The Life of Alisha Riley
Alisha Riley is a designer who graduated from Harrington College of Design: Chicago, IL. After completing a four year program in three years, she received her Bachelor's Degree for Interior Design and a Certificate in Kitchen and Bath in August 2009. Alisha's studies at Harrington involved a semester working for HGTV's Design On A Dime with Frank Fontana where she studied the in-depth fundamentals of residential design and various design styles. During her studies, she enhanced her hand sketching and design software skills, as well as an unique appreciation for the design world itself.
During her last semester at Harrington, Alisha gained invaluable experience as a Design Intern for DreamMakers Bath & Kitchen. She assisted in creating field measuring and developing concept sketches as well as creating 3-dimensional presentation renderings. She also assisted various customers in choosing different finishes to use for their homes.
Since college, Alisha has worked for various design companies including The Tile Shop in the Chicagoland area and Home Choice and Kirchner Building Centers in Central Illinois. At The Tile Shop she assisted customers in the understanding of the different types of tiles and helping them choose the perfect one for their home. She would sit down with the client in the design center and sketch up ideas and layouts for the appropriate application. Alisha would choose different tiles as well as paint chips and any other items available to assist in the decision and present them to the client until the "perfect" decision was made. Finally, Alisha would finalize the purchase with the client as well as do complete follow-up's to make sure that the process went smooth and they were satisfied with their decision.
Alisha then moved back down to her hometown area and started working for a furniture store called Home Choice. At first she didn't feel that it was the dream job of her choice since she dreamed of sitting down with clients and using architecture plans to implement an interior design layout. After her interview she realized something, that even though she isn't working with what she "dreamed", she is still working in an aspect of interior design by helping customers choose the furniture that would fit their homes style the best and make it feel like home for them. After working there for a while, Alisha got a job offer from another company that was about an hour away and decided that it was something that would make her feel more like she was working in her dream job. She started working at a store called Kirchner Building Centers. This store is located in a small town called Mattoon, which she knew wouldn't have million dollar homes to design, but it would have plenty of spaces that she could help people call home. Alisha went in for her interview and came to find out that the store had an abandoned kitchen and bath department for almost 5 years and was calling out for someone such as herself to take it back over. She was eager to get started and new it was going to be a lot of work with redesigning the showroom, getting vendors that haven't been talked with for years back in business with us and trying to find a way to get customers back in the doors. She knew that this wasn't going to be a project that was up and running over-night, this was something that was going to take months to complete. From the moment Alisha first walked through the doors she took control, she jumped on the phone calling vendors, getting updated information and finding a way of getting new displays. She has created a showroom that the store would of never imagined having before and made a way of drawing the customers in and lettng them know she is by their side every step of the way. To see the showroom that Alisha has created at Kirchners and to find out more information about the company and the services she provides there click the Kirchner Building Center: Kitchen and Bath Tab.
Alisha has experience in all aspects of design, from concept design and space planning to finishings and furniture selections. She is fluent in AutoCAD as well as other design programs including 20/20 Design, 3D Studio Max, Adobe Photoshop, Google Sketchup and ProKitchen. She is extremely proficient in 2D and 3D work and enjoys learning new programs that enhance her ability to design and communicate her ideas.
Throughout Alisha's life she has also worked on freelance projects in the Interior Design and Fine Arts fields. She has assisted various families with their purchase and renovation of their homes to make their "dream home" come true. She also loves painting and photography which has always been an inspiration in her life. She has taken various art and photography classes, and even won a few awards in local art fairs. Her strong passion for the arts has allowed for her to notice the small details and find the joy in something small that alot of people look past. She executes her passion for photography by taking her camera along with her at all times to capture the perfect shot and when the chance arrives she will take out a canvas and paint a beautiful landscape scene whenever she can. Alisha also enjoys refurbishing furniture, reading books, meeting new people and traveling.
Please feel free to contact Alisha with any questions, comments or inquiries.
During her last semester at Harrington, Alisha gained invaluable experience as a Design Intern for DreamMakers Bath & Kitchen. She assisted in creating field measuring and developing concept sketches as well as creating 3-dimensional presentation renderings. She also assisted various customers in choosing different finishes to use for their homes.
Since college, Alisha has worked for various design companies including The Tile Shop in the Chicagoland area and Home Choice and Kirchner Building Centers in Central Illinois. At The Tile Shop she assisted customers in the understanding of the different types of tiles and helping them choose the perfect one for their home. She would sit down with the client in the design center and sketch up ideas and layouts for the appropriate application. Alisha would choose different tiles as well as paint chips and any other items available to assist in the decision and present them to the client until the "perfect" decision was made. Finally, Alisha would finalize the purchase with the client as well as do complete follow-up's to make sure that the process went smooth and they were satisfied with their decision.
Alisha then moved back down to her hometown area and started working for a furniture store called Home Choice. At first she didn't feel that it was the dream job of her choice since she dreamed of sitting down with clients and using architecture plans to implement an interior design layout. After her interview she realized something, that even though she isn't working with what she "dreamed", she is still working in an aspect of interior design by helping customers choose the furniture that would fit their homes style the best and make it feel like home for them. After working there for a while, Alisha got a job offer from another company that was about an hour away and decided that it was something that would make her feel more like she was working in her dream job. She started working at a store called Kirchner Building Centers. This store is located in a small town called Mattoon, which she knew wouldn't have million dollar homes to design, but it would have plenty of spaces that she could help people call home. Alisha went in for her interview and came to find out that the store had an abandoned kitchen and bath department for almost 5 years and was calling out for someone such as herself to take it back over. She was eager to get started and new it was going to be a lot of work with redesigning the showroom, getting vendors that haven't been talked with for years back in business with us and trying to find a way to get customers back in the doors. She knew that this wasn't going to be a project that was up and running over-night, this was something that was going to take months to complete. From the moment Alisha first walked through the doors she took control, she jumped on the phone calling vendors, getting updated information and finding a way of getting new displays. She has created a showroom that the store would of never imagined having before and made a way of drawing the customers in and lettng them know she is by their side every step of the way. To see the showroom that Alisha has created at Kirchners and to find out more information about the company and the services she provides there click the Kirchner Building Center: Kitchen and Bath Tab.
Alisha has experience in all aspects of design, from concept design and space planning to finishings and furniture selections. She is fluent in AutoCAD as well as other design programs including 20/20 Design, 3D Studio Max, Adobe Photoshop, Google Sketchup and ProKitchen. She is extremely proficient in 2D and 3D work and enjoys learning new programs that enhance her ability to design and communicate her ideas.
Throughout Alisha's life she has also worked on freelance projects in the Interior Design and Fine Arts fields. She has assisted various families with their purchase and renovation of their homes to make their "dream home" come true. She also loves painting and photography which has always been an inspiration in her life. She has taken various art and photography classes, and even won a few awards in local art fairs. Her strong passion for the arts has allowed for her to notice the small details and find the joy in something small that alot of people look past. She executes her passion for photography by taking her camera along with her at all times to capture the perfect shot and when the chance arrives she will take out a canvas and paint a beautiful landscape scene whenever she can. Alisha also enjoys refurbishing furniture, reading books, meeting new people and traveling.
Please feel free to contact Alisha with any questions, comments or inquiries.