Employee Spotlight

Meet Jonathan | Chicago Furniture Specialist

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What is your past work experience/education?

I went to college for business, but I ended up in design because of a blog post I wrote (remember blogs?) about a home tour I went on. Lo and behold one of the designers I mentioned reached out to me and I ended up working with him for a number of years.

Where were you raised?

I was raised in Woodstock, GA which is about 30 miles north of Atlanta.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

My collection of vintage books and design magazines, internet deep dives, cinema, music, travel

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what is/are some of your favorite product lines and why?

Thayer Coggin is such a classic heritage brand; I love the textures you get with Palecek ; Alfonso Marina for the gorgeous finishes and detailing

What is your favorite color?

I’m a sucker for burnt sienna.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love a good estate sale – my side hustle is selling/buying vintage furnishings.

If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go and why?

NYC in the late ’70s to go out dancing.

How would you characterize your design style?

Moody and masculine with references to classical art and 1970s/80s design movements.

Do you have a favorite quote?

This too shall pass.

What is your favorite food?

Mexican! I could live off of chips and salsa/guac.

What is your favorite TV series?

Golden Girls

Jonathan can be reached in the Chicago showroom at jonathanc@caidesigns.net or by phone at 312-755-9163 x7003.

Favorite Things

Maria’s Favorite Find

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The 05801 Trend Fabric is my favorite find this month. It is a 54” wide Paisley pattern velvet fabric and it’s in the cleanable performance category. It is 100% polyester & exceeds 51,000 double rubs and is available in 3 colors.

I love the ornate traditional look of this pattern. The colors are rich and give a muted vintage-inspired scheme. The pattern is very busy and tightly packed, creating a luxurious, tapestry-like effect with almost no negative space. The texture is soft and would make any upholstery beautiful.

Contact Maria, our Troy Lighting Specialist, at mariak@caidesigns.net or (248) 822-1300×2370

Favorite Things

Scott’s Favorite Find

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The Roxy Would Swivel Chair by Thayer Coggin is my favorite find this month. Originally designed in 1965 by Milo Baughman, this chair is a modern classic. Featuring a walnut wood base, button tufting and a unique swivel-tilt mechanism, Roxy Would is a timeless lounge chair for all spaces.

I love this piece because it works with modern and transitional styles.

Contact Scott, our Troy Furniture Specialist, at scottd@caidesigns.net or (248) 822-1300×8225

Favorite Things

Eileen’s Favorite Find

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The Loggia Sofa from Lane Venture‘s Hemmingway Collection is my favorite find this month. It features hand-woven synthetic wicker weave over premium powder-coated aluminum. It is shown in our Troy location in a Honey finish and is available in any Lane Venture outdoor fabric.

This is a favorite of mine because it is as stylish as it is comfortable. I love to be outdoors on my patio enjoying the sunshine!

Contact Eileen, our Troy Showroom Manager, at eileenm@caidesigns.net or (248) 822-1300×8232

Favorite Things

Mark’s Favorite Find

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The Orchid Bouquet by Treemasters is my favorite find. Multiple faux plants come together to create a beautiful arrangement that can be used anywhere in the home. I have orchids at home and love to watch them develop new blossoms. This arrangement is very life like and a stunning display of blooms.

Contact Mark, our Indiana Showroom Manager, at markc@caidesigns.net or (317) 740-0025×8301

Favorite Things

Zach’s Favorite Find

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The Metamorphosis Large Vase by Bomma is my favorite find. This smoked amber glass vase looks like a dragon egg! It’s different from what we have in our other showrooms—ours is a little smokier. Bomma creates these vases from lighting pieces that didn’t work for them, which I think is very neat, creating something out of nothing.

Contact Zach, our Indiana Showroom Assistant, at zachs@caidesigns.net or (317) 740-0025×8303

Favorite Things

Heather’s Favorite Find

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The Roxy Swivel Tilt Tub Chair by Thayer Coggin is my favorite find. We have a pair featured in our Indianapolis showroom, upholstered in a fun velvet print. I love the chair’s compact frame and the velvet makes it feel irresistibly cozy and inviting.

Contact Heather, our Indiana Fabric Specialist and Furniture Customer Service, at heatherl@caidesigns.net or (317) 740-0025×8305

Employee Spotlight

Meet Catelyn | Denver Furniture Customer Service

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What is your past work experience/education? 
I earned a degree in cultural anthropology at the University of West Florida in 2016. After graduating, I became a design assistant for an interior design firm in Pensacola, FL. I moved toCO in 2019 and worked for a marketing company until COVID :)I started a position as a project manager with Merchants & Co, a commercial design firm in Denver, in 2022. I was there for about three years before starting my role with CAI Designs at the start of March, 2026.

Where were you raised?
Dunedin, FL & Walsenburg, CO

Where do you draw inspiration from?
Antiques stores full of retro, MCM and traditional pieces. This speaks to my love for all things with history.

What is your most rewarding project and why?
My most rewarding (and challenging) project was managing the furniture installation at The Range ski lodge and on-mountain ski school in Steamboat Springs. I personally loved the design aesthetic, and the on-site scenery was second to none. There were challenges in terms of delivery logistics since Steamboat is about 3 hours into the mountains from Denver. This project taught me so much within multiple aspects of project management, and it was a great opportunity for collaboration and camaraderie with my installation team.

What are some of your favorite product lines?
Julian Chichester is a favorite of mine. I appreciate the range of styles; from MCM to traditional, with an eclectic punch of color and funk, it aligns perfectly with my style.

What is your favorite color?
I love shades of red, blush, and burnt yellows or oranges.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to watch Bravo, spend time with my nephew, and read ACOTAR. I’m a good cook, but only when I feel like it. I’m also really good at buying more furniture, lamps and decor than I have room for in my apartment 🙂

If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go and why?
I LOVE this question. I’d go to Ireland & Scotland in the early 13th century before the English invaded and ruined their way of life. Also, I’d like to go to Central America during the height of theMayan empire because the rise and fall of that culture has always fascinated me.

How would you characterize your design style?
A combination of traditional, MCM, and Western influence.

Do you have a favorite quote?
“Waste not, want not.”

What is your favorite food?
Anything smothered in Colorado green chili. Also fresh seafood.

What is your favorite TV series?
All Bravo shows, The Office, The Crown, Outlander…. I watch too much TV.

Scott can be reached in the Denver showroom at catelync@caidesigns.net or by phone at 303-282-8100 6973.

Favorite Things

Tricia’s Favorite Find

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The Modena Chandelier by Lib&Co. is my favorite find. The Modena is a modern, sculptural chandelier with an organic, nature-inspired design. Each arm ends in a teardrop shaped glass shade, resembling delicate flower buds. The glass shades have a textured or seeded interior, which diffuses the light into a warm, glowing effect. Even though it’s dramatic, it doesn’t overpower a space in a harsh way. It draws you in softly.

It reminds me of walking through the woods as a kid, where the light filtered through leaves and everything felt a little magical. It’s sculptural and modern, but still emotional and nostalgic.

Contact Tricia, our Indiana Furniture, Lighting & Fabric Specialist, at triciaa@caidesigns.net or (317) 740-0025×8302

Favorite Things

Amy’s Favorite Find

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The Flare Pendants by Bomma pay homage to traditional glassmaking techniques with highly sophisticated mounting options. While seemingly minimal in appearance, the flexibility to design a bespoke installation using just three shapes is both inventive and wildly creative. The end result is a lighting sculpture made from handmade, high-quality glass. When showing this to a designer it is always such a treat to see how they envision this collection in their projects; everything from multi-unit stairwell installations to single Flare pendants adjacent a headboard wall.

Contact Amy, our Denver Lighting Specialist, at amyz@caidesigns.net or (303) 282-8100×6976