Deb began her construction career in 1985 as a carpentry apprentice on Nantucket Island. Her early training was a traditional apprenticeship of start-to-finish residential wood frame construction, doing sitework, framing and trim carpentry, using both hand and power tools. Her further interest in woodwork and academic interest in architecture led her to work for several years doing architectural restoration work, and then wooden boat restoration. She has a BFA from Syracuse University and a MS from Columbia University in Historic Preservation.

Deb has restored the 1903 townhouse in Brooklyn that she shares with her family, and their 1720 post-and-beam farmhouse on eastern Long Island (complete with original corn cob and seaweed insulation). She also has several small wooden boats in the backyard in various stages of restoration.

It is her professional mission to make the joy and wonder of building accessible to all who wish to try.