Meet The Team

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Founder & Creative Director

Ellen Lopez is an award-winning Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer with nearly thirty years of professional design expertise. She opened EL Design Studio in 2014 and quickly built an extraordinary portfolio of exceptional work that uniquely blends the needs of her clients with her talented eye for trends as well as timeless style.

In 2016, Ellen earned three first place awards from NKBA’s NY Metro Chapter design competition. The following year, she became a chapter officer for the NKBA NY Metro Chapter, and she joined the National NKBA Chapter Leadership Committee in 2020.

Since then, Ellen’s success has seen a remarkable trajectory. She was one of three designers selected by Cambria USA to serve on an exclusive panel advising the company on products, emerging technology, and more. She has been recognized nationally as the First Runner-Up in Kitchen Design by the Interior Design Society (IDS), and her work has been featured in national publications. Photos of her projects have been widely shared by notable social media influencers and blogs, including corporate accounts such as Cambria USA, Hubbardton Forge, TileBar, and GE Appliances, elevating Ellen Lopez and EL Design Studio to a new level of recognition and notoriety.

Ellen’s years of experience in addition to her artistic flair have not only offered her a wide breadth of creativity and inspiration, they have enriched her ability to serve her every client’s needs in a singularly brilliant and meaningful way.

Ellen Lopez

Project Specialist

Denise Goodman joined EL Design Studio in September of 2018 after Ellen Lopez designed her kitchen - a project they both enjoyed and where they first developed a strong and supportive relationship. Starting out part-time, Denise later developed a passion for the cabinet and building aspect of the kitchen and bath industry. In addition to facilitating the building of the cabinets, Denise also coordinates deliveries and templating of countertops based on the arrival and installation of the cabinets.

Denise is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology where she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. She spent three years as a product developer at Jimlar Shoe Corporation for private label brands such as Diego Della Valle, Thom McAn, Allen Edmonds, Clark, and Frye Boots.

Using her abundant creative energy, Denise seamlessly orchestrates the cabinet selection, engineering, and finishing process, bringing passion and careful intention to every project. Her design industry experience and her commitment to a smooth journey for every client makes her an indispensable part of the ELDS team.

Denise Goodman

Designer and Project Manager

Diana Rojas started at EL Design Studio in late 2018 after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Brooklyn College. In the years since, Diana has discovered a true passion for design, and she has flourished as her role with ELDS has expanded.

As Project Manager, Diana has implemented many practices on how to better plan and coordinate their projects, from simple organizational skills to the use of proper software to best communicate with the team and complete jobs in the most efficient ways possible. As Content Director, Diana ran a full campaign to rebrand the company and ran a comprehensive social media plan in order to increase ELDS presence and relevance to the greater public.

Since 2020, when Diana oversaw the largest ELDS renovation project to date, she has taken on numerous large-scale projects that have yielded exceptional results. Her design work and her exceptional project management skills led to greater recognition when she was selected for NKBA’s 30 Under 30 in 2022, making her a rising star in the industry.

Diana Rojas

Project Manager

Alex Pizzo began with ELDS in February of 2022. He brings eight years of plumbing and HVAC expertise as he was a member of the steamfitter’s union as a journeymen. Alex previously worked for Balmonte plumbing and brings experience in the automotive industry to lend a critical eye to the mechanical and technical details of every ELDS project.

With a longtime fascination with construction and a natural ease for working directly with people, Alex is an ideal on-site asset who maintains clear communication with both contractors and homeowners, ensuring everyone’s needs are met and nothing is missed. He consistently works through various construction challenges in order to preserve the integrity of the design while working within a space constraints.

Alex has a gift for problem solving and keeping open lines of conversation between every person involved, and his hands-on approach makes him essential to measurements, deliveries, installations, and more.

Alex Pizzo

Assistant Designer

Martha began her internship with ELDS in July of 2022 after earning her Associate’s degree in Applied Science for interior design at Nassau Community College. She has been a member of NKBA since 2019 and brings a keen eye for design as well as technological prowess to each project.

Martha renders designs in Chief Architect, Sketchup, 2020 Design, and AutoCad to offer clients realistic depictions of their space and designs. Her use of various design software brings important details to life so that every rendering is distinctive, accurate, and artful.

She also assists in selecting materials for designs and brings exceptional technical skill to ELDS. Her attention to detail and software knowledge are integral to the process from start to finish.

Martha Torres