Ann Drager, Principal

Creativity and passion are essential to designing engaging, functional, and individual spaces. A successful design is accomplished by taking the ideas and desires of the client and making them a reality. Sometimes, it is necessary to value engineer and develop a plan B, but we always make it a top priority to deliver a comforting space that promotes well-being and identifies with your resident's lifestyle.

As the SVP for Marriott ExecuStay for 14 years, my responsibilities included many facets of our corporate housing business. My division handled all the design aspects, including finish selection, space planning, contractor selection, FFE, built-in schematics, vendor contract negotiations, and project management.    

ExecuStay had properties on Collins Avenue in Miami, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Downtown Manhattan in New York, and many others. Each property required a unique design that was innovative and customized to elevate it above their competition. Our design for each property was based on its location and resident profile while maintaining the brand image of ExecuStay. 

In 2004, because of the loyalty and working relationships that I had fostered in the industry, I decided to start my own business. When I was thinking of a name for my business, I wanted it to represent what I considered interior design to be. I want to create deliberate designs based on geographical location, lifestyle, functionality, history, and resident preferences in designing a space. Thus, Environments By Design.

EBD has had the privilege to work on a variety of special projects throughout the years, including a couple of memorable projects which were personally satisfying for how they affected the needs of the communities they served.

     * We designed Colin Powell’s offices in Alexandria when he started “America’s           Promise,” a foundation that helps inner-city children succeed. 

     * We provided the FF&E for a Ronald McDonald-type housing facility in Miami, which provides housing for the families of sick children at The Miami Children’s Hospital. 

It is our culture to demonstrate respect, kindness, and ethical behavior toward all people. I believe we all have a responsibility to our communities to use our talents where possible to help others in need. We provide complimentary design services for nonprofits that build respite housing for the sick and we offer furnishings to charities that provide housing for individuals of domestic abuse or recovering from addiction.  

We only find success when you do, so we strive to create a unique environment that your residents are proud to call home.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa