Michael Friedes Email & Phone Number

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

San Francisco, Ca

Upscale interior design company offering residential and commercial design services.Directs interior design projects, including custom design and large-scale renovations, from concept through installation, with budgets up to $2M. Leads cross-functional teams of architects, structural engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, and lighting and landscape designers while keeping clients engaged and managing expectations, timelines and budget. Leads residential interior design projects, including custom product design, and large-scale renovations -- from concept through installation. Designs visually stunning and functional spaces varying in scope that accentuate the lifestyle of my clients and the uniqueness of each space.• Completed 200+ interior design projects, creating visually stunning and functional spaces fully aligned with customers’ lifestyles. Developed custom furniture including sofas, club chairs, dining chairs, as well as rugs and lighting. Earned loyal following and fan base, with 100% of business generated through referrals and repeat business.• Featured in leading home designer showcases and industry publications, including Architectural Digest, California Home + Design, and New York Spaces. • Won multiple awards, including "Best of Houzz" designer (2016, 2017, 2018), and luxury home hardware manufacturer Baldwin design competition for decorative hardware over 100+ competitors.• Captured strongly contested contract to furnish and create artwork for luxury model penthouse at The Harrison San Francisco; formed Steinway partnership to create "Steinway Suite". Delivered project early and on budget. Praised by media as 1 of "Top Two Designer Penthouses." • Completed commercial design projects, including: 1) Designed Mayes Oyster House Restaurant, San Francisco, CA, 2) Rock and Polish Spa, Oakland, CA, and 3) 510 Properties, Oakland, CA.

Palo Alto, Ca

International website and online community providing unique experience for home renovation and design, connecting homeowners and home professionals with the best tools, resources, and vendors.Interact with all Departments Heads (Marketing, Events, Editorial, Global Trade Business, Product Development, and UX Product). Conduct weekly meetings with Marketing and Editorial teams to ensure efforts resonates with design community. Collaborate with head of Marketing on all promotional materials going to trade. Strategize on new initiatives and programs with VP of Global Trade Business. • Partnering with Product Development team on new bath collection for Spring 2020, including styles, merchandising mix, and color/finish palette.• Currently, working closely with UX product team to give input on user experience for beta version of Pro Solutions site.• Creating content and story ideas for Editorial team on trends in home design. • Creating and facilitating seminars and events for designers. Representing Houzz at industry events as Design Industry Expert.• Created and presented dynamic presentation about interior design trends and insights on working with designer community to over 50 trade account managers. • Investigated pricing structure of online products; resolved 3/4 of platform amended to reflect correct trade pricing. • Creating and hosting trade video webinar series called "Pro to Pro" that includes selection and highlight of products and vendors from Houzz for designer community.

Oakland, Ca

Full-service home staging company serving San Francisco and East Bay real estate companies. 20+ staff, 10K-sq ft warehouse. Built and led all operations for full-service home staging for upscale homes, staging as many as 50 at once. Significantly elevated industry design standard for residential sales. Created design scheme for each project, purchased all inventory, formed and managed design team. Personally conducted marketing and sales calls, later trained team to carry out sales and marketing functions.● Directed over 2,000 interior design projects; transitioned business to current interior design company in 2009.

San Francisco, Ca

Upscale home furnishing chain with operations in US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Australia and catalogue sales.Recruited to lead design team in developing new, market-relevant products to meet changing customer demands. Managed team of 10+, reporting to Senior Vice President of Product Development. Traveled to Asia to review and approve product prototypes.Set design themes for each season's collections. Identified emerging market trends marketplace and translated these into line enhancements and extensions. Collaborated with cross-functional retail and cataloguing merchandising teams to ensure alignment of design direction with merchant side. Communicated compelling and inspirational aesthetic vision for design team to follow.• Established creative vision and product line direction for many highly successful Pottery Barn Kids collections, including home accessories, lighting, beds, chairs, tables, and storage solutions; expanded holiday line to capitalize on untapped customer base. • Developed The Chalkboard Collection with innovative interactive aspect for children's furniture and accessories, conceiving idea, developing design, and leading team in execution.• Designed child-relevant sports collection and popular Olivia table lamp with easy-touch base, leading design team to execute vision and collaborating with production teams through prototype to ensure integrity of original concepts.• Expanded PBK art and window hardware categories, directing team of artists to expand collections to meet growing demand.

New York, Ny

High-end home furnishings design company working with wide array of home furnishing manufacturers.• Led teams of up to 12 in creating design concepts and developing designs for furniture, lighting, wall decor, rugs and wallpaper for US and foreign companies including The Phillips Collection, Brueton, Franklin Home, Royal Intercontinental, and the Minka Group. Conducted extensive market and trend research. Coordinated and approved prototype samples from overseas manufacturers.

Larchmont, Ny

Upscale designer and distributor of innovative lighting systems.Recruited to manage Ralph Lauren Home Furnishing accounts with responsibility for launching new products in lighting, decorative accessories, hardware, window accessories, and bath hardware categories. Led team of 5 industrial and graphic designers in developing over 200 new products. Presented product concepts at Ralph Lauren headquarters. Coordinated global sourcing for over 200 SKUs. Attended US and European trade shows.• Created first Ralph Lauren Home luxury lighting collection, with many products still sold today.