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Podcast on Kitchen Trends

Our Staff

Career path

• Studies marketing at Baruch Business College
• Romanced by the world of kitchen design
• Directs the Greater Metropolitan New York Commercial and Multi Housing Division of St. Charles Manufacturing
• Intrigued by the challenges of creative residential kitchen design
• Joins St. Charles of New York 25+ years ago
• Collaborates with cabinetry and appliance manufacturers on new product development
• Appointed to the board of advisors of the prestigious San Francisco firm, Cheng Design

His mantra

• Relentless attention to detail
• Always ready to entertain the next design challenge
• Insists on complete, unrequited client satisfaction

Career path

• Majors in interior design at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology School of Interior Design
• Joins architectural space planning and kitchen design firm
• Brings her sense of style to St. Charles of New York in 1979
• Wins design awards and is published in many magazines including Interior Design, Traditional Home and House Beautiful
• Participates in cooking demonstrations with renowned New York chefs
• Collaborates on fine food/wine pairings

Cool jobs

• Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2003 and 2006
• Test kitchens for Good Housekeeping and Food & Wine magazines
• Scarsdale ASID Show House
• Kitchen for the late Jay Spectyre's personal Philip Johnson Westchester home
• Personal kitchen for Michael Romano, celebrity chef, Union Square Hospitality Group

Her mantra
People often ask me, what's the best kitchen that I've done? Every project requires a unique and personalized touch, reflective of the client's character and individuality. At the very end, the best projects are those that make my clients the happiest.

Career path

• Earns B.A. of Architecture at Pratt Institute
• Becomes vice president of a major New York City kitchen design firm
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 1995

Cool jobs

• Martha Stewart Living magazine test kitchens
• Sean Connery's New York City pied a terre

His mantra
People confront a degree of stress and anxiety in their desire to create the perfect space. The most important thing for me is to make my clients feel comfortable and relaxed. I want them to have fun throughout the process. The design will then flow naturally and always be the perfect fit.

Career path

• Studies business at Iona College
• Devotes 14 years to the corporate world with Philip Morris, General Foods and IBM
• Creativity calls: graduates from Parson's Interior Design Program
• Learns the ropes as a design associate at Design Concepts and Jamie Gibbs & Associates
• Excels at kitchen design at A&D Custom Cabinetry, Rutt of NYC and Katherine Gabrielle Collection
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2004

Cool jobs

• Kips Bay Decorator Show House kitchen
• Cancer Research Institute Showhouse kitchen, New York, N.Y.
• Consultant for Emeril Lagasse's personal kitchen

Her mantra
Listening carefully to my clients is the first design tool I employ. Then, my experience and creative vision bring to life a room they will treasure for years to come. It's extremely rewarding to me when clients are happy with the finished project.

Career path

• Earns B.I.D of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute
• Pursues music, graphic arts and interior design
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 1988
• Starts private design firm in 2001
• Develops a 3D program and technique specifically geared towards kitchen design which creates a photo realistic rendering known as "previsualization"
• Returns to St. Charles of New York in 2010

Cool jobs

• Stephen Sondheim's personal townhouse
• The late David Halberstam's personal residence
• Kips Bay Decorator Show House 1994
• Christie Brinkley's private residence

His mantra
The kitchen impacts the quality of life like no other room in the home. Imagine the opportunities and rewards of creating an environment as unique as each client! No other design profession, ever evolving with technology and fashion, is as fresh and exciting as kitchen design.

Career path

• Studies accounting and marketing; becomes a licensed and certified CPA in New York State
• Earns associates degree (with highest honors) from New York School of Interior Design
• Designs kitchens for boutique luxury condo developments
• Specializes in high end and European contemporary kitchen design and kitchen construction project for more than six years
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2008

Her mantra
I relish the attention to detail that is involved in creating superb kitchens that enhance the lifestyle of our clients.

Ron Garone
Design and Client Liaison

Career path

• Spends 10 years with European kitchen design firm
• Develops expertise in drafting, CAD presentation, design and presentation of plans and elevations, factory coordination and project management
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 1992

His mantra
Working for St. Charles of New York has been for me the best kitchen design experience anyone could ever acquire. The accolades bestowed upon this company have been well deserved and I am proud to be a contributing member to the on-going success of this well established design firm.

Carl Samol
Design and Client Liaison

Career path

• Designs kitchens for 20 years
• Develops expertise in drafting, CAD presentation, design and presentation of plans and elevations, factory coordination and project management
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 1997

His mantra
Kitchen design runs the creative gamut from the client, the space and the concept to the details and execution. It is the attention to the details that will mean the ultimate success of the project.

Kathleen Gafney
Designer and Client Liaison

Career path

• Earns BFA in Interior Design from Fashion Institute of Technology
• Designs and drafts custom kitchen plans, elevations and 3D presentations for high-end residential design firms.
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2007

Her mantra
I enjoy the creativity and challenge presented in designing and drafting custom kitchens. Each client wants something different and every space requires a unique solution. The attention to detail is something clients appreciate in their St. Charles of New York kitchen.

Kristen Letendre
Comptroller

Career path

• Studies Media Arts and English at Tulane University
• Enters world of advertising as Account Executive at Grey Advertising
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2004

Her mantra
Enjoys both the world of design and the business behind it. Always vigilant about maintaining our high level of client service.

Loukas Zoumas
Senior Project Manager

Career path

• Majors in Finance at Hofstra University
• Enters world of residential design and renovations
• Manages the renovations of fine New York City homes
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2007

His mantra
I always try to do the best job I can, as quickly as possible, without missing any details, to make it a great experience our client.

Trevor Bedrin
Operations Manager

Career path

• Earns B.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University
• Receives M.S. in Computer Science from Polytechnic University
• Works for 3 years in the technology field, first at MediaVast and then at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
• Joins St. Charles of New York in 2009

His mantra
I always look for opportunities for improvement in our systems so that I can ensure that the products, the design, and the overall level of service offered by St. Charles of New York continue to be exceptional.

Dawnnie Barrera
Executive Administrator

Career path

• Earns Bachelor of Arts in Drama from University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from New York University
• Teaches as a guest artist for the Lincoln Center Institute
• Starts her own business writing and producing theatrical events for kids and adults Appears in a wide range of theater and television productions
• Joins St. Charles of New York for two years in 1999; returns as office manager in 2008

Her mantra
Design may not be my background but I know how to organize and multi-task. I believe in giving 100% and am happy to do so for the great people here at St. Charles of New York and our clients.