Episode 16 - Preserving the Past, Creating the Future: Claire Staszak on Collaborative Design & Living

Transcript

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[Music] Hello powerhouse smart friends and colleagues. Wendy Cohen here. I am once again honored to have an amazing colleague that I feel very near and dear to in my my network and in my world. Claire Stasac, principal and owner of Center by Design. Um, and I always like to have my guest like Claire, introduce herself because we can hear from her and then I can ask questions where we can learn more about her story. And as you as a reminder, this is all about me selecting um leaders in our design build

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industry, real estate industry that um believe in collaboration, live with an attitude of gratitude, and we all care about helping humanity. So without further ado, I'm so honored to have you, Claire. Please take the proverbial microphone and introduce yourself and share. Hi Wendy, thank you for having me and hi everyone out there. It's nice to be with you. Um, yeah, so I own Centered by Design. Um, we are a high-end residential firm. Um, we're based in Chicago and the Northshore. Um, but we work all over. Um, have a lot of

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projects these days, um, in Hinsdale and a few out of state as well. So, um, we're a team of about seven and, um, we really love historic architecture. We love cabinetry and millwork details and of course we love furnishings and wallpaper and really all of it. But, um, we definitely have a focus on restoring older homes as well as building new homes, but um, having them feel storied and timeless. Oh, thank you for that great overview. Yeah, you definitely have a special niche which I I want to dive into a little bit here, but before

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we get into that, maybe share with us like you're you're so young and you're so successful, like how do you you know, share with everybody how did you make this happen? Um well, thanks Wendy. I'm I don't feel young these days, especially coming off my 29year-old sister's wedding. But um I you know I had a first career in marketing and you know talking about helping humanity. I was very dedicated to nonprofits um when I graduated from college and I worked for Habitat for Humanity um out in San Francisco. And

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I've always loved Habitat as an organization. And looking back, you know, I find it really funny that my favorite volunteer activity was building houses, yet I never thought about becoming a designer. Um, so Habitat played a big role in my life. Um, kind of as like what I enjoyed doing to give back to the community. I ended up doing a year of service. Um, like a lot of people would know it as Americaore, kind of like the domestic Peace Corps. Um, I was placed in San Francisco. I worked for Habitat for Humanity. Um, and then I

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ended up coming back to Chicago, where I'm from. Um, and working in different kind of marketing and communication roles, but always feeling like I needed something more creative in my life that my jobs, although they they involved creativity, they weren't nothing just ever felt like the right fit. Um, and so, you know, there's a long story, but basically eventually I decided to go back to school for interior design in my late 20s. Um, I was actually 29 and I went to Harper College in Palatine and

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got um a certificate in kitchen and bath design and basically like an associates degree in interior design. And because I was older, um, I think a lot of people were interested in having me as an intern because I was a a grownup. And so I interned for some big design firms and names, including, you know, people in our area might know Kate Marker Interiors and Nate Burkus. And um, I think I just knew when I started that I was going to have my own business. Um, but yeah, a couple things sort of along the way in those smaller

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experiences just led me to go out on my own. My husband and I bought our first home and we're doing it together and then I just started taking on clients and it's really grown from there with the help of social media great, you know, great collaborations with I work pretty specifically with a few GCs who, you know, we've kind of grown our businesses together. Um, and yeah, I think um, you know, finding great team members and I've been very savvy with press and all these other things that kind of I think help

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elevate your brand and make you, you know, maybe stand out a little more than the next person. Yeah. So, you say you gra you graduated, you went back to design when you were 29. That's still really young, especially as we know the next generation. And I mean, you know, a lot of these kids are, you know, experimenting with a lot of different careers before they actually figure out where they they want to spend the majority of their time. So, and I remember I had you as a speaker at like one of our very first luxury

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conferences. You were just about how you were really seen as an influencer very early on. And you did you have a journalism background? I mean, you're so natural in your social media and all your interviews, etc. Yeah, I did I did study um one of my degrees was in journalism. So, I think um the blog writing came kind of naturally to me and um communications in general, right? Like my background is more marketing and communications focused. So I think that was a really great part of my education and you know brief career

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history and just sort of my natural talent um that that help propel that part of the business um forward which like we all know how important you know marketing and social media are these days and I think um there's just a lot of different ways to do business in this industry and I I I would love to not have to be on social media sometimes. Um, and of course, a lot of our work is referralbased, but if you just don't have this like massive network or you know, I feel like kind of the olden days of

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just there's only so many designers and you know, it's just like everybody's a designer. So, like you've really got to be out there kind of making some noise or it's hard to get clients I think no matter how good you are. Yeah. And but I do think uh especially in your case, you you just are you you separate yourself, Claire. I mean, you first of all, you know, you don't follow any trends. You you truly do want to be timeless. And I love your commitment to historic restoration, and we'll talk about that

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in a minute. And and so, yes, you're right. There are a lot of designers, but the ones that the cream that rises to the the top and and people like you number one believe in in finding good other colleagues to collaborate with and sharing that and you have done that from very early on and that you do you do really separate yourself and follow your own path. So, um, one of Yeah. So, one of the things that I know, two things. One is we talked about maybe you having a a coffee table book, and then we also

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talked about you starting with your studio in downtown Chicago, living downtown Chicago, and now branching into a new market, which is not that far really, but it is. It's a new audience. So, talk about that a little, please. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, I think just coming off that social media conversation, I mean, what I will say is incredible about social media and like living in this time period is the opportunity that it affords. And so, you know, of course, my background is in journalism. I think many designers hope

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to have a book one day. I definitely always had that as a little dream. And I mean, I got an email out of the blue from an editor just saying like, "Would you be interested in writing a book?" And many designers, you know, there I think these days we really are influencers to what people are purchasing. And so, you know, there's just a lot of opportunity there. Um, and there's a lot of opportunity if you have your own following to sell a lot of books. And so, um, yes, that's a very exciting thing that we're working on.

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And I think the book will be out in 2027. And it has a working title that, um, has to do with, you know, my love of historic homes andor decorating in this historic and timeless way. And so, um, that's a very exciting opportunity. And then, yes, we still have I'm in Chicago, our Chicago location right now. And then when I moved up to the Northshore, um I thought it would be great to have another little office up there. Um the commute definitely isn't super fun and I have a little kid, so I wanted to be

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able to have some flexibility. Um, and yes, we're excited to kind of infiltrate the Northshore a little bit more and have people know who we are and um, that yeah, we really work sort of all over the Chicagoland area. And for our clients that are moving or, you know, have second homes, you know, we're always often happy to go where they need us to go. Yeah, I noticed it on your Instagram that you definitely have some projects in other states, but did you end up opening that studio, that little studio in Gleno? I did. Okay. And how's

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that going? Yeah, it's going great. Um, it's so cute and it's lovely to have an additional meeting space for clients. And, you know, my husband also started his own business. He is a um test prep, ACT, SAT, sort of college readiness advisor. So, he also uses the space and it's been really great for our family. We we are going to try this summer to maybe like have the doors open and have some more regular hours. I think it's been hard for people to get to know who we are because I just don't really have

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it's not a store and so it's just it's a little bit of a kind of a tough business model. I would love eventually to be able to open more of a real shop. Yeah. Yeah. I know that sounds great. And then, you know, gosh, I'm just thinking about all the things you have your fingers in. So, we can't forget your your wallpaper line. I'm going to Paris next week for a wedding. And I was saying, oh, you are? Yeah. Oh, that's so fun. Yeah. Yeah. We're doing the the fat tire bike tour in Versailles. And yeah,

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we have a wedding, so there'll be some days already occupied, but I said, "Oh, I'm gonna be talking to Claire. I'm going to Paris. I want to hear about her wallpaper line. How's that going?" Yes. So that was another again like very exciting opportunity that I think you know results from being very collaborative and also having a social media following. So I had a friend from design school who was French and she was connected to this wallpaper company and they were looking for interior designers

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to give paper to. I ended up using one of their beautiful papers which was a mural of Paris at night in the Lake Forest Showhouse in 20 was that two two years ago? So maybe it was 2023 showhouse. um and it was very successful and so we sort of developed this relationship and they were looking to break in further to the US market and so we decided to design a collection of papers together. I got to work with these amazing artists, got to go to France several times. Um I got to creative direct the photo shoot. So yes,

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now the paper is selling. Anyone can purchase it. The company is called Isidor Li. It It looks like Isidor Leroy. It's pronounced Isidor Larra. Um, and they have amazing wallpapers that are actually quite a a very reasonable price point and anybody can purchase directly online. Wow. Wow. So, Claire, really, come on. all of these things and and again we sat down and we started talking before we turned on um to join this the podcast and you know we're just catching up and everything and then this

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is just unraveling in front of me like all these things you're doing and it's just and they just come so natural to you and they're you know uh you're just really talk about cool leaders and someone who takes advantage of your relationships in the sense of nurturing them and really making making yeah I think you know That's definitely a superpower. It's just kind of really important to me. And I mean, I think I'm a I'm think I'm a great designer, but I think I'm even, you know, better at relationships. So, I think that's um you

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know, everybody has that angle that works for them and their business. I mean, I cannot do Quickbooks. I can really not draw in CAD. you know, there are plenty of things that I I can't do, but yeah, I think collaboration is is really one of my strong suits. Yes, absolutely. And so, we can't not touch on really briefly. Uh I wish we had more time because clearly we could spend a long time together, but you're you're renovating or you're working on a project which is not a small project, renovating your new home that your new

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property that you bought in Gleno. Talk about that briefly. Share with us. Yeah. So, um we bought a beautiful um 1926 Mediterranean style home in Gleno and I could just, you know, see it had a lot of potential. Um it's, you know, it's pretty old. It had a really nice renovation in 1980 and since then it's basically been kind of untouched or may have been updated in some areas, but um it it really needs an overhaul. So, it's quite a big project and we're very excited and we've been talking with different sponsors. We've talked with

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you, Wendy, about different ideas for, you know, businesses who might want to collaborate with us. And yeah, we've kind of we've got some great sponsors on board and we're working on our drawings and permit and hope, you know, the goal is that at least part of the home is in the book or as my editor likes to say, like don't worry, there'll be a second book and then your house can be in the second book. So, we'll we'll see um you know how much of it gets done. Obviously, I'm trying to do that on top

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of running a business and being a mom. So, it's it's last on the list most days. Yeah. No, I understand. And, you know, a big project like that takes years, you know, first of all, even just getting the plans done and then picking up the sponsors. So, I'm here to help and we look forward to having a hard hat tour there and and lots things together through the powerhouse community. So, one of the things as we get close to our short um you know time together is um it's so obvious that you have done so

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many things to give back to humanity. But when all is said and done, Claire, you have a young family and you just have your whole world in front of you, but yet, you know, we're still souls having a human experience. Things happen. It's never always perfect. Um you know, how can you describe living with an attitude of gratitude? How does that fit in your definition? Yeah, I mean I think um so I mean so very many things, but I think for me it's just really being as positive as I can um with both my team and my clients. Sort

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of taking the time for those relationships. I think really that's what sort of feeds you and is able like that connection whether it's in business or it's you know I've been really welcomed to the Gleno Waneka community we joined the chamber of commerce you know I've met some really nice people just like having those conversations um those always just really feed my spirit in terms of like not feeling alone not feeling exhausted or like when you know other people are kind you know, going through the same things

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whether they're at the same place in life as you are or not. Um, and yeah, connecting with fellow business owners, my team, um, of course, you know, trying to be a good mom and wife and all those things, but um, and exercise, I guess exercise always makes me happier and more grateful. Yes, of course. So, you know what? To me, it sounds like what we had originally said and what we continue to say is you surround yourself with people and it's the shared love and and relationship and you know just honoring

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each other and I'm very blessed, Claire, to have you in my life. You know, we we don't get to speak all the time, but we come in and outing and I'm always I'm always blessed when I get to spend some time with you. So, thanks Wendy. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, thank you so much. And I think it's so I'm always amazed at how many things you are juggling and podcasts and events and multiple businesses. So, yeah, I only hope I can do as many things. Yes, we'll try to do as much as we can together. I'm sending you love. Kiss those beautiful children

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and your husband and you have so much fun in Paris. Oh, okay. Thanks. I'll talk to you afterwards. and you're going to be a speaker at an upcoming event and I'm going to invite you to the conference too to be a speaker. Okay, we'll talk soon. All right. Byebye. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Okay.