Floss Barber, Inc. Interior Design

09/03/2026

08/19/2026

Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the U.S., yet it can often feel like a much smaller place. After 40 years of living and working here, we’re continually reminded of just how interconnected the city can be.

When Academy House at 1420 Locust Street was under construction in the 1970s, prospective buyers toured full-scale model residences that had been built inside the John Wanamaker Building in order to experience the future of downtown living before the tower itself was complete.

Today, nearly 50 years later, we’re designing new residential model units in that same historic building. The connection is a professional one, but also a personal one: one of our own designers was married at the Wanamaker Building, in front of its legendary pipe organ.

It’s the kind of connection that feels distinctly Philadelphia. People, places and projects cross paths in unexpected ways, sometimes decades apart. The longer you’re here, the more those connections reveal themselves.

Since 1986, we’ve had the privilege of contributing to Philadelphia’s built environment. Four decades in, we’re still discovering the threads that connect the places we know and finding ourselves woven into their next chapters.

08/11/2026

Recently, our team stepped away from our desks and traveled to New Hope for a tour of George Nakashima Woodworkers and the Nakashima Foundation for Peace.

As we explored the workshop, buildings and grounds, we saw finished pieces alongside works in progress and stacks of carefully stored materials waiting for the right purpose. We were struck by the quiet, deliberate process that has defined the workshop for generations. It felt like entering a living archive where craftsmanship, patience and purpose remain central to every decision.

The visit reminded us that great design begins with listening. Nakashima’s work allows the wood itself to guide the final form, embracing its natural characteristics rather than forcing it to conform to rigid expectations. 

Experiences like this one expand our perspective, deepen our appreciation for exceptional craft and encourage us to approach our own work with greater intention and curiosity. We’re grateful to our tour guide, David Long, and the team at George Nakashima Woodworkers and the Nakashima Foundation for Peace for sharing their history, philosophy and enduring commitment to making meaningful and sustainable work.

Conference Room, Brandywine Global Investment Management, featuring custom Nakashima table

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Recently, our team stepped away from our desks and traveled to New Hope for a tour of George Nakashima Woodworkers and the Nakashima Foundation for Peace.

As we explored the workshop, buildings and grounds, we saw finished pieces alongside works in progress and stacks of carefully stored materials waiting for the right purpose. We were struck by the quiet, deliberate process that has defined the workshop for generations. It felt like entering a living archive where craftsmanship, patience and purpose remain central to every decision.

The visit reminded us that great design begins with listening. Nakashima’s work allows the wood itself to guide the final form, embracing its natural characteristics rather than forcing it to conform to rigid expectations. 

Experiences like this one expand our perspective, deepen our appreciation for exceptional craft and encourage us to approach our own work with greater intent

07/16/2026

Recently, designer Emily Eichelberger represented Floss Barber Inc at the 2026 HOTEC Design event in Fort Lauderdale, where she connected with vendors and suppliers from across the country, explored emerging hospitality design trends, and began conversations around potential partnerships for future projects.

Our team makes a point of prioritizing experiences for learning, connection and growth both inside and outside our studio space because we know that every new perspective we gain helps to shape the work we do for our clients.

07/01/2026

Some of the most meaningful parts of a design career aren’t the projects themselves. They’re the people who shape how you think.

When former Senior Designer and Project Director Joe Altieri joined Floss Barber Inc., one of the first projects entrusted to him was a restaurant concept for Emeril Lagasse that ultimately grew into three restaurants within a single casino.

As he presented his early sketches, Floss simply said:
“I like the way you work.”

Sometimes a few words from the right mentor change everything.

Reflecting on his time with the firm, he credits the experience with teaching him to never underestimate the power of design and describes the studio as “unpredictable and supportive…a place that became like family.”

For 40 years, Floss Barber Inc. has been more than a design studio. It has been a place where emerging designers are trusted with meaningful opportunities, challenged to grow, and mentored into the next stage of their careers.

That’s a legacy that extends far beyond the spaces we’ve created to the people who helped create them.

06/17/2026

Some projects stay with you long after they’re complete. The Inn at Swarthmore was one of those projects.

Designed in partnership with Cope Linder Architects, the 40-room boutique hotel became part of the larger award-winning Swarthmore Town Center West development, helping physically and symbolically connect Swarthmore College with the Borough of Swarthmore.

From the beginning, the project called for restraint, thoughtfulness, and a deep respect for place. Inspired by the adjacent Scott Arboretum and the college’s Quaker roots, the interiors embraced simplicity, natural materiality, and quiet atmosphere over trend-driven gestures.

We incorporated reclaimed white oak from the site into the interior millwork and custom lobby furnishings, paired with local Pennsylvania bluestone, natural fibers, floral motifs, and artwork created by Swarthmore students and alumni.

At the time, we almost questioned whether the project was “different enough” to stand out in the design world. So much hospitality work was leaning heavily into trend. This project felt quieter. More grounded. More enduring.

Then came the realization: that was exactly what made it special.

The Inn at Swarthmore ultimately received international recognition for its design — a reminder that timelessness often speaks louder than trend.

Some spaces don’t need to compete for attention. They simply know who they are.

06/09/2026

Our team recently joined partners, community leaders and stakeholders to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Piazza at Ardmore, a transformative mixed-use development by Radnor Property Group that will bring 270 luxury residences, street-level retail and vibrant community gathering spaces to the heart of the Main Line.
The first major new construction development in Ardmore in decades, The Piazza represents an exciting investment in the future of the community. Much like our 2017 project, Hill College House for the University of Pennsylvania, which we highlighted recently, this space evokes the spirit of an Italian piazza, with a series of interior gardens and courtyard spaces designed to foster connection, encourage interaction, and create opportunities for everyday gathering.
We’re proud to be collaborating with on this landmark project. Our team has led the interior design for the public and amenity spaces, including the main lobby, club rooms, leasing offices, fitness center, mail room and residential corridors.
Projects like this are a reminder that great places are built through collaboration. Architects, designers, developers, consultants, contractors and community partners each play a role in shaping environments that will serve people for years to come.
We’re excited to see this next chapter take shape and look forward to welcoming residents following completion in 2028.
Renderings by JKRP Architects

05/19/2026

One of the things we’ve learned over the past 40 years is that great design rarely happens in isolation. That spirit shaped the transformation of Philadelphia’s historic Parker Hotel into the Fairfield Inn & Suites Philadelphia Downtown/Center City.

Originally built in 1923, the building carried a layered history: from a residence hotel and gathering place for musicians and entertainers to an important part of Philadelphia’s early LGBTQ community. The redesign sought not only to restore the building, but to reintroduce it as a vibrant part of the neighborhood.

Working alongside The Wankawala Organization, SgRA Architects and Marriott, our team created a boutique-style hospitality experience that balanced historic preservation with contemporary comfort and brand standards.

One collaboration in particular helped define the spirit of the project: work developed by artist Hunt Slonem, whose signature rabbit imagery brought playfulness, warmth and personality into the interior spaces.

Forty years in, collaboration continues to be one of the most important parts of our process. So much of this work is about bringing the right people, ideas, and perspectives together to create memorable hospitality experiences.

We’re always interested in thoughtful collaborations and hospitality projects that call for creativity, care and a strong point of view. If you’re working on something meaningful, we’d love to connect.

05/13/2026

Lighting has a way of changing how a space feels — not just how it looks. Many spaces today are overlit, which removes focus and flattens the experience. But lighting that’s intentional and well-designed can create a sense of calm, a jolt of energy or even mimic the natural rhythms of daylight.

Our partners at approach lighting as a partner to our design rather than a competing voice. Their ability to listen closely, respect the vision, and enhance what’s already there results in an environment where lighting supports function while creating depth, movement, and even a bit of drama.

Thoughtfully placed lighting that is layered to balance ambient and functional needs, combined with our design, transformed this hallway from flat and average to intentional and alive.

When lighting is done right, even the most ordinary space can feel first class.

Space: The Metro Club Condominiums
Art by
Carpet by@shawcontract

04/22/2026

The process of design means considering not just how a space looks on day one, but how it performs over time: how materials age and how spaces are used. What gets better with wear? What shows its years in a good way?

Longevity is about thinking through the full lifecycle of a space, from first use to years down the line. We’ve seen spaces lose their integrity through constant updating—new finishes layered over old ones, changes made for the sake of change. True longevity often comes from restraint and the decisions that allow a space to settle in and endure.

The simplicity of the white walls, black metal framed doors, white sofa and polished concrete floors in this 2013 design for Hirtle Callaghan are timeless choices. It’s why this space maintains its vibrancy after more than a decade. We always aim to create spaces that continue to work, age and thrive long after we’ve stepped away.