Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephany Eaton.
Hi Stephany, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My path into design began with two influences that might seem unexpected together: science and story. I studied chemistry, and it gave me something I didn’t anticipate — a deep understanding of how structure determines outcome. How the precise combination of elements doesn’t just change what something looks like; it changes what it does. How the right conditions don’t simply coexist — they react, they shift energy, they produce something neither element could achieve on its own. That principle never left me. It became the lens through which I see space: not as decoration, but as a formula. One that, when crafted with intention, yields a specific kind of energy, focus, and human experience. At the same time, my German roots and early exposure to European architecture shaped my eye for proportion, craftsmanship, and the belief that beauty and function belong together — that one should never have to be sacrificed for the other.
That combination is also where the name PureAlchemy comes from. To me, alchemy has always been about transformation — taking what exists and reimagining it into something extraordinary through vision, care, and disciplined execution. In commercial interiors, that transformation can be profound. It’s not simply about making a space look better. It’s about creating an environment that genuinely supports the people inside it and honestly reflects who an organization is — so that alignment between brand and space becomes something people can actually feel.
What has guided our approach over the years is a belief I hold deeply: scale should never come at the cost of humanity. The larger the space and the more people it serves, the more important personal attention becomes — because you’re designing for real individuals, real roles, and hundreds of small moments every single day. We design at scale, but never generically.
That belief led me to found PureAlchemy Design in Minneapolis in 2013. Today we work across four realms — office and hybrid workspaces, retail and branded environments, healthcare and wellness spaces, and hospitality and experiential settings — serving the Twin Cities and partnering nationally. But the thread running through all of it has stayed the same: designing spaces that work beautifully for real life, guided by a process that feels just as thoughtful as the finished result.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Incredibly rewarding — but I wouldn’t call it smooth. More like meaningful, layered, and full of lessons I’m genuinely grateful for. One of the most honest challenges in running a commercial design studio is holding creative vision alongside real-world complexity: budgets, timelines, permitting, construction realities, and multiple stakeholders who each care deeply — and sometimes differently — about the outcome. And because space touches people every single day, projects carry far more emotion than most people expect going in. I learned early that without clarity built in from the start, that complexity finds its way in later — as decision fatigue, delays, or stress that nobody planned for.
That lesson became one of the most formative of my career. It shaped how I think about the client relationship and why I believe so strongly that the process itself deserves as much care as the design. Over time, that conviction became the foundation of our Signature PureAlchemy Design Process™ — built to protect momentum, guide decisions, and help clients feel genuinely confident rather than quietly overwhelmed at each stage.
What I’ve come to appreciate most is that the harder seasons were the ones that clarified what we stand for. Today, PureAlchemy is known not only for elevated, brand-aligned spaces — but for a client experience that feels calm, collaborative, and supported, even when the project itself is complex. That balance took years to develop, and I don’t take it lightly.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about PureAlchemy Design?
PureAlchemy Design is an award-winning commercial interior design studio based in Minneapolis. We create branded environments that support work, wellness, and beyond — working with organizations who understand that their space is more than walls and furniture. It’s a daily operating system. A living expression of who they are. And when it’s designed with real intention, people feel it before they can name it. We specialize across four realms: Office & Hybrid Workspaces, Retail & Branded Environments, Healthcare & Wellness Spaces, and Hospitality & Experiential Spaces. Across all of them, we’re known for spaces that feel elevated and deeply welcoming — beautiful, yes, but also strategic and highly functional. We design from the human experience outward, using evidence-backed decisions around light, acoustics, layout, materials, and flow to support how people actually feel and perform, day after day.
What sets us apart is that we design the journey as intentionally as we design the space. Commercial projects can quietly become exhausting — too many decisions, too many voices, no clear anchor. Our Signature PureAlchemy Design Process™ is built to change that dynamic. We listen deeply, define success early, and translate brand and business goals into a clear visual roadmap that makes decision-making feel guided rather than draining. We also coordinate the right contractor and vendor team for each project, so clients have one steady point of leadership from first vision through final execution.
Our work has been recognized by ASID Minnesota and NKBA Minnesota and featured in business and design publications. But honestly, the recognition that means most to me is what clients share directly — that their space finally feels like them. That the process felt calm and even fulfilling, despite the complexity. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to, every time.
Your space is always communicating something. It’s shaping how people feel, reinforcing culture, and influencing how your team works and connects. The opportunity to help organizations make that message intentional — that’s work I find deeply meaningful, and it’s what gets me to the studio every morning.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Give yourself permission to find your voice — and be patient with that process. In the beginning, it can be surprisingly difficult to hear your own perspective clearly. There’s a lot of noise in the industry, a lot of opinions about what you “should” be doing, and it’s easy to shape yourself around all of it before you’ve had a chance to discover what’s genuinely true for you. What helped me most was slowing down and getting honest — about what I believe, what I value, and the kind of experience I want people to have when they work with me.
That clarity becomes one of your greatest professional assets over time. Clients feel authenticity immediately — it’s something you simply cannot manufacture. Design is deeply personal, and the best work only happens when there’s real connection and trust on both sides. When you show up as yourself, something opens up: clients communicate more openly, decisions come more naturally, and the work reflects who they truly are rather than what’s currently popular.
Your perspective is your differentiator. Own it early, protect it, and build from what’s genuinely true for you. The right clients will find you because of it — not in spite of it.
Pricing:
- Project investments are tailored to scope—size, complexity, timeline, and level of coordination required. Most clients begin with a Discovery Call so we can understand goals, constraints, and what success looks like. From there, we provide a clear proposal tailored to your specific needs, with a defined scope, timeline, and recommended level of support. Schedule a Discovery Call here: https://purealchemydesign.com/contact/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://purealchemydesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purealchemy_design/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PureAlchemyDesign.CommercialInteriorDesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanyeaton, https://www.linkedin.com/company/purealchemy
