OUR FIRM AND DESIGNERS
Cindi Schwarz
Principal
Director of Commercial Designers
ASID Allied Member, IIDA Associate, WFCP
Cindi Schwarz is a top interior designer with extensive experience and an impressive list of credentials. She works with both residential design and commercial contract design. Tackling enormous challenges is what Cindi thrives on. Cindi owns and operates CC Design Concepts, Ltd., an interior design firm in Lake Forest, Illinois, which is located in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago.When working with her residential clients, Cindi has a flair for designing warm and inviting interiors. Whether it's traditional, transitional, or contemporary design, she believes everyone should live and work in a beautiful, dynamic and functional environment. Cindi's focus is to change the ordinary into the extraordinary when working with her clients. She has designed everything from traditional homes on the North Shore to lofts in Chicago.
R.M. Swanson and Associates opened The Courtyard Homes of Amberley Woods, located in Lake Forest, IL to the public in February, 2008. CC Design Concepts was the design firm contracted for this project. The two model homes are a shining example and showcase the expertise that Cindi and her business partner, Christy, have created. The Buckingham model displays an arts and crafts décor, while the fully furnished and accessorized Clarendon model reflects a grand traditional lifestyle. Cindi and Christy are the project's primary interior designers and will meet with the home buyers to select their interior finishes.
Commercial interior design projects require a special eye for detail and a primary focus on: Plan Evaluations, Space Planning, Inventory Reconciliation, Furniture and Finish Selections and Specifications. Cindi has worked with developers, architects, builders and contractors throughout Lake, McHenry, Will, and DuPage County area. She has served as a Lake County tour home judge for the 2005 Lake County Home Builder's Association and as a committee member of the Association as well. Just a few of Cindi's commercial clients include: Fiore Square, S.A. Oldenburg Financial Accounting Firm, Caremark, Coram Healthcare, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, and Telehub Communications Corporation.
Cindi has done pro bono work for LaCasa (Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault) in Gurnee, Illinois. She was involved in the space planning and interior selections for La Casa. She also served on the LaCasa Board for two years. She was also involved in the ASID Evanston Showcase. She has donated her time and talents to the fund raising event for The Mercy Home for Boys held at the Contemporary Museum of Art in Chicago, Illinois and also the dedication for the new facility of the Salvation Army in Waukegan, Illinois.
Cindi graduated from Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago, Illinois. She is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), an Associate member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and the Window Fashion Certified Professionals (WFCP).
Christy Patterson
Principal
Design Consultant & Project Manager
WFCP
When it comes to the field of Interior Design, Christy has a vision for any space. She can capture a vision from a clean palette or existing space and create a design that will more than fulfill the client's expectations. From the creating of rich and classical styles or transitional, contemporary, Asian, country French, or eclectic, she welcomes the challenge of any design. Christy has a flair for color and accessorizing and how it will pull an entire room together. Her designs are inspirational and creative. In addition, Christy has had numerous years of experience in faux finishing, unique wall coverings, and custom window treatments. She draws on her expertise to assist her clients in distinctive design ideas, a personal style, and color selections for their homes. Christy prides herself in her ability to meet her client's desires. She understands that each of her clients is as unique as each project she designs. The client's needs are the utmost importance when Christy designs their space. Client consultation is one of Christy's fortes. She takes the time to not only understand her client's desires, but also what her client's life in their space would be like. Christy utilizes the best use of the space when she is designing in order to create an inviting environment for her client. Christy not only provides exceptional services to her clients, but exceeding their needs is a priority when designing their spaces.
R.M. Swanson and Associates opened The Courtyard Homes of Amberley Woods, located in Lake Forest, IL to the public in February, 2008. The design firm contracted for the project was CC Design Concepts. The two model homes are a shining example and showcase the expertise that Christy and her business partner, Cindi. have created. The Buckingham model displays an arts and crafts decor, while the fully furnished and accessorized Clarendon model reflects a grand traditional lifestyle. Christy and Cindi are the project's primary interior designers and will meet with the home buyers to select their
interior finishes.
Another of Christy's passions is her love of horses. This love has led her into the Equestrian design industry and was instrumental in the design specifications for an arena and tack room of an equestrian estate in both South Carolina and the Barrington, IL area. Christy has been involved with award winning show homes for the past twenty-two years. She has worked with architects, builders, and contractors on the North Shore and the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area. Christy served as a tour home judge during the 2005 Lake County Home Builder's Association, as well being on several committees for the Association. Working with architects, builders. and contractors has kept Christy on the cutting edge in the design and building industry.
Just a few of Christy's associations and affiliations include Window Fashions Certified Professional (WFCP), the Mercy Home for Boys fund raiser, the dedication for the new facility of the Salvation Army in Waukegan, Illinois, the Gene Darnell/Longevity Golf Outing, and graduated from Landmark Education.
Allie Swanson
Interior Designer
Allie Swanson entered the Interior Design field yearning to create individual spaces which would reflect her client’s personality and taste. Allie prides herself in Residential Interior spaces which are versatile and encompass any design style. One of her many strengths lies in her ability to listen to her client’s wants and needs as well as communicate her ideas with the understanding that being versatile is an integral aspect in the design process. She possesses a zeal for color and creativity that enhances every environment that she designs. Allie has an in-depth commitment to her clients and is driven through extensive product expertise. She also has the propensity to manage complex projects from the initial vision to completion; specifically in her involvement with kitchen design projects. Another of Allie’s strengths lies in her ability to collaborate with professionals on a daily basis in the design field attending to detail and every aspect of the client’s project.
Allie graduated from William Rainey Harper College, where she obtained her Associates Degree in Interior Design. She also attended the Illinois Institute of Art. Allie specializes in Kitchen and Bath Design, and is NKBA Certified (National Kitchen and Bath Association).
Aleksandra Karach
Interior Designer
Sandra, is the newest designer to join CC Design Concepts, Ltd. She comes with experience in both commercial and residential interior design. She is a Harrington College of Design graduate with BFA in Interior Design. Sandra is highly skilled in design programs such as AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, Proshow, and Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator. She takes pride in simplifying the design process by using modern technology and graphics to assist her clients understand and visualize their interior spaces in full color 3D renderings. Sandra approaches every project through endless enthusiasm and creates sensational interiors which include her style of elegance with a modern twist.
Barb Henby
Office Manager
Barb graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree and also from National-Lewis University with a master’s degree. Her extensive experience has ranged from general contracting, Interior and landscape design, to educational seminar presentations. As a primary member of the CC Design Concepts executive team Barb applies her variety of skills to compliment all of our design team’s projects. Barb has also owned a small business in the north suburbs of Chicago. Her organizational and office management skills are exceptional.
Nancy DeVore
Senior Design Associate
Nancy has an innate ability to see the final vision of a project. Her extensive expertise in new construction and remodeling projects allows her to design with a unique flair for all of her clients. Her sense of color and texture brings life and dimension to every presentation. Nancy’s attention to detail begins with the initial planning phase through to completion. Residential staging is a specialty of Nancy’s; incorporating all design elements and concepts of the project. She believes that every client has specific requirements, and functional elements to incorporate in their design to make it their own. Nancy builds solid relationships with her clients and they are amazed by her innovative ideas.