Please tell us about yourself and your role at Showplace.
I grew up looking at floor plans and going to jobsites with my father, a retired custom home builder. It was a natural transition for me to graduate with a bachelor's degree from SDSU, majoring in Interior Design. From there I started working as a kitchen designer and I've never looked back. I worked my internship at a Showplace dealer showroom, and was hired on full time. I was then hired for the new design showroom for Showplace in Sioux Falls.
What’s your title?
Sales and Design
How long have you been in the industry / with Showplace?
I started working for a Showplace dealer after college in 2006, then I was hired when we opened the new Sioux Falls Showplace showroom in 2008.
What makes for good design in your opinion?
I believe a successful design is achieved once all of the design phases have been completed and implemented. The end result should be evidence of the thoughtfulness and attention-to-detail that needs to go into each project. Function, appearance, concept, detail of documents and installation are all thought through in order to have an all-encompassing, fabulous design that will be treasured for years to come. Almost anyone can make a space pretty, but functional and pretty, that's a skill.
What do you love about kitchen design?
First of all, I love being in the kitchen, and I love to entertain - I think that helps me help my customers with the function of their space. I enjoy helping homeowners improve their lives by developing a kitchen that will perform perfectly for them. I like to start by making the layout really functional (most important), then I enjoy walking customers through the overall look and material selections, followed by helping them define the storage solutions for each cabinet within the kitchen. Finally, the best part is seeing the finished project and experiencing the joy and excitement the client has for the space. That's my favorite part of design.