- Story by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe
Despite being exposed to the art and design world from her youngest years, Stephanie Smith never really thought she鈥檇 end up there for her career.
鈥淢y mom is an artist and is in design, and she also did art studies at Emily Carr,鈥� Stephanie says. 鈥淪he had a gallery when I was a young teen, so I learned how to cut glass and frames, and do all the assembly from about 12 years old.鈥�
After finishing a degree in business and marketing, Stephanie agreed to let her mom train her at Ethan Allen furniture鈥斺�淚 really thought it was going to be a short-term venture鈥濃�攁nd she has been in the design and furniture industry ever since.
Now the president of on South Granville, Stephanie has come back to loving furniture after taking a few years away.
鈥淚 saw people shopping for mostly throwaway pieces, things that would just end up in a landfill in a few years. I鈥檇 been in interior design for so long, and I had been losing the passion,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I left furniture for a few years, but this line really brought me back. It鈥檚 so unusual, and just the details in each piece鈥ou could easily mix in a piece and create real interest in your room, or do a whole room and create a dramatic, beautiful look.鈥�
Besides being beautifully designed with intricate detail work, it was the quality of the pieces that sold Stephanie.
鈥淭here are no springs鈥t鈥檚 all solid rosewood. It鈥檚 some of the heaviest furniture I鈥檝e ever moved, and I have moved a lot of furniture in my life!鈥� she says with a laugh.
Seeing how the pieces fit into her clients鈥� homes and knowing they鈥檝e invested in something that will last decades has brought her a whole new level of satisfaction too.
鈥淚 love helping people, and I love finding design solutions,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his became the passion, and it fulfills me so completely. I鈥檓 never tired of it.鈥�
THE 7 SINS
Envy:
Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
Arlene Dickinson from Dragon鈥檚 Den. I鈥檝e always loved what a great business woman she is for so many reasons. Watching her over the years has been inspiring, and I have always felt I related to her. From building her self-made fortune, seeing all of her supporting causes and how she shows her passion for what she believes in, I have always admired her鈥ot to mention, her shoes are always fabulous!
Gluttony:
What is the food you could eat over and over again?
Sushi! I never tire of sushi, although, funny enough, I have a severe shellfish allergy. I鈥檝e always loved a meal with variety, and there is always endless selection with sushi.
Greed:
You鈥檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?
Leisure property! I鈥檝e always been a dreamer, and I鈥檝e dreamed of having a small quaint place on a lake鈥攕omewhere that memories are made for a lifetime. A place to get away and enjoy fun experiences and time together with all the people I love. A place to leave for my kids to cherish time spent together.
Wrath:
Pet peeves?
Restless legs! I鈥檇 never experienced it until pregnancy. I鈥檓 pretty busy as it is, and hate anything slowing me down. And insincerity. I鈥檝e always trusted that people are generally good. Over time, they always show their true character: they鈥檙e either reliable or they鈥檙e questionable, and it鈥檚 only a matter of time until the latter reveals itself. I have such a love of people that it always stings to uncover insincerity, and it鈥檚 one thing I鈥檓 always disappointed in.
Sloth:
Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?
On a lake. Although I鈥檓 not a strong swimmer鈥擨 mean, I learned how by diving for money my grandmother would throw in the lake鈥攂ut I am a water baby, and as long as there is a boat or flotation device, I鈥檓 there! I always thought I鈥檇 live in a floating home and be able to feel free, anchoring down wherever and whenever I felt like.
Pride:
What is the one thing you鈥檙e secretly
proud of?
Knowing my strength, on so many levels. Knowing I can get through tough times is definitely something I heavily value. I鈥檝e been faced with situations both in my business and my personal life鈥攜ou know, the ones you want to avoid or try to ignore鈥攂ut I鈥檝e been fortunate to have some incredible mentors who showed me that it鈥檚 how you deal with things that have the biggest impact. I鈥檝e worked really hard to keep a good perspective and see things from other views than simply my own, and that鈥檚 allowed me to be mindful and sensitive when confronting anything.
Lust:
What makes your heart beat faster?
Sharing in someone鈥檚 happiness. I鈥檝e naturally always been a pretty positive person, and I love seeing people succeed and grow and celebrate the little and the big wins. I believe that celebrating these things attracts
more of the same, and I love being around people who also adopt this attitude. Life is short, and it sure is better with like-minded people around you!
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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