I was exposed to the arts at an early age, having being born into a family full of musicians. As a child, I followed my parents’ footsteps and learned to play piano and later the violin. As I grew older my interest in piano and strings shifted to the visual arts where I excelled in drawing and painting. I also became involved in sports including baseball, tennis, mountain biking, rugby and wrestling. I was fortunate enough when I entered high school that it offered graphic design and drafting courses which quickly became my favourite subjects. From that point on, I knew I was meant to express my creativity and ideas through computer design.

After graduating from high school, I was accepted at the Ontario College of Art and Design(now OCADU). One of the reasons why I was attracted to this design school was the curriculum for the first year. It served as a foundation year in which all students took the same common courses. This allowed my to explore my artistical spirit through a number of different mediums. I finally settled on Environmental Design which was a hybrid program between architecture and interior design. My studies provided me with the opportunities to strengthen my understanding of the design process while enhancing my creative and technical skills.

After graduating from OCAD,  I was fortunate enough to gain valuable experience by working for several independent designers before landing a permanent position at Binns Kitchen and Bath Design. My 12 years at Binns has allowed me to not only learn about kitchen and bath design but the industry as a whole. Being surrounded by many talented designers and a creative environment that encourage innovative design was the catalyst in making me become who I am today. I am very fortunate that I’ve had, and continue to have, a great and long lasting relationship with the team at Binns.
(learn more at www.binns.net)

At the age of 16, I was involved in a devastating accident where the aftermath would make me see the world differently. After recovering from my injuries, I undertook a series of medical examinations where I was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome; a condition that affects both my hearing and vision. Although I had been previously diagnosed with hearing loss at birth, the diagnosis of the vision impairment came as quite a shock.  Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) causes night blindness and a loss of peripheral vision through the progressive degeneration of the retina. As RP progresses each year, the field of vision narrows until only central vision remains. Knowing that my vision is slowly diminishing, it has been a constant challenge to communicate my situation to others as my condition is not readily understood.  Although my vision loss may seem like a detriment, my narrow field of view actually makes me a more proficient designer, as I have to be much more attentive to my surroundings.

Ever since I was a child, I had a love affair with solving space problems. Whether it was building lego, building sandcastles or rearranging my bedroom, I was constantly analyzing spaces big and small. When I was introduced to drafting and CAD, I knew I had found my calling. It was a perfect blend of space planning, creative outlet and computer technology that would contribute to an ever evolving career. Despite my personal challenges with vision loss, I knew that with my dedicated passion to design, I could perceive and overcome any challenge.

As a designer, I'm constantly educating myself on the newest trends in architecture and interior design. Although my current passion is in kitchen and bathrooms, I do seek opportunities in other design areas, including industrial design. That's why a component of my site is dedicated to exploring furniture and product design. I hope to expand my knowledge and creative base as I continue my design journey.