A bit about me…

I have been working in the commercial interiors industry since 2013, first with a furniture manufacturer, then with one of the largest commercial office furniture dealerships in the Midwest. My education in Interior Design and Business Administration, enriched by coursework in architecture, web design, and digital media, has been the backbone of my career.

A Snapshot of My Path:

My journey began with a small furniture manufacturer. The need help with their marketing efforts. Quickly, I branched out into sales support, design specification, manufacturing, and dealer support. Working closely with everyone, from the company owner to our end users, has been incredibly rewarding. I gained a keen understanding of the manufacturing processes, as well as on the inner workings of a small business, and the importance of distribution.
After four years, I transitioned to the dealership side, where my perspective broadened. Over nearly two years, my team and I spearheaded more than 80 RFPs focused in the Chicagoland area, with a combined worth of about $85 million. This period sharpened my understanding of the interplay between clients, real estate firms, A&D firms, general contractors, manufacturers, and dealerships. As they say, it takes a village to make a project go from an initial concept to reality.
With 6-7 years in sales support under my belt, I stepped up to take on a more influential role, directly shaping and inspiring the direction of various projects.
I’m involved in 100-130 projects (annually), encompassing office buildouts, redesigning for adoption of hybrid work, relocations, consolidation & decommissioning, renovations, and new constructions. I love and enjoy collaborating with stakeholders-from business owners and C-suite executives to VPs of Operations, HR, Facilities, and influencers like GCs, architects, interior designers, and real estate brokers.

My aim is to create workspaces where people can excel, feel valued, and know that their contributions matter. 

Beyond Work: Away from the realm of commercial interiors, my interests are varied, including photography, travel, cinema, and delving into audiobooks, TED talks, and podcasts.

My personal philosophy

I believe we have to be intentional in the way we work, how we work, and where we work. This means thinking differently, and going away from cliches such as ‘cost of running the office is a line item to be managed’. The office space should be a destination that employees love to come to, and one that communicates a story and inspires customers, vendors and prospective employees. It needs to be a safe space, one that is conducive for a variety of workstyles, and can adapt to a businesses’ growing needs. It needs to facilitate and be supportive to the people it serves.

The COVID19 pandemic truly hit the reset button in the lives of knowledge workers and fast tracked trends that were already in play – such as hybrid work, asynchronous work, online collaboration and the rise of remote work. It also helped us put in perspective what we crave the most – love, belonging, connection, contributing to something worthwhile, pursing our passions and feeling valued, and being understood and heard. It renewed our interests in ‘work to live’ as opposed to live to work and put emphasis on topics that were already hot – like work life balance, employee health & well-being, sustainability, and forging a better world, one in which that celebrates diversity and is inclusive.

In my small way, I want to help CEOs, business owners, and other stakeholders such as VPs of Operations, HR, Facilities Management (those whose job is to create a workplace for their employees) improve their workplace design and the quality of work life. I want to help my clients view their workplace not just as a ‘cost item to manage’, but truly see it for what it can be – a high functioning gathering place where people who are like minded, driven by the same values, culture and purpose come together to create, collaborate, learn, and grow.

About the Blog & Disclaimer

My primary goal is to raise awareness and provide education to clients who are considering doing some type of change to their workplace design such as relocation, expansion, or upgrading/renovating their office space. I understand that this can be a complex journey and I aim to be your experienced guide to help you navigate it with ease.

I strive to make this experience as enjoyable and effortless as possible for all parties involved. Through my blog, I share personal thoughts and opinions on furniture, office design, and related topics within the commercial real estate industry in Wisconsin, the Midwest, and in the United States as a whole.

It’s important to note that my blog is unsanctioned, which means that I am not paid by anyone (such as furniture manufacturers, dealerships, or industry trade groups) to write promotional content or to promote a specific brand or product. My blog represents my personal views and opinions, and it is not the official opinion of any specific company.

I’m excited to share my insights and expertise with you, and hope that you find this blog both fun and engaging!

Ready to Redefine Your Workspace?

Let’s make your office more than just a place to work. Whether it’s planning a new site, revamping your current space, or finding the right furniture within your budget, I’m here to help. Plus, you’ll get exclusive access to my network of industry experts. Imagine the possibilities with a custom lookbook and let’s bring your hybrid workplace to life.

Reach out to me via the contact form and be as specific as you can be about your next office project. Let’s do something amazing!

Other interests – Photography

Take a look at some of my latest photos. While these subjects are mostly wild birds, my interests span across landscapes, to wildlife, cars, aircrafts, to cityscapes and built environments.

Feel free to checkout more photos on https://www.facebook.com/dealmeidaphoto