Designer Showcase: Ashley Scherch

Ashley Scherch brings a fresh and energetic approach to the design industry. She is the VP of Communications/Technology for our NKBA Texas Gulf Coast Chapter where she writes the monthly newsletters.  Ashley also contributes to Cabinets & Designs blogs and newsletters.  She loves being involved in all things relating to design.  While designing is her passion, her clients are her favorite part of the job.  She loves working with different people and creating the space of their dreams.  Ashley took some time to sit down and answer some grueling questions for us:

Describe your background?

I graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Residential Interior Design.  During school I interned at Reimeier with Elaine Hall in Cincinnati as an Assistant Kitchen Designer.  After the internship, I was sold.  I knew what I wanted to do!  Once graduating I moved back to Cincy and worked with my mentor at a new company as a Kitchen Designer.  A year later, Texas started calling my name… Cabinets & Designs graciously took me under their wing and gave me the opportunity to turn into the designer I am today.  I am forever grateful for Elaine and Cabinets & Designs for believing in me and my career.

What is the best advice you could give to clients?  

Trust your gut.  Don’t go around asking everyone you know what their opinion is on YOUR kitchen or space.  Ask yourself, other household members, and your professional kitchen designer what you want. There are so many styles, finishes, and ideas out there today that your decision might be easily swayed, but I strongly suggest sticking to your gut feelings about what YOU like.  After all, you will be the one living there, not your best friend’s mother.

What has been your favorite project so far?  

Ah!  Tough question.  The most interesting project was the hidden gunroom I had the opportunity to design earlier this year.  The client wanted the space to be hidden behind a wall panel in his office.  It was very James Bond!  We created custom gun cabinets for both his rifles and hand guns.  He requested enough space for 60-80 rifles and 80-100 hand guns.  Angled, slide out drawers lined with leather created the perfect bed for the pistols to sleep in and vertical space with a custom gun barrel support and molding strip stood the rifles at attention.  It was a challenging and rewarding project! 

What was a difficult design challenge for you and how did you overcome it?  

Creating the custom gun cabinets for the hidden gunroom.  There were so many factors that went into dimensioning.  The client had many different rifles, some new and some antiques, which presented a height placement concern of the gun barrel support.  There was also the challenge of creating the gun barrel support to fit the number of rifles he wanted room for.  Designing the pistol gun cabinets was a whole different story.  The client requested them to be displayed on an angle and have the ability to pull out.  Everything about the pullouts and cabinet needed to be dimensioned, from the angle where the display area met the drawer head to the height of the drawer overall to the distance between each drawer to the width of the overlapping drawer heads to the cabinets… it was enough math to send me back to college!  It did pay off in the end with a functional and beautiful gunroom.

What is your favorite addition to Wood-Mode/Brookhaven cabinetry as far as features go?  

I love the recycling center.  It is a great addition for those that recycle currently or are trying to become greener.  The 4 compartments allow for space for trash, paper, plastics, and metals.  I would love to have one built-in so I didn’t have to have 3 huge recycling bins awkwardly placed outside my kitchen.

Do you have a favorite wood specie or finish?    

YES!  The Slate finish- whether it is plain, with a vintage finish, a glaze, or distressed.  It is a beautiful grey color that you can match to anything!

What is next for you? 

What isn’t next for me!  I am looking forward to doing more of what I am doing now and anything else that comes my way in the future!

If you were not a kitchen designer, what would you be?

A mom… can’t wait… but I will.

Call or visit Cabinets & Designs to set up a meeting with Ashley or one of our other designers.  We look forward to meeting you!