Born in Massachusetts into a design family—he is the son of a colonial reproductions manufacturer and the grandson of a machinist— Charles De Lisle grew up acquainted with the world of interiors. Later, he attended the Hartford Art School. De Lisle then made a post-graduation move to California where a stint welding and manufacturing light fixtures honed his craft. After a move to New York in the 1990’s, he was discovered by Jonathan Staub and recruited to Staub’s early design firm where De Lisle cemented his personal style and ultimately became a leading partner in the design firm, later named DeLisle, Philpotts, Staub.