CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: CRYSTAL KNAPIK, KATIE SAVAKIS, STEPHANIE SCHILL HAYDEN, STEPHEN M. SCHILL | INTERIOR PHOTO BY ERIN KELLY
Now in its seventh year, Pittsburgh Magazine HOME received a number of stunning entries from talented architects, interior designers and homeowners across the region. Picking a winner is never an easy feat, which is why — to ensure fairness and neutrality — we left the blind judging process to a panel of Cleveland- and St. Louis-based professionals in the design and architecture industry.
Here are the Best of Design 2025 winners.
Crystal Knapik
With nearly 17 years of experience, is a project designer at Christner Architects in St. Louis. She brings her expertise in design, sustainability and technology to complex projects for civic, cultural and corporate clients. She has cultivated a robust portfolio that also spans award-winning luxury residential design, adaptive reuse and renovation, boutique retail, mixed-use developments and affordable housing. Knapik has a discerning eye for detail and is driven to create spaces that enhance quality of life, fueling her passion for excellence in design and impactful community spaces.
Katie Savakis
A project designer at Vocon’s Cleveland office, Katie Savakis plans and designs environments that facilitate inspiration, enhance the end-user experience and streamline functions. She has collective experience in luxury residential, multi-family residential, hospitality and corporate interiors. Her commitment and experience in all project phases guide each successful assignment. Fresh ideas and innovative approach are coupled with experience in diverse environments, enabling Savakis to provide effective design solutions for a variety of project types.
Stephen M. Schill
With more than 25 years of experience, Stephen M. Schill of Schill Architecture LLC is a preeminent architect based in northeast Ohio. Schill’s residential projects have a strong influence from his studies of architecture at Villa Schifanoia in Florence, Italy, where he developed his understanding of scale, proportion and details. Since Schill Architecture was established in 1991, Schill has designed luxury multimillion-dollar lakefront and estate homes throughout Ohio. His work has been featured in several regional publications.
Stephanie Schill Hayden
A graduate of Miami University and Kent State University, Stephanie Schill Hayden is a registered architect at Schill Architecture and a designer at House of L Interior Design. While she has known she wanted to be an architect in the family business since she was a girl, she appreciates the opportunity to work collectively on shared projects between both luxury residential firms. By completing both the architectural and interior drawings for residential projects, Schill Hayden can ensure the design intent is followed through from the foundation to the millwork details.
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