"Now that we are all working together in the showroom, we have grown into a tight-knit group. We are passionate about what we do and excited to share it with others. After working so hard on it for so long, we are proud of what we have accomplished and grateful for the bond that has formed between us."

Q: What do you do at Kvadrat?

I am the Sales Manager for consumers in New York, and I have the pleasure of hosting clients in our beautiful showroom and introducing them to the entirety of the Kvadrat family. It is exciting to see people's reactions when they see our residential curtain collection for the first time, especially in a city like New York.

Aside from hosting clients in our showroom, I also get to visit residential architects in their offices and share our new collections and textiles with them. It is a great opportunity to connect with people who are passionate about design and learn more about what they are working on.

One thing that sets our showroom apart is that we are not located in a typical decorative arts building. Instead, we have carved out our own unique space on Park Avenue. When people come to our showroom, they are immediately immersed in the world of Kvadrat, and I love being able to share that experience with others.

My job is not just about showcasing our products and collections. It is also about building relationships with clients and architects and helping them find the perfect solution for their project. When I visit architects in their offices, I can see what they are working on and tailor my presentation to their specific needs. And when they do come to our showroom, it is great to see their excitement and enthusiasm for what we do.

Q: How would you define Kvadrat as a workplace?

On my first day at Kvadrat, I travelled to Ebeltoft with my new team in New York. We were there for only a few days before the US shut its borders due to COVID-19. We had to quickly make an escape in the early morning to get back to the US. Everything changed when I returned home.

The showroom construction was halted, and we were a small group putting everything together in the midst of the pandemic. At that point, we had not hired the entire US team, so we were essentially a family, leaning on each other during these challenging times.

Now that we are all working together in the showroom, we have grown into a tight-knit group. We are passionate about what we do and excited to share it with others. After working so hard on it for so long, we are proud of what we have accomplished and grateful for the bond that has formed between us.

Q: What is your passion and how does it fit in your current role?

My main passions are people and the arts. Growing up, I was surrounded by a very artistic group and family, and my parents instilled in me a deep love for the arts. I studied decorative arts in school and university. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with people who share my passion for textiles, from designers and owners to creators and artisans. What I love about Kvadrat is that we work with different artists and immerse ourselves in the art scene.

Coming from the southern United States, people and welcoming people are important values to me. My love for textiles, arts, and outreach to people has been a constant thread in my life. I have always been drawn to work that inspires me, and I have had many opportunities over the years. But if it is not something that I am passionate about or that does not inspire me, then it is not worth it. For me, inspiration is a must.
Joining Kvadrat, I was immediately inspired by the amazing collaborators, and what I love is that it is not just about textile designers. It is a diverse and vibrant community of creatives.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your role?

I love being part of a creative community of designers and artists. Even before we had our showroom ready, we were already showcasing our designs in a small showroom for residential designers. During this time, we collaborated with artist Larry Bell on an exhibition where we created a rug for his show at DIA Beacon.

We collaborated on a 60-foot by 60-foot hot pink custom Bravoure rug, which is about 18 meters by 18 meters. This rug was the first rug sale for the US consumer team. It was a bold move to start off with a custom rug for a museum, but it was an amazing experience for us.

Our clients are a constant source of inspiration, whether we are working on a project for a small-town home or collaborating with someone like Larry Bell on an installation that so many people will get to experience. It is truly fabulous to be able to mix all of these different experiences together.

Q: How and when did you start your career at Kvadrat?

When Kvadrat decided to open their own space in New York, they were looking for someone to join their Consumer sales team, and I was thrilled to take on the role. I was excited about their ideas for a non-traditional showroom experience and a new way of working.

I joined the team in 2020, along with four others, and our first assignment was to visit Ebeltoft and meet the whole team. I had met Anders and others before at events like the opening of Kvadrat's first residential showroom in London. Despite the sudden outbreak of COVID, we managed to stay connected and build up our entire Consumer team through Zoom-connections.

Textiles over Zoom had its challenges, but we hit the ground running and worked hard until the day we walked into that showroom. We are approaching my third-year anniversary and I am proud of all we have accomplished in just three years.

Q: How do you think of Kvadrat as an inclusive company?

Early on, it was clear to me that within this company, every voice matters. I was often surprised to be asked by people higher up in the organizational chart for my thoughts on certain issues, and not only that, but they also actually took the time to listen and often used that information to make decisions.

Whether it is someone who cuts samples or someone running the business, everyone is considered a valuable part of the team and family. I appreciate how much we all value each other.