It’s no surprise that the dirty martini, a symbol of refined revelry and exceptional taste, is also Gibson Design Management’s chosen symbol for a reward of member excellence. Each month, the Dirty Martini award is presented to one of our members, honoring the innovative, devoted and impressive achievements of the people we are so fortunate to work with.  And what better way is there to applaud a job well done than by unwinding with a cocktail?

This month, we’d like to congratulate Ciao Interiors from Kalispell, Montana for their award-winning participation in the 2010 Flathead Parade of Homes! This year’s Parade of Homes featured 14 homes –  two remodels and twelve newly-built structures – all exemplifying the finest architecture and design in the Flathead Valley area. Ciao Interiors had the opportunity to design, project manage and furnish a new home for the event – emphasizing detailed craftsmanship (by hand) and locally-produced stone and materials.

With enthusiasm and excitement, Ciao designer Les Bernabi and his wife Linda kept fans (including the GDM team) clued in on the construction progress with updates on everything from art selection to lighting locations. As the “Stunning Lakeside Club Retreat” took shape, we became more and more impressed with the home’s rustic integrity and seamless placement amidst Kalispell’s picturesque beauty. We find Ciao Interiors’ dedication to such an enormous task praiseworthy to begin with, but we are even more thrilled to announce that Ciao won the top three awards for their home – Judge’s Choice (overall best home on the tour), Best Architecture and Best Craftsmanship. Ciao’s Lakeside Club Retreat also had the most foot traffic and was incredibly popular with visitors who toured the properties.

The "Judges' Choice" banner proudly displayed in front of Ciao's masterpiece.

We’re proud and impressed with Ciao Interiors’ finished project, and in total agreement with all the praise they’ve received for their beautiful work. After many months of managing, planning and preparing for the event, we hope Les and Linda of Ciao Interiors have an opportunity to sit back, relax and take pride in this accomplishment – while enjoying a refreshing martini, of course!  Congratulations again to Ciao Interiors, and cheers!

[P.S. If you'd like to see more detailed photos of the home, make sure you check out the Facebook album!]

It’s no surprise that the dirty martini, a symbol of refined revelry and exceptional taste, is also Gibson Design Management’s chosen symbol for a reward of member excellence. Each month, the Dirty Martini award is presented to one of our members, honoring the innovative, devoted and impressive achievements of the people we are so fortunate to work with.  What better way is there to applaud a job well done than by unwinding with a cocktail?

This month, we’d like to congratulate Lane Elisabeth Oliver of LEO Interior Design for her recent media recognition, which praised her skilled design sense and innovative approach when it comes to transforming an interior.  Although Lane’s work has been featured in many publications, last month’s Denver Life Magazine highlighted an LEO Interior Design project in a lengthy spread (“Tidy Transformation”)– describing Lane’s ability to “add life” to an outdated home interior by combining traditional elements with light colors, bold patterns and some impressive faux finishes.  (To read the full article and see pictures of the final interior, visit the LEO Interior Design website and download a PDF version.)

After a job well done, we think Lane deserves to put her feet up and enjoy a refreshing martini.  Congratulations again to Lane Elisabeth Oliver of LEO Interior Design–cheers!

It’s no surprise that the dirty martini, a symbol of refined revelry and exceptional taste, is also Gibson Design Management’s chosen symbol for a reward of member excellence. Each month, the Dirty Martini award will be presented to one of our members, honoring the innovative, devoted and impressive achievements of the people we are so fortunate to work with.  What better way is there to applaud a job well done than by unwinding with a cocktail? Plus, we’re sure this month’s recipient—Vicky Serany of Southern Studio Interior Design— will be in need of a martini after all her hard work!

Vicky Serany

Vicky is a standout in the interior design industry, successfully applying creativity and ingenuity to every project she is involved with.  Most recently, Vicky has been asked to speak at the Southern Living Magazine’s Custom Builder Conference as an expert in the homebuilding industry. Brent Warren, manager of the program, had this to say about Vicky’s participation in their annual conference:

“Her knowledge of the homebuilding industry, impeccable tastes, enthusiasm, and thoughtful systems for managing the selection process, for both custom builders and homeowners, have proven to be invaluable tools for our organization.”

In response to this (well-deserved!) compliment, Vicky commented: “Some of the finest builders in the South are members of this unique program. It’s personally and professionally rewarding to help homeowners and builders transform dreams into reality.”

Gibson Design Management would once again like to congratulate Vicky of Southern Studio for being an exemplar of hard work and enthusiasm! Cheers!

Gibson Design Management is excited to announce the promotion of Martha Kirkpatrick, previously our Associate Director, Project Sourcing to Director, Member Services.  Martha is a perfect fit for this new position.  Her work in the industry, on behalf of both showrooms and designers, and her unwavering desire to provide the highest level of member service will make her a tremendous resource for not only our firm internally but also for each of the interior design firms that we work with.

Martha will continue to oversee our project sourcing services–sourcing fabrics, furniture, and finishes for our member firms’ projects.  However, this new position will also mean that Martha will be the “go-to” woman for each of our members and any of their business needs.  We anticipate that in the near future, additional team members will be added to this type of position as we are growing quickly.

We created this position to answer a need.  Internally and externally, we felt that our services forced our business into a siloed effect.  This siloed effect did not allow us to serve our members as well as we would like and did not make us as tight of a business team as we would like.  Even as a reasonably small company, it was amazing to see how easy it was for different service areas to not communicate effectively about one of our member firm’s needs.  In response, we emphasized the importance of the relationship and being the one-stop business resource for each of our members.  Through having one point person, design firms will be able to create a better and more seamless relationship, truly making GDM an extension of their own teams and utilizing our offerings to their fullest.

As this is a new position and a new structure for our business, please provide us with feedback!  If you are not a member but enjoy reading our blog, please comment with any thoughts or suggestions about our solution.

Congratulations Martha!  We are lucky to have you.