and brings ease and pleasure to the hours spent cooking. Savena and Dimitri paid attention to the details and meticulously planned the project. Their choice of materials and finishes were spot on. Thanks again!

We’ve been working with Savena Doychinov, CKD on major projects during the last couple of years. As the Principal Designer at Design Studio Int’l, she’s a valuable collaborator and addition to our design and construction team. Throughout the design process, she listened attentively to our ideas, needs, and preferences. The kitchen and master bath floor plans and elevations Savena designed took advantage of the spaces in the best possible way, both functionally and aesthetically, and made these important spaces stand out. Savena also supplied high quality custom cabinetry for our projects at a great value – savings that we can pass on to our clients. As builders and remodelers of high-end, custom homes in Washington, DC, we pride ourselves on great urban design, incorporating modern custom cabinetry, top of the line amenities and high quality workmanship – values we share with Savena Doychinov and her team. We value her design abilities, expertise, attention to detail, and more than 30 years of experience. We recommend her highly for your next kitchen and bath project.

Design Studio International is one of our most trusted clients in the DC metro area. We have been supplying Design Studio International with our wide range of natural stone products for the past several years. It’s always a pleasure to work with a design company that not only has an amazing eye for detail but also values their clients and suppliers. We look forward to many more projects in the future!

After more then 12 years affiliated with Savena and Design Studio International,simply stated, the integrity of the design and the construction is, second to none. Bill Culler Dulles Electric Lighting Design Consultant

I am very happy to provide this review for Savena Doychinov, principal designer of Design Studio International, LLC, which hopefully conveys the positive experience I had. Savena redesigned my entire one-bedroom apartment at a luxury hi-rise condominium in Arlington, Va. When I walk in the front door, I am struck each time by the incredible beauty she helped me create. The design’s transition from room to room flows easily, and I could not be happier with the result. From the beginning, Savena emphasized the importance of planning and impressed upon me how a beautiful result can only result from a meticulous plan that is well-executed. Based upon my renovation experience, I have discovered that this principle is totally true. Given the opportunity, she can transform a living space for you, just as she did for me. Savena works in a collaborative way so that the final result really feels like an expression of her client’s taste and aesthetic. My newly remade apartment is completely me. I am very proud of it and feel great when I walk in the front door. Another of Savena’s key attributes is that she is passionate about designing, She deeply cares about her clients, and she is devoted to delivering both a beautiful and functional renovation. She gives generously of herself throughout the process because she wants the very best for her clients. In addition, her knowledge of construction and all the technical aspects of renovation is amazing. There are so many choices to make throughout the process, in terms of selecting equipment (appliances, plumbing products, tile, wood, paint, lighting, cabinets) and the way in which the elements need to be installed. I am deeply grateful that Savena was by my side to help navigate the many technical decisions that must be made, while at the same time ensuring a good fit both aesthetically and functionally. Her husband and partner, Dimitri Doychinov, as a project manager, supervises and ensures the quality of their installations. Unfortunately, when I began my process, Dimitri was not available, so I chose another installer. If I were to do it again, I would have waited for Dimitri. The contractor I hired to follow Savena’s design, turned out to be terrible and made mind boggling mistakes. The only good news was that Savena saved my renovation by finding his mistakes before it was too late to make the modifications required. I happily terminated the first installer and hired Dimitri to redo substantial portions of the work and complete what had not been done. I truly wish I had used Dimitri from the beginning as it would have saved me a lot of time and aggravation. I shudder to think what I would have done had Savena not discovered the installation problems. Savena really knows her stuff, and you can put her up against even the most top notch installer, and it is more likely than not that she either knows more or is equally knowledgeable. It is incredibly important to have a designer with this kind of expertise because a beautiful plan that is not properly installed or executed will be mediocre at best. I have high expectations, and I want them met. Based upon my personal experience, I am confident that Savena and Dimitri can deliver that result. If these attributes alone are not enough, let me add one final thought. Savena looks at space and can see possibilities that are not obvious to the untrained eye of the average homeowner. I loved the way she helped me think outside the box when evaluating choices for the space. She helped me learn to be solution-oriented when both choosing and executing the design, since every space has its own inherent limitations. This ability helps get the most out of the space. She vets all the possibilities, so in the end, there are no regrets, and no stone is left unturned. So, if you are searching for a seamless look that flows and reflects your individuality and if you want high quality results, Savena is an excellent choice for your designer. I am grateful for all of her guidance, expertise, and caring about my space. I also saw several other projects completed by Savena and Dimitri, and they were all stunning in their own right. Different styles, different materials, different taste, but each was very beautiful and functional. For all of these reasons, Savena and Dimitri Doychinov have earned my highest recommendation and my deepest gratitude.

We hired Design Studio International for our kitchen and laundry room renovation after carefully evaluating plans and specs from several companies. The plan they presented was by far the best and laid out a plan that would create an amazing kitchen and laundry room utilizing the space in the most efficient way. Their team did a fantastic job, was easy to work with and always listened to our concerns. It was a pleasure to work with a company that was so professional but also felt like we were working with old friends. All the people on their team were pleasant and their workmanship was top notch. In the end we got out dream kitchen and laundry room and it by far exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is considering any type of home renovation.