Award-Winning Designer Dana Bacher
Opens New Kitchen & Bath Design Studio in Habersham Marketplace
story by KAREN SNYDER photos by TANYA LESHE’ PHOTOGRAPHY
Dana Bacher settled on a post-Labor Day opening for her new kitchen and bath design studio in Habersham Marketplace. Much like anticipating the first day of school with new teachers, classmates, fresh notebooks, and new clothes, Bacher says that opening her studio was a “new beginning” for her and the realization of owning her own design business.
The beautiful, deep blue storefront accented with bold, gold lettering, spelling out her name atop a canopied entrance, represents the realization of a notable career in design. Yet, admits Bacher, the journey to where she is today was both unexpected and exciting. A native of California, Bacher’s parents were involved in the world of art — her father an artist and her mother an art show promoter. She spent her childhood attending art exhibits and visiting museums, like the Getty and Norton Simon. She also had a love for theater and dance. While Bacher felt a tug in that direction, she was also well aware of the challenges of being self-employed and pursuing a creative profession. Seeking what she thought might offer a more “stable” career path, she obtained a liberal arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and looked for work that might merge her creative interests with a business setting.
While waiting for her husband, Ken, to complete his graduate studies at Stanford University, Bacher worked in an independent bookstore, falling in love with books and publishing. Following a job opportunity for Ken, which brought them to Pennsylvania, Bacher began a career in publishing. She worked in sales and marketing, and frequently went to New York City and met with clients. Though she found the work challenging and exciting, after ten years in the industry, Bacher realized she wanted something different, something that could provide her a more creative outlet.
She wouldn’t stray too far from her artistic upbringing after all. While raising her daughter, Katie, Bacher enrolled herself in a local college that offered an accredited kitchen and bath design program. “I thought I’d pursue interior design, but there was just something incredibly appealing about laying out cabinetry and solving space problems that cemented my interest in kitchen and bath design, and I also got to help clients choose finishes!” she says.
While Bacher was involved in her design studies, she began her own bathroom remodeling project at home. “I remember doing due diligence in finding the best designer in our area and selected Jill Jarrett of Jarrett Design in Emmaus, PA. I enjoyed the process of collaborating and problem-solving with Jill, and I realized this was the right profession for me!”
With another twist of fate and unbeknownst to her, Bacher’s professors recommended her to Jarrett. With her remodel completed and no longer a client of Jarrett Design, Bacher was offered a position and began a successful career working alongside esteemed, award-winning designers. Bacher designed a wide range of projects with Jarrett, from extensive, large-scale kitchen remodels to bathroom updates to new construction. During her tenure at the firm, she was promoted to Senior Designer and served as a lead designer on several award-winning projects. Her work also appeared in online and print publications, some receiving national attention.
In 2019, Bacher and her husband moved to the Lowcountry and built what they thought would be a vacation home in Habersham. However, Bacher explains, “as the pandemic hit, I spent about six weeks with my mom and daughter in our new home. I quickly realized I was done with Pennsylvania’s snow and cold temperatures, and decided to reside full time in the Lowcountry.” By spring 2020, Bacher began earnestly working on her business plan and implemented it just six months later when the perfect storefront in Habersham Marketplace became available for her new business.
“Dana Bacher Design is a comprehensive, full-service kitchen and bath design firm. I work with clients from idea generation to a fully realized installation whether it’s new construction or remodel,” she explains. With an incredible eye for detail and impeccable organization, Bacher says her strengths include collaboration and problem-solving. “I spend a lot of time with my clients developing a detailed profile before we ever get started. For kitchen remodels especially, I want to know what’s working in their present space and what’s not. I need to understand how they use the space including everything from who does the cooking, to how much seating is needed at the island, to what their tallest appliance is that needs to fit inside the cabinetry.” According to Bacher, the same is true of bathroom design. “Sometimes bathrooms are like putting a puzzle together. It can be a smaller space with quirky architectural details to work around. So, fitting everything in that the client wants is key, and making sure it looks beautiful and inviting is the goal.”
As far as new construction projects, Bacher says, “anticipating needs and bringing interior spaces to life is how she can help. It’s important to clients that we thoughtfully consider how the space will look and function. There is an incredible number of decisions to be made in any design project, but especially in new construction. I’m here to help with everything from cabinetry to storage solutions to finish selections.”
Bacher admits what she likes most about her work: “I love collaborating with clients, I just enjoy the exchange and challenge to make each space unique and inspiring. Using computer software, I’m able to show full-color renderings so clients can make informed, thoughtful design decisions.” Ultimately, Bacher asserts, her goal on behalf of clients is to “provide the greatest degree of functionality possible together with a design that feels just like them.”
To learn more about Dana Bacher Design, visit danabacherdesign.com or call 843-951-9156.
