Ioana Chinan is the founder and principal designer at StudioOna, a full-service design practice based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of experience across the U.S. and Europe, Ioana brings a rare blend of academic depth and practical expertise to residential architecture and interior design.
Ioana holds a Ph.D. in Architecture and a Master of Science in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, where she also taught architectural design and theory. Her academic work continues to inform a thoughtful, research-driven approach to practice—one that values environment, context, and lived experience as much as aesthetics and functionality.
Prior to establishing StudioOna, Ioana worked in a range of roles—from project architect on large-scale urban developments in Romania to lead designer for custom home remodels throughout California. Her portfolio includes hospitality, housing, public interest design, and emergency shelter prototypes developed in response to natural disasters.
At StudioOna, Ioana acts as the professional designer, guiding projects through complex permitting processes across multiple Bay Area municipalities. She specializes in residential remodels, planning entitlements, and interior architecture, offering clients curated support—from zoning research and consultant coordination to fixture selection and showroom visits.
Her work is grounded in the belief that good design begins with listening and succeeds through clarity, collaboration, and care.
StudioOna Services
Construction & Permitting
We help homeowners and builders navigate the complexity of residential permitting across Bay Area municipalities. Acting as the Owner’s Agent, we coordinate with zoning, planning, and building departments; prepare code-compliant drawing sets; and collaborate with engineers and consultants to ensure smooth, timely submittals. Our team remains involved through construction, offering ongoing technical support and design clarification.
Interior Design & Space Planning
StudioOna offers highly personalized interior design services, from conceptual layout development to final finish selections. We help clients define their vision with space planning, curated moodboards, and showroom visits. Our interior scope includes cabinetry layouts, lighting and plumbing fixtures, hardware, and color palettes—designed to bring cohesion and personality to every room.
As-Builts & Floor Plan Reviews
We provide accurate existing-condition documentation for renovations, resale, or consultant coordination. Additionally, we offer independent floor plan review and analysis for clients bringing pre-existing designs—ensuring spatial logic, code alignment, and functional clarity before construction begins.
Advisory & Project Support
Our studio is built to support a range of residential needs—from one-time consults to full-service guidance. We collaborate with design-build firms, contractors, and permitting consultants to enhance quality, reduce inefficiencies, and advocate for the homeowner’s best interest throughout the process.
From first sketch to final detail, we work to create spaces that are cohesive, functional, and emotionally resonant. Whether managing a permit set or choosing the perfect faucet, StudioOna is dedicated to delivering design with care, context, and purpose.