Jacqueline Corea of Corea Sotropa is one of the principals at Corea Sotropa which bears her name. Her latest endeavors not only focuses on Interior Design but blogging as well-The Pink Chandelier, is the brainchild of Corea and has become a passion that she didn’t see coming.
How long have you been in the Design industry? Me, personally, for 12 years. But I have been a principal with Corea Sotropa for 5 years now. Our office has 5 designers and our office manager, so we have a lot of expertise between all the designers.
How did the blog come about? I saw the marketing trends going that way, and I knew as a business, that we should try to get into the social marketing arena. In my spare time, I work on the blog- The Pink Chandelier. I have truly loved working on this when I get the free time. It definitely takes time to research my topics, but I feel the work I put into it is well worth it.
Where is Corea Sotropa located? We are located in Calgary Canada. A large portion of our business is located here in Calgary, but we have also done projects for our clients’ vacation homes in Alberta, British Columbia, and even Palm Springs.
Does your business represent residential or commercial? We focus on the residential markets.
Where do you get your inspirations? Inspirations for us can come from a number of things; paintings, a rug, fabrics… Clients may bring in pictures or show us things they love. It really depends on the client. We interview them to get a sense of what they are looking for and then we collaborate on ideas.
What is one of the most memorable jobs that you have worked on? We recently finished a craftsman style house that was basically a 3 year overhaul project. We started from a bare bones home that was in need of some much needed TLC. Talking with the homeowners, they really wanted to adhere to the original feel of the home which was a craftsman style. The homeowners had already done some of their own homework about what they had envisioned for their home and found inspiration from the famous Arts and Crafts-era architects Greene and Greene of Cincinnati Ohio. There are some Japanese inspired effects in their design and the homeowners kept with that theme when they chose the copper Japanese bath for their master bath. The project was a challenge, but a welcome challenge, because we really started from scratch: from the custom- detailed cabinets, to the custom stainless steel stove hood. No detail was missed in this home, and basically everything was handmade for the house. I enjoyed seeing the homeowners’ appreciation to the details because in the end, that is what made the home so unique. Better yet, the clients are thrilled with how everything turned out. This Christmas, the house is going to be on a charity tour, Homes for the Holidays.
What are the trends you are seeing right now in the design industry?
I just got back from Highpoint Market in North Carolina and I noticed a lot of furniture having a rustic chic quality – a warehouse feel … The fabrics are whitewashed and bleached, giving that look of “lived in”. The furniture feels very vintage and Mad Men — A 60’s hip vibe.
Do you think that TV shows have an influence on Design?
Sure, I think what is relevant in society shows up in the design world. We saw it with Sex and the City too.
What designers inspire you?
Kelly Wearstler, https://www.kellywearstler.com
Kelly is at the forefront of design and I love how edgy her design is.
and Tobi Fairley https://tobifairley.com
Tobi is an up and coming designer who has an eye for color.
How has the recession affected your business?
Luckily, we have not had that bad of a year. Yes, business is down, but we are fortunate to have jobs. Clients are looking for better value and are looking more at prices than ever before. We have a great reputation here in Canada for having great design, a quality portfolio and being very professional so I think that has helped us withstand the lows of the economy.
For more information on Jacqueline or Corea Sotropa Interior Design:
Corea Sotropa Interior Design #208, 2032 – 33 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2T 1Z4 Phone: 403. 686. 8488 Fax: 403. 685. 3761 info@coreasotropa.ca www.coreasotropa.ca www.thepinkchandelier.ca
