About Us | habitardesign

Mitch Newman, Principal

Mitch often wandered off the safe and time-tested route. He went to medical school at the University of Chicago, became a Board Certified Family Practitioner, and shortly retired from the medical field. He traveled, skiing in mountain resorts behind the iron curtain and sleeping under the stars in Italian vineyards. He studied in Germany at the University of Tuebingen and supported himself creating and selling T-shirts, one which became enshrined in the City's Museum. Interested in Arab culture, he moved to Cairo and published his first short story in the Egyptian Times before returning to Chicago to become Artistic Director of Thirsty Theater.

Building however was in his blood. His father started a real estate development firm in 1962 and in 1999 it could no longer be resisted. He built his first 3 flat. Since then, hes built numerous low-rise and mid-rise buildings emphasizing exceptional finishes. In 2005, he launched Habitar Design with Kapan Shipman, inspired by her work and friendship.

Karl Sponholtz

Karl has been a residential architect and interior designer for over 18 years. His ability to adapt his skills to a wide variety of styles and budgets is his greatest strength. He’ll tell you that design has always come naturally to him. He remembers rearranging the furniture in his house when he was 10. When his parents came home, they were shocked at how great everything looked. “It really did look better,” he laughs, “And I still use my own house as a laboratory!” His motto: “Design is a process and it needs to stay flexible, otherwise we’d have to stop shopping!”

Norma S. Zeiger, ASID

Norma’s passion is creating—taking an idea from conception to reality. She loves the challenge of crafting an innovative and functional space plan and then filling it with interesting mixesof colors, textures, material and styles.

Spending time in a well-designed office or home allows us to feel happy and comfortable and creates greater ease with which we go about our daily activities. Norma strives to create such spaces for her clients while considering their needs, style and budget.

Norma graduated from Harrington College of Interior Design in Chicago. Two of her renovation projects (shown below) won first place in the ASID Illinois Design Excellence Awards and many others have been featured in magazines and on HGTV.

Kapan Shipman, Associate Interior Designer

Spirited…Different”…is how senior designer Kapan Shipman would describe herself. With her diminutive size and easy smile, she has a way of making her clients feel comfortable and relaxed.
She is curious by nature, and always on the lookout for inspiration. Pop culture, fashion, art, and films influence in her work. Kapan’s love for design is not limited to interiors and architecture. This eccentric Jane-of-all-trades is also a fashion stylist, a personal shopper, style consultant and a jewelry designer.

Kapan is a graduate of Harrington Institute of Interior Design and has experience in both commercial and residential design. Her work has been featured in numerous articles.

Krzyzstoff Jachym, Carpentry Designer

Krzyzstoff Jachym is a craftsman without limit. He came to the United States to study Hotel Management but discovered a love of building. He’s an expert cabinetry maker, finish-carpenter, and tile layer and enjoys almost any construction challenge. He’s old school when it comes to quality and he contributes creatively to every project.

Alex Herring, Office Manager and Web Designer

Alex Herring is the office manager for Habitar Design and Stratagem Construction. He brings a liberal arts degree to client billing and looks forward to providing you with top-quality customer service. Alex also built our website.