About Me

Closet spaces deserve the same level of attention as the rest of the home.

Not just in how they look — but in how they work, how they feel to use, and how they support daily life. That’s the part of design I’ve focused on for over 20 years.

Background & Experience

I’ve spent my career working inside both system-based “panel shops” and fully custom millwork environments. That experience shaped how I approach design — knowing when a straightforward solution is exactly right, and when a more customized approach is necessary to make the space actually work.

My work has been recognized through industry awards and featured in publications including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Fortune Small Business, Kitchen & Bath Design News, and For Residential Pros.

Covered Salone de Mobile/EuroCucina in Milan Italy as press to discover and share global trends impacting the world of design. Covered NeoCon as press for Woodworking Network for over five years to share how commercial and residential trends translate to closets and kitchens. Presented at DWELL on Design, KBIS, ClosetCon, The Woodworking Conference, ASID education days.

I’ve also judged national design competitions, including the Top Shelf Design Awards — where projects are evaluated not just on how they look, but on how well they’re actually planned.

Industry Involvement

I’m part of the inaugural class of Registered Storage Designers through the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals (ACSP), and the first to achieve the Master Storage Designer designation.

I also helped develop the certification exams used across all three levels of ACSP accreditation — which means I’ve spent time not just designing, but defining what good design looks like in this category.

As past president of the Chicago Midwest chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), I’ve worked closely with designers, builders, and remodelers across the industry and lead this chapter to being one of the most influential in the industry.

I continue to teach closet design, sales, and marketing through NKBA chapters and industry partnerships.

Work Beyond
Client Projects

My work in the industry has extended into:

  • Developing and launching closet product lines for cabinet manufacturers

  • Designing showroom environments and closet vignettes

  • Creating training programs and educational content for designers

I’m also the author of:

  • Closet Design Beyond Measure

  • How to Design a Walk-In Closet

  • The Consumer Guide to Closet Design

Perspective

Closet design is often treated as a final step — something to fit into whatever space is left.
I don’t approach it that way.

When it’s done well, it becomes part of the overall design of the home — supporting how the space is used every day and contributing to how it feels to live there. That’s the standard I bring to the work.

Lake Michigan has always been part of my life — from the Indiana shoreline to Chicago.
It’s where I reset, think things through, and get a little perspective — which tends to find its way back into the work.