All posts by Alison Trovato

Employee Spotlight

Meet Kelly | Scottsdale Lighting Specialist

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What is your past work experience/education?
I started my passion for interior design at the early age of thirteen. I always had a fascination for furniture placement and lighting. I attended I.D.I. for my certification in interior design and in 2009 I started working for Olivia’s Interior Design & Accents in Newport Beach, CA as a retail sales associate. As I started learning more about the trade and clientele, I moved up to interior design assistant and lead lighting sales associate.

Where were you raised?
I was raised in Irvine, California.

What is your most rewarding project and why?
The most rewarding project I have worked on was a home in Newport Beach where we custom built indoor and outdoor furniture. We worked hand-in-hand with a high end client of ours that had multiple patents for Ford Motor Company. It was very rewarding to see the finished project and to have delivered exactly what our clients were wanting.

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what are some of your favorite product lines and why?
Some of my favorite product lines thus far are Visual Comfort, Hudson Valley, Terzani, Lodes, and Hubbardton Forge. These are some of my favorite lines because I love the detailed work they put into their finishes and the quality of their glass. I love how some of these lines are custom to order and uncommon to see.

What is your favorite color?
Cyan.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
My hobbies include movies, baseball, football, and outdoor activities of all kinds.

If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go and why?
I would go back to the 70’s era in the United States. I love everything about that time including the music, clothing, and interior design.

How would you characterize your design style?
My design style is definitely modern and contemporary. I love items that have straight lines and very sleek looks.

Do you have a favorite quote?
“Enjoy the little things in life for someday you will realize they were the big things”.

What is your favorite food?
Lamb with a bed of rice and veggies.

What is your favorite TV Series?
Too many to count. My favorites right now are The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, Law & Order, and Suits.

Anything else you would like to share?
I have a passion for traveling and love to be out and about as often as I can.

Kelly can be reached in the Scottsdale showroom at kellyh@caidesigns.net or by phone at (480) 565-3775 x6937.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds: Julie Dunfee Designs

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This week’s feature: Julie Dunfee Designs from Lake Forest, IL!

“The stunning prairie views surrounding this farmhouse were the primary selling point for my clients, and we wanted to bring that same beauty and warmth into the home. The color palette I selected contains many elements of the outdoors, and the furnishings include a spectacular dining room chandelier that makes one feel like they are dining under a canopy of trees.” – Julie Dunfee

Featured Products:

  • Courtney Buffet, Delaney Dining Table and Juliet Side Chairs by Old Biscayne Designs
  • Rainforest Bronze Chandelier by Currey & Company

For more information on Julie Dunfee Designs, visit juliedunfeedesigns.com.

Our showrooms are currently open and appointments are recommended. Please contact your local showroom for assistance.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds: Armijo Design Group

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This week’s feature: Armijo Design Group from Denver, CO!

“There was nothing more fun than collaborating with a long time friend and colleague to create this beautiful contemporary space. C.A.I. helped tie the space together with their eclectic assemblage of manufacturers.” – Beth Armijo

Featured Products:

  • LA Sectional by Thayer Coggin
  • Coffee Table and Table Lamp by Noir
  • Cairo Basket by Palecek
  • Accessories by Rasstro, Regina Andrew and John-Richard
  • Darcy Counter Stools by Interlude Home
  • Phoebe Table Lamps by Visual Comfort

For more information on Armijo Design Group, visit armijodesigngroup.com.

Our showrooms are currently open and appointments are recommended. Please contact your local showroom for assistance.

Employee Spotlight

Meet L | Scottsdale Customer Service Representative

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What is your past work experience / education?
Having an interest in interior design, I took a certification class at the Interior Design Institute in Newport Beach, CA. I also worked at two showrooms in the Stonemill Design Center in Costa Mesa, CA.

Where were you raised?
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what are some of your favorite product lines and why?
I’m appreciating all of the product lines at C.A.I. Designs because there is a very nice mix of all different styles.

What is your favorite color?
I am drawn to all shades of green.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to bike the canals in AZ, entertain, try new restaurants and travel.

How would you characterize your design style?
Eclectic, I like a mix of old, new, different design styles and a lot of color.

What is your favorite food?
I love Greek food.

What is your favorite TV Series?
Yellowstone.

L can be reached in the Scottsdale showroom at lcowie@caidesigns.net or by phone at (480) 565-3775 x6932.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds: Dan Rak Design

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This week’s feature: Dan Rak of Dan Rak Design from Chicago, IL!

“The architecture of this house in Lincoln Park was pretty traditional, but the client wanted to furnish it in a more contemporary way. As we started sourcing we went to Verellen and immediately fell in love with their Oakley chair and Theo chaise. We knew the soft, contemporary lines of these pieces would create a beautiful contrast with the square lines of the traditional architecture.”

Featured Products:

  • Theo Chaise and Oakley Chair by Verellen
  • Grace Chandelier by Tech Lighting

For more information on Dan Rak Design, visit danrakdesign.com.

Our showrooms are currently open and appointments are recommended. Please contact your local showroom for assistance.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds: Haywoodmade Interiors

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This week’s feature: Kelsey Haywood of Haywoodmade Interiors from Chicago, IL!

“We set the design vision as ‘Understated Coastal’ for this multi-purpose living room. The goal was to maximize and curate comfortable seating throughout. The custom Burton James sofa fits perfectly in the window and the 3-over-1 bench cushion feels casual, yet streamlined.”

Featured Products:

• Custom 98” Zain Sofa in Bacardi Ivory by Burton James
• 3907-01 Swivel Chairs in Sahara Sky by Lee Industries

For more information on Haywoodmade Interiors, visit haywoodmade.com.

Our showrooms are currently open and appointments are recommended. Please contact your local showroom for assistance.

Friday Finds

Friday Finds: Lakeside Interiors

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This week’s feature: Fern Allison of Lakeside Interiors from Evanston, IL!

“This room features a custom Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting pendant from their Natural Inspirations series. The inspiration for the design was the stone fireplace surround. It has an ethereal/cosmic feeling and these Fine Art globes act almost like stars and asteroids in front of the stone.”

Featured Product:

• Natural Inspirations Random Cluster and Small Hail Stones in a Silver Leaf finish by Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting

For more information on Lakeside Interiors, visit lakesideinteriors.com.

Our showrooms are currently open and appointments are recommended. Please contact your local showroom for assistance.

Employee Spotlight

Meet Heather | Denver Lighting Specialist

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Gary Sinise Foundation

What is your past work experience / education?
I started my lighting career about 6 years ago with Savoy Houses’ distribution showrooms. I spent a few years taking homeowner and designer appointments out of 6 different showrooms in North Texas and Greater Atlanta. I moved on to getting my American Lighting Association Certification and transitioned from outside direct to builder/designer sales. I would read electrical plans, assist with whole home selections, bid for large projects/subdivisions, and be on location for install. Because of my field experience, I have become very familiar with the technical side of decorative lighting, lighting code, and the residential building process in general. I was very fortunate to be able to attend the lighting market for the past 6 years in Dallas. I am proud to be able to use my experience to be an asset for C.A.I.’s designers.

Where were you raised?
Southlake, Texas.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from the diversity of lighting I come across in everyday life. I find that everywhere I go I am looking up at the lighting. I am especially excited for my honeymoon to Europe next year. I have always been drawn to the contemporary styles of European lighting designers.

What is your most rewarding project and why?
I am most proud of my work with the Gary Sinise Foundation. Being able to contribute to a smart home for a wounded veteran proved to be a very fulfilling experience. My father is a veteran, so I found this project very personal. I worked very closely with this Veteran and his family to make sure the lighting in his home met all of his needs, while keeping to a very small budget from the foundation. The end result left me in tears!

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what is/are some of your favorite product lines and why?
Hubbardton Forge and Visual Comfort have always had consistently amazing originality and quality. But more recently I have developed appreciation for more independent suppliers like Heirloom Lighting, who manufactures only in the USA, or Terzani, an Italian lighting company.

What is your favorite color?
Pearl Pink.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
What brought me to Colorado is its beauty. I spend my free time skiing, hiking, exploring. I also play piano and guitar and love to sing.

How would you characterize your design style?
I have always been drawn to very contemporary design. With LED integration, lights don’t have to be designed around a light bulb anymore. I am amazed with the innovation we are seeing now that we aren’t constricted to such a bulky light source.

What is your favorite TV Series?
The Office.

Heather can be reached in the Denver showroom at heatherh@caidesigns.net or by phone at (303) 282-8100 x6972.