J. Paul Lobkovich, Principal
J. Paul has over 25 years of experience designing acclaimed kitchens throughout the United States. His kitchens have been published in Architectural Digest, Home & Design, Washingtonian, The Seattle Times, Home Magazine, Renovations Style, and Traditional Home. His work has also been featured on Home & Garden Television (HGTV). J. Paul attended The Rhode Island School of Design, and The Catholic University of America, and has two degrees in Architecture. In his spare time, J. Paul enjoys gardening, automobiles, and interior design projects for his own home in Miami Beach.
Mike Conway, Principal
After a 16 year career in sales & marketing in the publishing industry, as well as a technology start-up in the home furnishing industry, Mike founded Lobkovich Kitchen Designs with Paul Lobkovich in 2000. Mike manages the business side of the firm, including business development, operations, finance, and accounting. In his spare time, Mike enjoys exploring his adopted hometown of Miami Beach, walking dogs at the shelter, traveling, cooking, and reading. Mike has a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University, with a minor in Economics.
Emily Neifeld, Creative Director & Senior Designer
Emily is a fourth-generation kitchen designer, graduating from Marymount University’s Interior Design Program (B.A.) in 2006. In her ever-growing interest in the creative arts, Emily has pursued painting, drawing, and jewelry-making, just to name a few! Outside of the office, Emily enjoys checking out new breweries and food festivals. She is also in constant pursuit for that perfect mid-century find, so her weekends are frequently spent visiting estate sales and antiquing. Emily has been known to speak in random accents with Mike while conducting field measures. J. Paul finds this annoying.
Lisa Antonelli, Senior Designer
Lisa has been working in the kitchen and bath design world for 20 years, in Ohio, Florida, and Virginia. She received her Interior Design Degree (BS) from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She also practiced interior design in Florida for two years, selecting paint colors, fabrics, furniture, lighting, and drapery design. Lisa enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Mark and young daughter, Joann, and their dog and cat. They enjoy watching Joann try many different sports and activities. Mark and Lisa like going to local breweries, rock concerts, and the movies.
Sari Castrén, Designer
Sari has a degree in Architecture (M.Sc.), and worked in her native Finland on projects varying from remodeling and building alterations to building code compliance and outreach. She moved about ten years ago to the Washington metropolitan area after an interesting job opportunity opened for her spouse. The Castrén family settled down in peaceful Virginia suburbs, where they have raised their two sons who are now in college age. What Sari knows and loves the best, is to travel and explore new places with her family. Whenever the trips are closer to home, their adopted lab-mix Milo travels with them. Besides traveling, Sari enjoys movies, cooking, visiting museums, and hiking in the parks and trails. Sari joined the Lobkovich Kitchen Designs team in 2015. She loves to be part of the team creating new and innovative kitchens that clients would perhaps not even dreamed of.
Alexa Jostes, Designer
Alexa obtained her B.S. in Residential Environments and Design with a cognate in Architecture from Virginia Tech in 2016. Even as a child, she loved solving puzzles and doing anything creative, so it is no surprise that she found her passion in kitchen design. Alexa grew up in Knoxville, TN with her family and dog, Roxie, and moved away to Northern Virginia in 2017 (she misses Roxie the most). Alexa spends her free time taking weekend trips, playing cards, and exploring all that the city has to offer-from new restaurants to beer tasting festivals, trivia nights, and more. She also enjoys true crime podcasts, cooking, and much to Roxie’s chagrin, Alexa loves cats!
Deb Eastham, Designer
Deb came to LKD from a long career as an Interior Designer with experience on both the commercial and residential sides of the industry. A graduate of the Interior Design program at the University of Florida, Deb has always been drawn to the idea that good design not only enhances the environment, but also elevates the spirit. Outside of work, she can often be found with her nose in a book (historical fiction and fantasy are favorite genres) or exploring in a wide range of Arts and Crafts (anything from mosaics to scrapbooking). Always up for a travel adventure, she is currently helping her daughter, Lindsay prepare for a semester abroad in Florence and definitely sees an Italian holiday in her future!