DAEN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN DESIGN SINCE CHILDHOOD. THE SON OF A CALIFORNIA FARMING FAMILY, HE REMEMBERS HIS PARENTS ALLOWING HIM, AT AN EARLY AGE, TO HELP DESIGN ADDITIONS TO THEIR HOME.

HE ATTENDED DESIGN SCHOOL IN PASEDENA AND LATER, LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY ON A DANCE SCHOLARSHIP. DAEN WORKED FOR A PRESTIGOUS DESIGN FIRM BASED IN CORONA DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE MOVING TO SAN FRANCISCO AND STARTING SDG IN 1979.

MANY THINGS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AT THE START OF A PROJECT. DAEN EXPLAINS: " I BEGIN BY FIGURING OUT WHAT THE CLIENT NEEDS. THERE IS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP THAT’S CREATED BETWEEN THE DESIGNER AND CLIENT THAT ALLOWS ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE SPACE NEEDS TO FUNCTION. EACH SPACE HAS IT’S OWN UNIQUE CHARACTER. I LIKE INTERIORS THAT ARE NOT INTIMIDATING AND STRIVE TO DESIGN HOMES THAT ARE COMFORTABLE. I MINIMIZE THE USE OF TRENDY STYLES TO ACHIEVE A TIMELESS LOOK."