Elle takes a break in one of her lovely kitchen installations. She has won design awards from NKBA NY Metro, NARI, and PRO NY and has recently moved up to round 2 in the 2026 NKBA Design Competition. By Maureen Klein Was it her Dad’s inventive genius rubbing off on her? On the forefront of developing a solar energy system and then cogeneration energy systems, Ellen said, even experts from NASA and MIT were contacting him. “People drove by and thought our roof looked like a movie theater. Come inside and they’d find 8 tons of rocks in our basement.” A lot of “energy” going on in that house! Or, perhaps, it was her Aunt, a self-described "housewife decorator" who took her to the D&D building for her 12th birthday. Was that it? Read on, and follow her journey. Sounds like your childhood was truly a fun time. As one of five children, it was indeed, a lively and creative environment. I grew up in Hicksville, Long Island, NY, not far from where I live and have my business now, EL Design Studio. In high school I joined the Thespian society where I felt most at home-bringing my dance experience to the stage in variety shows and musicals. But it was when I prepared the visuals (displays, programs and more) for each production that I realized that I felt most creative, figuring out all the design elements and bringing them together in the finished products. So what was your first job like? At 16, I worked at the local mall for Chandler Shoes-at the same time Eddie Murphy was working for them at the Roosevelt Field branch. He had a reputation of being a funny guy back then too, and would always have an amusing answer when one of us called there for “shoe checks.” How about after High School? After my first two years at FIT, studying Buying and Merchandising, I went back to get a second degree in Textile Design. I also studied one year at the University of Georgia where textile design was taught more as a craft. We would shear the sheep, card the wool, spin the yarn, and weave it into a swatch of fabric. The creative emphasis of the program provided a different conceptual angle than I had been used to. It seems you are a strong advocate of continuous learning, what else did you study? When I was ready to return to work after my 3 children were a little older, I opted for certification rather than a third degree. Home Depot offered a six-week training program that provided the necessary points for the certification exam for my journey to becoming a CMKBD (Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer). I also needed an apprenticeship or a combination of experiences totaling at least five years. | 
