Design Perspectives

Will Zhang, Director of Design and Product Innovation at Emtek, developed a curiosity for design and stylish interiors at a young age. After receiving his degree from The Art Institute of California - Orange County, he joined Emtek in 2009. Zhang is responsible for establishing industrial design as a key part of Emtek to maximize the aesthetic and design value of the product while searching for new sources of inspiration and ideas. During his time at Emtek, Zhang’s designs received awards including the Interior Design BOY Award 2014, Good Design Award, Best of KBIS Award 2020, and Architectural Record Best of 2021. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

Kate Lester is the creative director and CEO of Kate Lester Interiors & Kate Lester HOME. With a diversely talented design team in her studio, and two retail stores in Southern California, Kate is thrilled to be spreading her unique design vision with the masses.

Her style ethos is all about creating spaces that weave classic lines, vintage finds, modern moments, and an infusion of at least “one weird thing”.

Kate attended USC’s prestigious Marshall School of Business, and went on to study Design and Architecture at Otis College in Los Angeles. Her industry experience includes working for some of Hollywood’s most famous designers before launching her own firm in 2010.

Thriving at the intersection of livable luxury, humor, and realism, Kate believes that the homes she designs should always be carefully crafted, thoughtfully curated, and a direct reflection of the people who inhabit them.

When not designing, Kate can be found in Southern California dragging her family to flea markets, running on the beach, or hesitantly participating in a plethora of extreme sports with her extremely persuasive (and brave) husband and daughter.

Shawn Wrede is the newly appointed showroom manager of the Ferguson Kitchen, Bath and Lighting Gallery in Fairfield, NJ. A seven-year veteran of the company, she joined Ferguson in 2015 as a showroom customer service representative in Clifton, NJ. Within a year, she transitioned to a sales consultant role at the same showroom location. Most recently, Shawn continued to evolve her skillset for building relationships through a position with the Outside Builder Sales team. She returned to the showroom in a leadership role in April 2022 to continue to grow new relationships, develop her team, and to pursue a personal passion for design.

In her spare time, Shawn enjoys hanging out with her husband and their dog, traveling, and renovating their new forever home!

Today I am sounding off about the state of the world! Where is the humanity??? I am sharing my thoughts on political topics. I am not a scholar...however, I AM HUMAN! I want the world to ask. "Am I not my brother's keeper?"

Interior Designers are creatives at heart but they often lack the business savvy required to run large scale projects, complex budgets, and a million moving pieces.

At MLIG, our background is in business first. We use our exceptional focus & sophisticated process to expertly manage and execute your project. Our clients often say, “This was the smoothest design process we’ve ever experienced.”

Michelle began her journey in 2008 when she was the sole designer. Now, she has expanded to two full-time designers and a host of powerful relationships to the trade. There’s a special chemistry when they all get together. You’ll feel the playful, creative energy and laser-sharp attention to detail we bring to the table. Focused and unfussy, her team loves to say they take their projects seriously, but never themselves.

https://mlinteriorsgroup.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mlinteriorsgroup/

https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/

Acclaimed interior designer, Dwayne Bergmann founded his eponymous firm, Dwayne Bergmann Interiors in 2013 with the mission of reimagining and redefining environments to reflect each client’s unique needs. His consistently singular focus on perfecting his craft is a mentality he continues to apply to his design practice to create luxurious spaces highly tailored to the lives of the individuals that reside in them. Dually-based in Fort Myers and Naples, Florida the firm’s projects span across The Americas, specializing in high-end residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, from architecture and interiors to full-service design-builds. The prolifically published designer’s work has been featured in such illustrious industry titles as Luxe Interiors + Design, East Coast Home + Design, Gulfshore Life, and Naples Illustrated, among others.

With the same precision and practiced hand Dwayne and his talented team bring to each project, they’ve executed his custom furniture and newly launched cabinetry line to embody the brand’s signature essence, a seamless blend of efficiency and form with human connection at the forefront. Dwayne Bergmann’s philosophy is based on a “refusal to compromise style for function” believing “you can have it all.”

https://www.dwaynebergmann.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dwaynebergmanninteriors/

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=dwayne%20bergmann%20interiors

Kelli Lamb is the editorial director + co-principal @ruemagazine, a quarterly design magazine & digital destination for stylish living. She is also the author of the book "Home with RUE," Style for Everyone. She is originally from Boise, Idaho & currently resides in sunny Los Angeles.

https://www.instagram.com/kellilamb_/

https://www.kellilamb.com/

Today's episode I talk about kindness. People are treating each other without humanity & respect.

I want you to do a kindness for someone without expectation. I want you to do a kindness for someone because it will make their day.

I dare you to take the challenge!

Believe it or not, I was raised on a farm in NJ taking care of over 20 horses. From that upbringing, I learned many lessons that are still very much a part of me today. The value of hard work, ethics, showing up on time, doing what you say you are going to do, attention to detail, the power of please and thank you and the notion that you always leave something better than you found it are ingrained in everything I do.

I am fascinated with classic silhouettes and beautifully crafted pieces and love to combine classic styling with more modern clean lines. I have always been inspired by the designs of the 1950s, which were modern, clean, comfortable, interesting and timeless. These traits can be seen in all my designs.

https://pamela-durkin.com/

https://pamela-durkin.com/services-2/

https://www.instagram.com/pameladurkin/