04 Apr Deborah Main Features CMJSCreativ at High Point Market

New dining room chandelier by CMJSCreativ in pink hand blown ribbed glass, at High Point Market in #Salon G-7013.

 Well, it’s that time of year again – High Point Market in North Carolina,(#hpmkt)  THE largest furniture market in the U.S. –  kicks off this weekend from Saturday, April 5th – 10th.  There will be an incredible amount of fabulous new design from top brands and smaller ones with the famous Style Spotters (10 designers hand-selected by #hpmkt) sharing all their finds.  Plus all my Twitter friends are going to be there, as well as two designers that I’ve grown to admire very much.

As some of you may remember, last fall 2013 High Point Market, we at Deborah Main Designs followed and interviewed the dynamic new duo, furniture craftsman, John Strauss, and interior designer, Carisa Marie. (Please see that post here.) They had just formed the brand new design team of CMJSCreativ.  With the duo embarking on this venture from one coast to another, we were simply enthralled that these two creative souls teamed together to put a creative force behind their individual design aesthetic. And, in my mind and to all who saw their new designs, the result was nothing but sheer brilliance!!

This April, we highlight the dynamic duo once again to give you an update of how their company took off from last fall, the designs they’ve been working on and will showcase at High Point market (#hpmkt) for the next 5 glorious days.

So without further ado, I present my interview with CMJSCreativ and a #SneakPeek into their fabulous new designs ready for #hpmkt in their gorgeously decorated showroom.  Please stop by, they’re in a showroom in the curated section called #Salon at G-7013. If you’re there, grab a map and hit the ground running. But before you do, please hear all about the creative genius behind CMJSCreativ.

Coming up next is our second post on #BlogTourNYC very soon “Deborah Main Floral Tips from Tess Casey”, but you can see Modenus’ top design finds from all the bloggers at Best of Blog Tour.  Till then, enjoy the beautiful spring weather, follow #BlogTourMilano this weekend, and please enjoy the interview and the designs of John and Carissa.  XOPG

Lakeshore Claro walnut cocktail table and sofa by CMJS Creativ. Artwork by Mcraneart. All at High Point market, Salon, G-7013.

DM:  Well, hello again John and Carisa.  We’re super excited to have you both back with us on PillowGoddess.com and can’t wait to hear all the news about CMJSCreativ.  Since such a successful debut at Highpoint Market in October last year, how have you seen CMJSCreativ progress or evolve since then?

CMJSCreativ: “Hi Deborah and thanks for interviewing us again! I think the most interesting evolution for CMJSCreativ is that we decided to form a Partnership, and have papers drafted to become a legal Company. Since High Point ended last Fall, we found strong interest in our lighting and made enough sales to realize we had something legitimately viable. Less than a few weeks later we landed a project filling a restaurant with our lighting and working with a hotel on designing a furniture line just for them. It’s been an exciting beginning for us.”

DM: How exciting for you! Please refresh our readers with your collaborative story. What motivated you to start CMJSCreativ?

CMJSCreativ: “We met on Twitter in 2012 and shared admiration for each others work. In October 2012, John tweeted a few pictures of his showroom and Carisa responded with a critique. After a few jokes back and forth John hired Carisa to do his showroom in April. She immediately added a platform, forced him into a very bold green paint color & they arranged to borrow rugs from Meredith Heron and lighting by Zia Priven.

Our motivation is simple, we are both obsessed with handmade unique designs and creating meaningful spaces and objects.

We have an unbelievable vibe where we agree on design about 99% of the time. Somehow the Universe brought us together and we have each brought something to the table to compliment the other. John might be a little covered with wood dust now and then, but he can see clearly what Carisa is up to through his safety glasses. Carisa appreciates John’s bad jokes and expertise.”

To die for high back plush bed, bureau and lighting by CMJSCreativ at High Point, Salon, G-7013.  Artwork by, with permission from, Mary Jane Nutter @McraneArt

See CMJS Creativ newest work at High Point market, #Suites At Market Square, #Salon, G-7013. Their newest Mabel dresser and nightstand. The drawers are cerused in “dusk” and the lacquer is satin bone white. I love the simple cut out drawer pulls!

Detail of CMJSCreativ’s newest lighting feature over the gorgeous dining table by John Strauss. Chandelier in pink ribbed glass. Order it at CMJSCreativ at High Point Market in Salon, G-7013.

DM:  Now that you’ve worked together and this will be your 2nd Market what is your favorite thing about working together?

CMJSCreativ: “What we really like is that we are both equally passionate about design and can endlessly discuss our ideas. The cool thing is we put our heads together and come up with something that neither of us would have on our own & the excitement of seeing the idea become a reality with our craftspeople & in John’s atelier is what keeps us going.”

DM: What are some of the struggles of having a long-distance business partnership?

CMJSCreativ: “There’s the time difference, the fact that Carisa is a night owl and John is a morning person. Other than that, modern technology has made it pretty easy. We trade thousands of texts, emails, phone calls & visits between shows.”

DM:  I certainly can identify with being a #NightOwl!!  So how does that work with the time difference? What does a typical day in your lives, as CMJSCreativ, look like?

CMJSCreativ: “John wakes up at 6am EST and starts working by 7:00. 6 hours later, Carisa wakes up to exciting text messages and images regarding progress on our current projects. We chat through out the day while juggling our independent businesses and by 11 EST John is asleep while Carisa works to catch up on CMJSCreativ business and designs”.

Kendrick table by CMJSCreativ at High Point market, #Salon, G-7013.  Floral arrangement by Carisa Marie.

Details of the new JS@Home #nightstand and matching #dresser by John Strauss and CarisaMarie of CMJSCreativ. Now at High Point market, SalonG-7013.

DM: What’s your most favorite thing about what you do as designers and artisans? What’s your least favorite?

CMJSCreativ: “As artists we’re driven to see our creations become reality. We also love discovering new materials and processes & the capabilities of crafts people we work with. When we see the final result in a home or business and it totally transforms the space we know we are doing the right thing. Least favorite? Cranky people and shipping issues!”

DM:  That sounds like it’s a very rewarding feeling for both of you. Why did you decide to follow the career path you’re on?  (either individually or as  CMJSCreativ) 

CMJSCreativ: “We both can say that we knew from a very early age that we wanted to be artists and designers. Through our own individual careers we had filled that personal need. But since working together we are finding that CMJSCreativ has given us an outlet to delve even more deeply into our own mission. John tried oceanography, teaching and even considered the rabbinate, but that didn’t quite work out. Carisa has always done design. This is what we do and we are certain about it.”

DM: Are there any memorable moments or achievements (as a team or individually) from the last market until now that really stick out to you? If so, why?

DMJSCreativ: “Yes, we were asked to do the lighting for a new restaurant to give it a distinguishing appearance. The owners had wanted to set it apart from it’s previous incarnation and they fell in love with our lighting design. John did a table for a well known celebrity.”

DM:  What exciting achievements for such a young company! Congratulations! I know you two are quite the design duo and wowed us all with your chandeliers last fall.  What is in the works for the 2014 spring Highpoint Market? Do you have any new designs you’ll be showcasing, or anything else up your sleeves?

CMJSCreativ: “Actually yes, We are showing 2 brand new chandeliers, one is a metal sculptural mobile and the other is a 90” long live edge with 11 rose colored fluted glass shades. We are showing a set of three new table sculptures that are interactive with pieces that can be added and removed at will. A wall sculpture that involves a visual trick using steam bent wood and a little CMJSCreativ magic. Lastly, we added 2 new side tables, the Three Tier Drake table and the Octagon Kendrick table.”

Gable cabinet with Oak Park lounge chairs and 3-tier Drake table, by CMJS Creativ at High Point Market, Salon.

I’m in love with this bedroom by CMJSCreativ and all the blues and fuschia, texture, wood, glass, you name it…it’s all there. Stop by CMJSCreativ at High Point in Salon G-7013.

DM: What are you most excited about for upcoming 2014 HPMKT? Are there any particular trends that you expect, or hope, to see?

CMJSCreativ: “We are most excited to see everyone we have missed the last 6 months. At Highpoint there’s plenty of opportunity to meet people you find inspiring and connect with them. We have many friends in the industry & new business opportunities are inevitable & an exciting part of the experience.”

Carisa: “It being a visual paradise I assume I’ll see lots of things that wow me & a few that make me gag. John and I don’t get much of an opportunity to walk the show together but when we do, we search out the obscure & unfamiliar. We have a few favorites that we find to be ahead of the game more often than not. The obvious is not so interesting to us, so trends are not something we look for. What we really love to find is individual artists that have teamed with bigger companies to create new aesthetics. We love to find companies that step outside of the box but remain timeless and warm. We love finding designers that, like us, are passionate about function and form. We love seeing something wild and trying to figure out how it was made. Most of all we love good design….and we feel like it stands out like a polished finger on a ragged hand.”

From Deborah Main Designs we thank you John Strauss and Carisa Marie of CMJSCreativ and wish you all the best at this spring’s High Point Market!!

Note: All photography by, with permission from, CMJSCreativ.