Yes, we finish each other’s sentences and often, almost eerily, have the identical thought about a design decision. No, we are not twins; we are an aunt and a niece duo and, of course, good friends who have grown up celebrating every family milestone together, often feasting on our mom’s/grandma’s gourmet Greek meals.
We challenge you to guess which of us is the aunt and which is the niece!
Andrea babb, ncidq
co-founder, PRINCIPAL designer
Andrea was born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. After graduating from Peters Township High School, she attended Ohio University where she studied Interior Architecture and Art. She received her Bachelor of Science in 2009 and moved back to Pittsburgh where she began working for a commercial construction company. After nine years of working in construction she decided to take what she had learned and apply it to her own interior design business.
Andrea is primarily responsible for space planning, drafting, and building models with AutoCAD and SketchUp and considers herself somewhat of a software nerd. When not working on design projects, she spends most of her time with her daughter and family, learning new songs on the piano, watercolor painting or trying to keep up with Dana on a run.
“I have always had a passion for the built environment -- it influences our decisions, our emotions and our memories. I am constantly challenged by the exploration and reflection required by design and am always amazed to discover the places it takes me.”
Dana Mackey
Co-Founder, PRINCIPAL Designer
Dana is a Pittsburgh native and enthusiast. She grew up in the South Hills and has remained in the area to raise her three children and to stay close to generations of her family. It has been the friendly Pittsburgh people that has continued to attract Dana and her Cleveland-born husband, Mike, to remain, but it has also been the unique and historic homes of Pittsburgh that have charmed the family and inspired Dana, in particular, to invest in revitalizing her family’s various homes throughout the years. This personal passion and experience in renovation has expanded beyond her own walls, with friends and family members requesting her ideas and opinions. After a fulfilling decade-long career in education, Dana feels as though her career shift into design has been a very natural and, of course, a welcome one.
Dana’s principal role at Babb & Mack Design Co. includes space planning and furniture layout, fixture, finish, and furnishing selections and sourcing, and staging and styling. She balances this creative side with a very physical one, eager to play any sport and blow off steam on a hilly run through Pittsburgh streets.
KATE ARACRI
SENIOR designer
Kate brings a unique blend of professional and personal experience to her work in home design and renovation. A longtime resident of Mt. Lebanon, she has a deep appreciation for its vintage homes and family-friendly atmosphere.
After earning a graduate degree in Psychology, Kate held roles as a psychologist, realtor, nonprofit board member, and stay-at-home mom — experiences that shaped her understanding of people’s needs for functional, beautiful spaces. Her passion for design grew from personal projects and working with Babb and Mack as a client, eventually leading her to join the team as the first employee and transition into a design role.
Kate specializes in space planning, fixture and furniture selection, and styling, with a talent for blending color, pattern, and vintage elements to create personalized, timeless spaces.
Outside of work, she enjoys family time with her husband Joe, traveling, gardening, collecting antiques, and caring for Leonard, the beloved “fur mayor” of Mt. Lebanon.
LIZZY MAIDMAN
ASSOCIATE designer
Lizzy grew up in Mt. Lebanon and has always loved living in the area. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Pittsburgh and spent 14 years as an elementary school teacher. While teaching was rewarding, Lizzy found herself spending most of her free time immersed in interior decorating, styling, and design — helping family and friends, renovating her own homes, and imagining new spaces.
At Babb and Mack, Lizzy brings her passion for design to every project, big or small. She enjoys identifying a client’s personal style and adding thoughtful details that make a space feel comfortable, authentic, and full of character. She especially loves incorporating antique furniture and timeless design elements to give rooms a sense of history. Her work includes fixture, finish, and furnishing selections, sourcing, staging and styling (her favorite!), as well as space planning and furniture layout.
Lizzy lives just minutes from the Babb and Mack studio with her husband and two children. Outside of work, she enjoys family time, DIY home projects, antique shopping, sports fields, and blasting loud music while creating beautiful spaces.
LAURA SOLENSKY
SENIOR designer
Laura grew up in the North Hills of Pittsburgh and earned degrees in Business Management & Marketing from LaRoche College and an MBA with a concentration in Project Management from Carlow University. After seven years in IT project management, she discovered her passion for design while renovating her first home.
She honed her skills through a certificate program at NYIAD, experience working with a designer in Connecticut, and five years running her own design studio serving clients nationwide.
Laura specializes in creating personalized, livable spaces that blend color, pattern, and comfort, or clean, neutral palettes, tailored to any style.
Outside of work, she enjoys life with her husband Ryan and their two rescue labs, Henley and Pete, as well as estate-sale hunting, gardening, reading, and hosting friends and family.
KIRSTEN ENGLE
DESIGN ADMINISTRATOR
A Pittsburgh native and Fox Chapel graduate, Kirsten spent 20 years away before returning to the city and settling in Mt. Lebanon, where she has lived for the past nine years. She and her husband, Jeremy, have two daughters (ages 17 and 18), two beloved Australian Shepherds, and a cat. Outside of work, Kirsten is passionate about staying active. She enjoys skiing, running, yoga, the gym, and paddle tennis.
Kirsten brings a unique background to our team, having previously served as the Refurbishing Director for a 500-room resort—Beaver Run—in Breckenridge, CO. There, she worked closely with homeowners to upgrade their properties and collaborated with a design firm based in Boulder.
Kirsten joined Babb & Mack as Design Administrator, a role that is key to keeping both our projects and operations running smoothly. She has a variety of responsibilities that support our design process, client experience, and internal systems. We are thrilled to have her on board and excited for the expertise, energy, and warmth she brings to the Babb & Mack team!