Tag Archives: furniture

Employee Spotlight

MEET CAROL | SCOTTSDALE SHOWROOM MANAGER

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What is your past work experience/education? Tell us a little bit about how you ended up in this field and what experiences brought you to the world of design.
Interior Design has always been a passion of mine, but coming from a small town, I was never exposed to the world of design like I was after moving to Phoenix. After a couple of career changes, I started my journey in design January of 2014 by attending Scottsdale Community College. I have worked in a design showroom, with an interior designer, and with a home builder. I found that working with designers in a trade showroom is the best of both worlds. I get to help design beautiful homes without having the stress of being a designer. I enjoy what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else!

Where were you raised?
Yuma, AZ.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
Nature and art.

What is your most rewarding project and why?
Working on full houses. Something about putting it all together and seeing the joy of the client when they start to visualize their new home sparks so much joy for me.

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what are some of your favorite product lines and why?
OBD because of all the custom capabilities. Interlude Home because of their aesthetic.

What is your favorite color?
Jewel tones and most shades of blue.

What do you like to do in your spare time? (Hobbies, Talents, Travel, Family, etc.)
Spend time with my family (husband and 3 boys).

If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go and why?
The roaring 20’s!! I love the way they dressed. It would be fun to see how much simpler lives were back then.

How would you characterize your design style?
I would say elegant modern with a touch of earthy.

Do you have a favorite quote?
Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss, you will still be among the stars.

What is your favorite food?
Tacos! You can put anything in a taco and it will be delicious.

What is your favorite TV series?
I used to love watching Divine Design with Candice Olson but since she left HGTV, I now stick to watching any cooking show with Bobby Flay or Guy Feiri.

Anything else you would like to share?
I’m excited to bring my experience to the CAI team.

Carol can be reached in the Scottsdale showroom at carolw@caidesigns.net or by phone at (480) 565-3775 x7060.

Employee Spotlight

Meet Law | Troy Furniture Specialist

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What is your past work experience/education?
I have a Bachelor’s in Interior Design from Michigan State University. I’ve had a variety of roles in luxury sales: Visual Merchandising, Project Management, and Interior Design positions.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
Travel, architecture, and I like juxtaposing antique/ heirloom pieces with new and more transitional designed items.

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

What is your favorite color?
Taupe and Emerald Green.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to travel, cook, and spend time with my family.

How would you characterize your design style?
Comfortable Luxury.

What is your favorite food?
Indian.

What is your favorite TV Series?
The Golden Girls.

Law can be reached in the Troy showroom at lawsj@caidesigns.net or by phone at (248) 822-1300 x8224.

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: Deborah Alexander

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This week’s feature: Deborah Alexander, Furniture Specialist for C.A.I. Designs Chicago!

“City on a Hill is a unique creation of console table as art by Paul Michael Company. The base is a sandstone boulder from the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas with hand cut, hand forged steel bound together for a cantilevered pedestal supporting the raw edge sandstone top. Not for the light of heart, the piece weighs approximately 600 lbs with the price reflecting the many hands it took to create. City on a Hill is a stunning showstopper for any home!”

Featured Product:

• City on a Hill Console by Paul Michael Company

For more information on our Chicago Mart showroom, contact Deborah Alexander at deboraha@caidesigns.net or 312-755-9163 x7003.

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

Employee Spotlight

Meet Cameron | Chicago Furniture Customer Service Representative

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What is your past work
experience/education?
I’ve made visual art my whole life, and growing up my parents renovated properties all over the country. Watching homes get gutted and then modernized showed me the practicality of my natural creative tendencies.

Where were you raised?
Roswell, GA.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
My peers, for the most part. I try to surround myself with people different from me, so I’m being constantly challenged with new and rewarding experiences. It also helps me look at the familiar with fresh eyes.

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what is/are some of your favorite product lines and why?
Caracole. I love something flashy, something with a bit of drama, something to talk about. They have pieces that flow such that they have a greater sense of space without having more mass. I like that kind of elegance — large enough to seen but agile enough to suggest grace.

How would you characterize your design style?
Brutalist.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Study new typefaces, make pasta, tactile things.

What is your favorite food?
Capri Meatball Sandwich in Steubenville, OH

Cameron can be reached in the Chicago showroom at cameronc@caidesigns.net or by phone at (312) 755-9163 x7006

Employee Spotlight

Meet Deborah | Chicago Furniture Specialist

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What is your past work
experience/education?
I most recently assisted in the opening of the Natuzzi Italia showroom in Lincoln Park, Chicago. It was an invaluable study in clean sophisticated design lines with a color palette of Southern Italy with soothing qualities to bring to every home as we work, and gather for the important events of life. With a background in fine art, I approach design in the role of curator!

Where were you raised?
I was born in Washington DC, raised just beyond the Beltway in Maryland.

Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from my lineage of strong women in my family, every art museum lingered in, outsider art venue experienced plus the heart of the amazing city of Chicago through it’s diverse neighborhoods.

What is your most rewarding project and why?
My most rewarding project was the client who bought the furniture first before he found the home! We worked to create the energy of leathers and fabrics on pieces which provided respite and inspiration for his global profession. You can imagine my elation when the property was purchased and all designs worked!

In your experience working with C.A.I. Designs thus far, what is/are some of your favorite product lines and why?
I am excited to work with Palecek, bringing outdoor ease indoors and to rooftop gatherings! I love the textures and finish detail of each piece. Also, newly landed in the Chicago, C,.A.I. Designs showroom, Verellen. The snuggly Theo swivel, the look of covered dining chair legs brings a hushed elegance to dining. Can’t wait to pair them with sculptural dining tables of Phillip Selva!

How would you characterize your design style?
Transitional, firmly planted but looking forward.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
All things art. I am working with a photo vellum series layered with gold leaf. My children are currently on 3 different continents. We look forward to safe traveling to visit each other.

If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go and why?
Paris in the late 1800’s when it became a city of fashion, architecture and art. The international exposition changed the way we saw everything.

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is the color of tumbled sea glass. Walking Oak street beach collecting pale greens and blues.

Do you have a favorite quote?
Trinity to Neo in the Matrix: “You’ve been down that road before…” paired with the slow motion frames of the movie where Trinity and Neo are in the back seat of the car as the back door swings open, a long telescoping look down a rain covered, deserted road.

What is your favorite food?
Right now, almost post pandemic, Small Cheval’s vanilla Amaretto shake sharing golden fries, one for me and one for my Dachshund, Will!

What is your favorite TV Series?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Crown!

Anything else you would like to share?
Please stop in and say hello when you are next at the Mart!

Deborah can be reached in the Chicago showroom at deboraha@caidesigns.net or by phone at (312) 755-9163 x7003