A new chapter in an ever-evolving story of design.
For over twenty years, Erika and Joel have led a design practice centered on spaces that feel connected, comfortable, and lived in. What began as Rethink Studio grew into a portfolio of residential and commercial work shaped by craftsmanship, balance, and a thoughtful approach to everyday living.
That practice now continues as Asher + Rye Studio, bringing the design work, retail shop, and café together under one name. The values that define Asher + Rye are the same ones that guide the studio’s interiors. Warmth. Simplicity. Natural materials. A belief that good design supports the pace and rhythm of real life.
Based in Savannah’s Historic Downtown District, Asher + Rye Studio draws from the character of the city and from the clean, functional beauty of European design. Every project is approached with intention and a focus on creating spaces made for the way people truly live.
Our Team
Behind every project is a team of designers and project managers who share a common vision: to create environments that are functional, meaningful, and beautifully human.
We are small by design, dedicated to hands-on collaboration, site visits, and ongoing conversation with the artisans and partners who help bring our concepts to life.
Joel Snayd, Co-Founder
Joel’s love of design began long before the studio—rooted in a childhood spent restoring old homes, salvaging found objects, and learning the value of craft by hand. With an MFA in Interior Design and Historic Preservation from SCAD, he approaches every project with an appreciation for history and a curiosity for what comes next.
After a decade working in advertising in New York, Joel returned to design with a new understanding of storytelling—how spaces, like brands, connect through emotion and clarity. That perspective guides his work at Asher + Rye Studio, where he designs interiors that balance modern living with a sense of character that feels lived in.
Originally from the Midwest, Joel draws inspiration from nature, urban edges, and the Southern landscape he now calls home. When not in the studio, you’ll often find him watering the garden oasis he created at the shop or dreaming up the next expansion project—always searching for the story a space wants to tell.
Erika Snayd, Co-Founder
Erika has always been drawn to what connects people, to each other, to their spaces, and to the rhythms of everyday life. With a background in psychology, brand strategy, and consumer research, she brings both empathy and precision to everything she does at Asher + Rye Studio.
Before co-founding the firm with her husband, Joel, she spent more than a decade leading global campaigns and insight programs for major brands in New York. That experience honed her instinct for how people live and what makes them feel at ease, insights that now shape the studio’s human-centered approach to design.
At Asher + Rye, Erika oversees partnerships and client engagement, ensuring that every touchpoint of the design process is a relational one. She and Joel guide the brand direction together, bringing the studio, shop, and café into one cohesive, intentional, and welcoming experience. When she’s not collaborating with clients, you’ll find her at the shop with coffee in hand, or watching basketball with her son Rye.
Kim Edwards, Senior Designer
Kim grew up surrounded by creativity, raised by a watercolor-artist mother and a writer father who encouraged her to make, imagine, and build. She spent her early years building forts, crafting mixed-media worlds, and shaping small spaces of her own. That spark eventually led her to study architecture and interior design at SCAD before building a career shaped by time in Atlanta, a year in Milan, and more than a decade designing hospitality spaces in New York.
Her year in Milan was especially formative. As an au pair caring for two young children, she traveled throughout Europe, explored new cultures, and nurtured the creative spirit of the kids she cared for. One of them, Max, eventually graduated from SCAD in furniture design and credits her influence. It remains one of Kim’s favorite full-circle moments.
At Asher + Rye Studio, Kim brings a hospitality-minded approach rooted in natural materials, thoughtful details, and the small “fun factors” that make a space feel warm, personal, and a little unexpected. She aims to create environments where people feel welcome, relaxed, and fully themselves.
Outside the studio, Kim loves being outdoors with her dog, playing volleyball, or exploring Savannah’s creative community. She follows inspiration the way others follow breadcrumbs, often ending up with a great story, a new idea, or a fresh café treat in hand.
Rachel Malo, Executive Assistant + Expediter
Rachael brings a thoughtful blend of organization, creativity, and genuine warmth to Asher + Rye. With a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management from SCAD and experience in interior design, retail, and events, she has built a career that balances clear structure with an intuitive understanding of the creative process.
Raised in a musical and artistic family, Rachael has always loved hands-on art. During her high school career, she took more art classes than anyone in the graduating class, with ceramics being her favorite. She still dreams of having a throwing wheel and kiln at home. She also bakes multi-tiered wedding and birthday cakes as heartfelt gifts for friends and family, a tradition she has kept for more than a decade.
At Asher + Rye, Rachael is a steady, encouraging presence who keeps the studio grounded and supported. She is detail-oriented, calm under pressure, and committed to creating a sense of connection and inclusivity for the whole team.
Outside work, Rachael loves spending time with her family, being near the water, and visiting the family farm. These simple, spacious moments are where she feels most grounded and inspired.
Anna Blackburn-BonD, designer
For Anna, design is about connection. She believes the most beautiful spaces are those that feel comfortable, cozy, and deeply personal—crafted with care, built to last, and full of character.
A graduate of SCAD’s Interior Design program, Anna joined what was then Rethink Studio in 2016 after following the firm’s work throughout college. Today, as part of Asher + Rye Studio, she brings a fresh perspective and a grounded understanding of how people truly live. She balances trend awareness with timeless design, always prioritizing what fits the client’s lifestyle and story.
Known for her humor, candor, and love of natural materials, Anna gravitates toward pieces with integrity and longevity—solid wood, natural stone, brass that patinas, furniture with craftsmanship at its core. For her, great design should feel honest and evolve beautifully over time.
Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she draws inspiration from her morning walks with her dogs and the calming rhythm of nature. If not at the studio or on a hiking trail, you might find her at a racetrack – an inherited passion from her father, a racecar driver.