Position: Designer

Years in Corporate/Healthcare Furniture Industry: 1 Year

When did you first decide you wanted to be a designer? Or when was the “aha!” moment when you knew?

I was already two years into my college career when I had a conversation with a friend about following dreams, and doing what makes you happy. I re-evaluated where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do, and took a chance and changed my major to Interior Design.

Education/degree/certifications/experience?

Bachelors of Science in Interior Design from Kansas State University. GO WILDCATS!

Any other interesting jobs that helped you prepare for this job?

I worked in retail furniture (mattress) sales before this. There have been other smaller jobs that have helped prepare me for this line of work along the way that have reinforced my design skills.

What do you love most about your job?

The ability to be working on something new every day, and the people that work here are wonderful!

What does your typical day look like?

There is no such thing as a “typical day.”  It all depends on what needs to be done and in what order. Typical tasks include working in AutoCAD or Z-Axis, working on renderings, project specifications, our product and materials library, and other miscellaneous responsibilities.

Who/what inspires you?

Traveling, experiencing new things, and meeting new people.  Recenlty, my fiance and I traveled to Vienna, Austria.  It was breathtaking.

Speaking of your fiance, tell us about your recent engagement!

In March we were hitting the tennis ball around (a past time of ours; we met through the Tennis Club at K-State).  We got toward the end of practicing, and he was serving a few balls.  I went to pick one of them up, and I noticed there was something written on it.  It said, “Will you marry me?”  I was really surprised!  I then looked up and he was grinning and walking over to my side of the net, then got down on one knee and popped the question formally.

If you could pick one piece of furniture to have in your home right now, what would it be and why?

Eames Lounge Chair with Ottoman! It is a classic, sculptural piece (not to mention it is super comfortable!)

What’s something you can’t leave the house without?

I am not too dependent on possessions (besides my phone), but I do make sure I say goodbye to my two cats, Roger and Lola before I leave the house.

Who is your favorite designer of any field, and why?

There are two that are at the top of my list: Antoni Gaudi is this first. This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona and I was in awe of his ability to play with structure and color. La Sagrada Familia is one of the most stunning places I have been in my life. Pictures do not do it justice, it is one place you have to experience.  Marc Chagall would be my second.  Although his paintings and other works are amazing, I love his stained glass windows the most.  Just beautiful.  I love how both of these men incorporated color and motion into their work. They always added visual interest and they inspire the imagination.

La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi

Stained-Glass Windows by Marc Chagall

What is the first thing you tend to notice when you walk into a space?

A lot.  I notice the overall volume of space, the amount of light, items in the room, or basically the overall “feel” of the space.

If you were given an unlimited amount of money to design your dream home, what would you include?

I will just put some key words for this one:  Surrounded by nature, large windows, exposed wood, two-story volumes of space for at least one main room, a garage with a workshop area, a bright studio/office, efficient, functional, sustainable, small foot print, lots of storage.

What are the perks of being a designer?

I believe you get to see things in a slightly different way than a lot of the population.  Also the ability to visualize.

The post Designer Spotlight: Stacy Davis appeared first on Widmer Interiors - Office & Healthcare Furniture, Filing & Storage Systems, Peoria Illinois.

Congratulations to Karen Zangerle, Executive Director of PATH Inc. in Bloomington, Ill, who has been announced the official 2013 Widmer Wish: Highlighting Heroes winner!

PATH Inc. Crisis Center is a nonprofit agency that has grown into a community resource people turn to when they are seeking help in any type of human services.

Since Karen started in 1985, PATH has grown from receiving 15,000 calls to more than 90,000 calls every year.  During that time Karen re-designed the training program, receiving national best practice awards for it, and growing the number of volunteers from around 30 to almost 120 today.

In 2005, Karen was promoted to Executive Director of PATH.  Over the last 27 years as community needs have emerged, Karen has led PATH in adding services for senior citizens and the homeless, as well as leading the agency in becoming the first call center in the STATE to provide 2-1-1 services.  While she oversees the organization, her favorite job at PATH is working the phone lines when time permits.

Upon submitting an entry for this year’s Widmer Wish: Highlighting Heroes $20,000 office furniture award, Karen says she never imagined actually winning.

“I was not expecting to win.  I never have won anything of this nature.  We were in a manager’s meeting and I hear a knock at the door and see two guys who I’ve never seen holidng balloons.  And I thought ’What is this?’  And they said, ‘We’re from Widmer Interiors and you have won the $20,000 of office furniture!’  I know that I squeeled very loudly and said the thing everybody says: ‘I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!’  It was very special — a moment I will never forget,” said Zangerle.

“I really was shocked because I figured there’s so many agency directors out there that do fabulous work.  The application was put in and out of my mind.  I did not think about it or dwell on it.  But then to win it, I was really humbled by it.  Truly honored, thinking ‘They picked me?!’  That was a really nice to receive for the work I’ve done over the years in the community,” said Zangerle.

“This idea for Widmer Wish is outstanding.  The fact that Widmer supports the idea and carries it on shows that Widmer is a people business … definitely a people business.  You may be in the furniture business, but I think the people come first!” said Zangerle.

The new PATH office is set to be complete by mid-August.  We will be releasing a 2013 Widmer Wish Video upon completion.  Make sure to stay tuned for the before and after shots of the PATH office!

Thanks again to all ours sponsors, judges, and candidates who made this possible and who serve our community so diligently.  We appreciate each one of you!

The post Introducing Karen Zangerle, our Widmer Wish Hero appeared first on Widmer Interiors - Office & Healthcare Furniture, Filing & Storage Systems, Peoria Illinois.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a designer?

Freshman year of college, I was a Public Relations major and quickly realized that was not for me and I always contemplated the idea of being a designer…so I thought I’d try it out and I’m thankful I did.

Education/degree/certifications/experience? 

Illinois State University Major:  Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Interior and Environmental Design.  Minor:  Industrial Technology with a concentration in Construction Management.  I’m a LEED Accredited Professional with a specialty in Interior Design and Construction, NCIDQ certified, and registered with the State of Illinois.

Any other interesting jobs that helped you prepare for this job?

I worked in food service for 9 years, that has helped me in more ways than I ever imagined.

What do you love most about your job?

It’s exciting, every project is different.

What has been your most favorite or memorable work you’ve done?

I’d say the most memorable project was working with CASA, the winners of the Widmer Wish in 2010.  They were so excited and this is the only project I’ve ever worked on that didn’t have any revisions!

What do you do in your free time?

Most of my time is spent working on my house.  I live in a 100 year old home, so there is constantly something that needs updating.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen in Progress

What the kitchen should look like after!

Any hobbies when you aren’t working on your home?

My newest hobby is reading.  I never liked to read, but I recently I decided to give it another try and I’ve actually been enjoying it!  I’m currently reading the Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series.

Favorite quote or life motto?

Everything happens for a reason.

I hear you have three dogs that you and your husband claim as your children.  Tell us about them!

We joke about them being our kids because all of our friends and family have kids except us!  We have: Kapris, a beagle; Baxter, a jack russell terrier; and Madalyn, a husky mix.

Baxter and Kapris

Madalyn

Carma and husband, Chris.

If you could pick one piece of furniture to have in your home right now, what would it be and why?

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman – it is extremely comfortable.

What’s something you can’t leave the house without?

A tape measure

What’s something you can’t go a day without?

Chapstick.  Currently, I always have the green apple flavor.

What is the first thing you tend to notice when you walk into a private or public space? 

The flooring, I like to make sure I’m not going to trip on something.

If you were given an unlimited amount of money to design your dream home, what would you do?

I would love to build a house someday; I’m not a fan of the cookie-cutter homes.  I want it to be sustainable with durable, low-maintenance, high-efficiency products.  I like a variety of styles, so sustainability will be the main driver in designing my home.

This is a LEED Platinum Home.

This is another example of a LEED Platinum home.

What are the perks of being a designer?

It’s exciting and I’m constantly meeting new people and learning new things!

Have you ever looked back on a project and thought, “Why did I do that?!”

Yes!

The post Designer Spotlight: Carma Heidecker appeared first on Widmer Interiors - Office & Healthcare Furniture, Filing & Storage Systems, Peoria Illinois.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a designer?

I think it was always kind of with me, even as a kid.  When I hit high school and realized it was a career path I could take, I decided to go for it.

Laura painting as a child.

Education and experience?

BFA in Interior Design (Art History Minor), graduate courses in Historic Preservation.  Residential design and furniture experience along with experience at Widmer.

What do you love most about your job?

Whenever I can exceed a client’s expectations.  A lot of times they don’t think anything can be done, so anytime I can prove otherwise is rewarding.

 What has been your most favorite or memorable work you’ve done?

I had a client with a very small, awkward private office that needed to serve multiple functions (and coordinate with the private offices that we had already completed).  It was a challenge, but I came up with a layout that worked perfectly.  The client was thrilled with the final product and even had a staff member ask to switch offices so they could use the new space.  The sheer excitement that client had after installation was well worth the work!

What does your typical day look like?

No day is typical, but usually I’m either working on plans or talking to clients and answering questions or discussing options, plans, etc.

Free time activities/hobbies? 

I am active with a young professionals’ volunteer organization which takes up a lot of my free time.  I also love to travel whenever I can (especially to places with interesting architecture).

Laura at the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland

Favorite quote or life motto? 

“Stand up for what is right even if you stand alone.”  I think it applies to a lot of things in life.

Favorite color scheme right now? Why?

I love bright, bold colors. Right now, I think it’s great that people are moving away from beige and using gray as a neutral with pops of color and mixing patterns.

Bright pop of color!

Neutral color scheme with pops of color!

Who/what inspires you? 

When it comes to design, inspiration is everywhere if you think about it.  When I am stuck on a project sometimes I’ll step away and then see something completely unrelated that triggers an idea.  You never know when inspiration will strike!

If you could pick one piece of furniture to have in your home right now, what would it be and why?  

Just one?  A Noguchi table!  I have wanted one for as long as I can remember.

The Noguchi Table, sold by Herman Miller.

What’s something you can’t leave the house without? 

My watch.  If I don’t wear one I’ll spend the rest of the day looking at my naked wrist out of habit.

Watch by Fossil.

What’s something you can’t go a day without?

Checking the weather; usually multiple times.

Who is your favorite designer of any field, and why?

It’s a tie.  I love Mies van der Rohe’s architecture and what is represents, but the Eames have been a favorite of mine for a long time.  Really, any of the Bauhaus and Mid-Century architects/ designers are OK in my book.

The Farnsworth House in Plano, IL. Built in 1951 and designed by Mies van der Rohe.

What has been your most challenging design work? 

All of my projects are challenging because I am working with my client via phone and email; I rarely get to see the actual space at any point.  One of the hardest was working on an office in Hawaii.  The client was still in Vermont so even he couldn’t really tell me what I needed to know.  I held my breath a little when that was installed, but it went perfectly!

Hawaii client’s installation.

What is the first thing you tend to notice when you walk into someone’s house or a public place?

Architectural details, especially in older structures.  It’s fun to guess what year the building was built (I am a nerd).  Then I’ll start noticing all the things that are wrong.

If you were given an unlimited amount of money to design your dream home, what are some dream room/structure designs?  

Hopefully I would be in a mid-century modern house with clean lines, interesting angles and lots of windows.  I would then fill it with vintage furniture.

A mid-century modern (“Mod”) house in Charlotte, NC.

What are the perks of being a designer? 

It’s not a perk per se, but the ability to visualize things the way other people can’t.  I don’t need to have a lot of detail or information to know what someone is describing or how something will look in a space.  And sometimes I can catch small details that would go unnoticed by most people.

Funniest moment as a designer?

I once got a hand drawn floor plan from a client that was almost indecipherable.  It had weird angles and none of the dimensions matched up at all.  After a couple of days I passed it to our intern because I wasn’t having any luck.  Between the two of us we finally got something drawn, but it still took another week or two before I had it exactly right.  Needless to say, I had the local installer do a site measure before we ordered anything!

The post Designer Spotlight: Laura Strauch appeared first on Widmer Interiors - Office & Healthcare Furniture, Filing & Storage Systems, Peoria Illinois.

For the last 116 years, product development and design has sky-rocketed from the introduction of the first dial telephone in 1897 to the release of the Apple iPhone in 2007. This advancement in product design and technology spreads across all industries — including furniture and home architecture. That’s where Ray Eames enters the iconic American women designers scene. Among the key players in the circle of mid-20th century, avant-garde furniture and architectural designers, Ray Eames is one of the few women.

While Ray Eames is credited for much design work with fabrics, photographic arts, and cinematography, her name most resonates with much of Herman Miller’s classic furniture collection — as well as the design and development of the Eames House , her own home she lived in for most of her adult life with her husband and architect, Charles Eames.

In 1942, the Navy commissioned Ray and Charles Eames, to develop molded plywood splints, stretchers and experimental glider shells.  Four years later, Evans Products began mass producing the Eameses’ molded plywood furniture – including the Eames molded plywood dining chair, molded plywood lounge chair, molded plywood folding screen, and molded plywood coffee table.

Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair

Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair

Eames Molded Plywood Folding Screen

Eames Molded Plywood Coffee Table

Almost immediately after seeing the success of the Eameses’ furniture work, Herman Miller recruited both Ray and Charles into their design and development team;
And just a year later, Herman Miller gained exclusive market and distribution rights to the Eameses’ award-winning products — that to this day are being sold and admired across the globe as authentic Eames furniture pieces.

Ray Eames with the early Herman Miller design and development team.

Ray Eames is also famous for her work with Case House Study #8, one of the 25 case houses built between 1945 to 1966 as part of a residential architecture experiment sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine.  In light of the housing boom from the return of millions of soldiers after WWII, John Entenza with Arts and Archtecture employed a select few architects/designers to develop “house models” for the housing market – with beauty, comfort and functionality in mind.  The Eames House, located at 203 North Chautauqua Boulevard, Los Angeles, now serves as a landmark for modern architecture, and is noted as the most successful of the cases houses to infuse beauty, comfort and functionality together.

A job well done to Ray Eames! We salute your cutting-edge work in furniture and architectural design that has remained innovative through the past seven decades, and will continue to inspire many minds and warm many homes for decades to come.

For more information on the life of Ray Eames, visit Herman Miller’s Designer Bio or The Eames Office online.

The post Ray Eames: Women’s History Month appeared first on Widmer Interiors - Office & Healthcare Furniture, Filing & Storage Systems, Peoria Illinois.