Our Mission
As an interior design showroom exclusively to the trade, our mission is to support our designers throughout the process. Our goal is to inspire you to create unique experiences for your clients while helping you grow your business. That is why our expansive showrooms located in Metuchen, NJ and Stamford, CT are infused with the latest in fine furniture, lighting and accessories.
Meet The Team
Alexis Varbero
“Acting as your personal design team, showroom associates assist in flawlessly executing each phase: from research to ordering all the way through the finished product. Staff members’ meticulous attention to detail stems from an unrelenting passion for helping designers achieve their goals.”
Edison, NJ
FULTON STREET DESIGN CENTER
80 Fulton Street. Edison, NJ
732.205.0291
Sami Spurr
Sami Spurr has always known that she wanted to be an Interior Designer, not only for the beauty of the industry but for the problem-solving challenges that design brings. After graduating from High Point University with a B.S in Interior Design, she jumped into commercial design, where her organizational skills, project management, & creativity were put to the test. However, residential design became her projected path of success. Working with Schwartz first as a designer and then becoming part of the team has enhanced her expertise within the field. As a Schwartz team member, Sami finds joy in helping designers with the procurement of their gorgeous projects relishing in their triumphs and successes.
Dayana Mondesi
From a young age, SDS sales associate Dayana Mondesi has had an affinity for art, and she shared a passion for interior design with her mother. Together, the duo would spend many a weekend rearranging the house or painting their latest project. It’s no surprise that when it came time for schooling, Mondesi studied both graphic and interior design. She has worked in the industry for interior designers and companies like RH, and the mother of three brings her love for creating beautiful spaces, rendering, and organizing to the SDS team.
Edwin Hernandez
If a delivery arrives to or departs from the SDS New Jersey location, Edwin Hernandez is there to ensure it goes smoothly. He began working in the North Brunswick retail location (reporting to CEO Alexis Varbero’s mom and aunt) in 1993 and has been an integral and loyal team member ever since. For nearly 30 years, Hernandez has been providing the highest level of service to fellow team members and clients.
MaryAnn Alvine
“I like to think I help make the world more beautiful, one yard at a time,” laughs SDS Sales Associate MaryAnn Alvine. Alvine specializes in fabrics and wallcoverings and helps designers find the perfect finishings for their projects. She keeps a keen eye on the market and maintains a close relationship with textile sales reps so that the offerings at SDS are the most up-to-date and innovative available.
Beth SanFilippo
Beth SanFilippo has been in the design industry for more than 25 years. She has a BS in interior design and is NCIDQ certified. Beth has worked across a variety of categories including residential, commercial and healthcare since 1991. She has been a member of the Schwartz team since 2011 and loves collaborating with so many talented designers.
Lana Buniewicz
Sales expert Lana Buniewicz has more 20 years of experience within the design industry. She gained experience working as a design assistant for six years before joining the Schwartz team. It’s no surprise she has a knack for knowing exactly what designers need and helping them grow their businesses. She feels that in the design world she is constantly learning and taking on new challenges.
Fran Manfre
Sales assistant Fran Manfre has a background in art, working as a textile designer before moving to Metuchen with her husband and two children. Now, she loves being in a creative environment at SdS and using her skills to help designers find what they need.
Jill Goldfarb
Customer service manager Jill Goldfab has been with SdS for nearly a decade, so she has strong relationships with vendors, suppliers and freight carriers. “Alexis has built a staff that truly cares about this business,” she shares. “We are a family and treat our customers like they are part of our family.”
Donna Erskine
The finance wizard in receivables, Donna Erskine is responsible for keeping the company’s ledgers in order. Erskine joined the Schwartz team in 2016, bringing with her 30 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. She is also a wife and mom of teenage twins.
Wendy Perry
Wendy began her career at Schwartz Furniture literally three days after earning her B.A. in Graphic Design/Fine Arts. While she loved her first home, she was encouraged by her Schwartz family to spread her wings and explore! Her adventures landed her a 25+ year career with Macy’s, Gap, Inc. and RH. Her positions included Buyer, District Manager, Corporate Recruiter and Gallery Director.
Facebook reunited Wendy with Alexis and Suzette circa 2015, and 7 years later she couldn’t be happier to have come full circle. Wendy is the Sales Manager of our Edison, NJ Showroom and is incredibly grateful for her amazing Schwartz team and our community of talented designers!
Randi Fishman
Randi Fishman has been at Schwartz Design Showroom for six years, bringing with her 10 years of experience working at a law firm. Her personal assistant and “fur baby” Mia enjoys coming to the office just as much. “Mia and I love our Schwartz family.”
Karol Calvache
Karol Calvache has been a member of the Schwartz team for two years. She has her bachelor’s degree in Architecture and graduated with a focus on Interior Design and Digital Drafting. She enjoys working with vendors and designers to assist in seamless order placement and delivery, ensuring everything gets fulfilled in a timely manner.
Peapack & Gladstone, NJ
The Barn
3 School Street. Peapack & Gladstone, NJ
732.769.6744
Leslie Long
Leslie Long has been with Schwartz for almost two years, managing AP/AR for the Peapack location since becoming an official Empty Nester. She has a deep passion for interior design and enjoys being surrounded by such talented designers. Before joining Schwartz, Leslie worked as a Brand Manager in the packaged goods industry, focusing on marketing.
Allison Schnoor
With more than 25 years of experience working in the home industry, including architectural firms and high-end residential interior designers, Allison Schnoor is an expert in hunting down the perfect accents to make a space sing. A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design Program, including studies in computer-aided design, she has an affinity for color and textiles. Outside of Schwartz, you’ll often find her at the barn with her other love: her Dutch Warmblood horse, Bodhi.
Theresa Peterson
With dual degrees from universities in art- and design-fueled South Florida, sales associate Theresa Peterson has a keen eye for the trends shaping the industry. For the past decade, she’s honed her skills in her native New Jersey, working with luxury showrooms and brands like RH. At SDS, she excels at building intrapersonal relationships to help clients find the perfect design solutions. “I strive to partner clients with the right people,” she says.
Heather Connell
As a young girl, Heather Connell was constantly rearranging her bedroom and drawing floor plans for her dream house. She knew the world of design would be in her future, a prophecy that came to fruition when she graduated from Endicott College with her BS in Interior Design. Today, Connell brings her discerning eye to the Schwartz sales team at The Barn, our third trade showroom situated in beautiful Peapack and Gladstone, NJ. When she isn’t working, you can find the design guru exploring the Jersey Shore with her husband and pooch Marley.
Stamford, CT
SCHWARTZ DESIGN SHOWROOM
330 Fairfield Avenue. Stamford, CT
203.817.0433
Tracey Heinemann
Tracey Heinemann brings a wealth of expertise in marketing and advertising, cultivated through her work with leading brands such as MasterCard and Chase, as well as her experience at the renowned ad agency Chiat Day Mojo, where she mastered the craft of impactful consumer campaigns. Her career also includes a tenure in publishing with Cottages and Gardens magazine, where Tracey gained industry knowledge in the home space. Tracey is the founder of FOUND agency, a boutique marketing and PR firm, and she currently leads the marketing, PR, and social media efforts for all three Schwartz showrooms.
Kim Mixer
Kim Mixer is an accomplished retail and design professional with more than 30 years of experience in retail sales management, client relationship development, and design project leadership. Known for her collaborative approach and passion for design, Kim excels at translating client visions into bespoke, thoughtful solutions that exceed expectations.
Carly Lesko
Carly Lesko graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Bridgeport. She initiated her professional journey in the design industry, garnering experience working on both commercial and residential projects. After a five-year period working for an interior design firm, she rose quickly from intern to senior designer and fell in love with that side of the business. Lesko brings a wealth of knowledge to the Schwartz team. She is outstanding at customer service, effortlessly assisting our interior design clients with sourcing and project management, while simultaneously enhancing our vendor relationships.
Johnny Otero
All of Schwartz’s incoming product deliveries and outgoing customer deliveries are overseen by careful watchdog Johnny Otero. Though he is always making quips and conducting business with a smile, Otero’s expertise is no joke. And on return visits to client’s homes, he really enjoys seeing the finished product come to life.
Nancy Harris
Working in the interior design industry since 2017, Nancy Harris has a background in art, graphic design and product development. She uses her talents to source and order fabrics and wallcoverings, constantly scouting new colors and patterns for clients.
Lisa McAllister
Lisa McAllister has worked in the retail furniture industry for years, nearly a decade of which has been exclusively to the trade. She uses her extensive product knowledge to monitor orders at every step of the process.
Cynthia Smith
Sales Assistant Cynthia Smith has been on the SdS team for four years, previously working as a Fabric Manager at Lillian August. Smith also has a background in luxury skincare, so she’s used to helping clients find personalized solutions. In her spare time, this Southport mom/fashionista loves to create handmade jewelry.
Donna Murtha
Connecticut Showroom Manager Donna Murtha has been on board since the location opened in 2015. She has more than 25 years of management experience in home furnishings and trade design, holding positions at such brands as Donghia, Odegard and Zoffany. Before joining the team at SdS, Murtha covered Westchester and Fairfield County as a sales representative for Osborne and Little, so she knows the area intimately.
Bela Thakkar
Finance wiz Bela Thakkar is a Certified Bookkeeper and Platinum Level QuickBooks ProAdvisor. “It gives me immense pleasure and joy working with this extraordinary team of professionals,” she says of her time at SDS.