In 2013, Forbes Magazine called Joan Behnke the “Billionaire Whisperer.” Her first projects as a designer included the estates of royalty: the palatial homes of the Saudi royal family. Joan started her own firm in 1999 and now it has grown to international acclaim with projects from coast to coast in the United States and all over the world. She is well-known not only for the 20,000+ square feet homes she works on but also for working intimately with her clients to transform the spaces they inhabit into a profound opportunity for self-expression.
Joan approaches her projects with an eye toward one-of-a-kind finds, whether that means collaborating with craftspeople on custom furnishings or sourcing antiques worldwide. When she was interviewed by Robb Report, Joan said that one of her greatest strengths as a designer was balance. “I know when to use restraint, which can sometimes mean advising a client not to put five TVs in the master bath.”
Thomas Barrack, billionaire real estate investor and longtime client of Joan sang her praises to Forbes. “I don’t view her as a decorator; she is a cultural scientist. She will research little, narrow, unknown tunnels of history on a particular project and then start drilling down. She doesn’t just do research of the period; she has contacts all over the world who help her maneuver through identifying objects and materials.”