As a community partner and local business, Catchlight Painting is pleased to support other businesses, individuals, and organizations that we find exceptional. For this month’s spotlight, we are excited to introduce Craig Tevolitz of Platemark Design.

Craig,​ ​what​ ​do​ ​you​ ​enjoy​ ​and​ ​appreciate​ ​most​ ​about​ ​working​ ​in​ ​New​ ​England​ ​and surrounding​ ​areas?

My​ ​experience​ ​is​ ​the​ ​deep​ ​concentration​ ​of​ ​artisanal​ ​talent​ ​that​ ​exists​ ​in​ ​this​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the country.​ ​This​ ​extends​ ​to​ ​many​ ​trades,​ ​from​ ​cabinetmaking​ ​and​ ​carpentry,​ ​upholstery​ ​and furniture​ ​restoration​ ​and​ ​of​ ​course,​ ​fine​ ​painting​ ​and​ ​finishing.

When​ ​did​ ​you​ ​discover​ ​your​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​transforming​ ​living​ ​spaces​ ​via​ ​interior​ ​design?

I​ ​never​ ​planned​ ​for​ ​a​ ​career​ ​I​ ​could​ ​be​ ​passionate​ ​about,​ ​let​ ​alone​ ​aspire​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​creative entrepreneur.​ ​I​ ​studied​ ​and​ ​sought​ ​work​ ​(very​ ​successfully)​ ​in​ ​the​ ​financial​ ​services industry​ ​as​ ​a​ ​software​ ​architect,​ ​leading​ ​projects​ ​that​ ​efficiently​ ​automate​ ​essential workflows​ ​and​ ​maximize​ ​user​ ​experiences.

Similar​ ​to​ ​interior​ ​design,​ ​ironically,​ ​I​ ​use​ ​those​ ​same​ ​skills​ ​to​ ​this​ ​day.​ ​My​ ​creative​ ​talent and​ ​gift​ ​was​ ​always​ ​there,​ ​it​ ​just​ ​took​ ​a​ ​curious​ ​incident​ ​to​ ​change​ ​my​ ​life’s​ ​trajectory:​ ​A friend​ ​accidentally​ ​broke​ ​my​ ​sofa​ ​as​ ​he​ ​sank​ ​into​ ​it.

How​ ​is​ ​home​ ​automation​ ​changing​ ​the​ ​way​ ​people​ ​live​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​their​ ​homes?

How​ ​is​ ​it​ ​not?​ ​The​ ​“Hey,​ ​Alexa”​ ​novelty​ ​aside,​ ​simple,​ ​unifying​ ​tasks​ ​are​ ​now​ ​quite​ ​easy to​ ​accomplish.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​mean​ ​just​ ​being​ ​able​ ​to​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​music,​ ​set​ ​lighting​ ​scenes​ ​or stream​ ​TV​ ​or​ ​automate​ ​window​ ​shades​ ​and​ ​set​ ​thermostats.​ ​What’s​ ​now​ ​changing​ ​is​ ​the ease​ ​at​ ​which​ ​these​ ​different​ ​systems​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ and ​most importantly,​ ​the​ ​ease​ ​and​ ​simplicity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​user​ ​experience​ ​presented​ ​beautifully​ ​on​ ​our personal​ ​devices​ ​and​ ​smartphones.​ ​Because​ ​what​ ​good​ ​is​ ​it​ ​if​ ​the​ ​user’s​ ​experience​ ​is unpleasant?

In​ ​working​ ​with​ ​clients​ ​over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​10​ ​years,​ ​is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​project​ ​that​ ​stands​ ​out?​ ​What made​ ​it​ ​unique?

Frankly,​ ​I​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​client​ ​synergy​ ​(just​ ​slightly)​ ​more​ ​than​ ​the​ ​projects​ ​per​ ​se. When​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​works,​ ​everything​ ​always​ ​falls​ ​into​ ​place.​ ​This​ ​usually​ ​involves unbridled​ ​enthusiasm​ ​and​ ​the​ ​sincere​ ​trust​ ​that​ ​everything​ ​will​ ​be​ ​beautiful​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end.

What​ ​makes​ ​Platemark​ ​Design​ ​stand​ ​out​ ​from​ ​other​ ​Interior​ ​Designers​ ​in​ ​Greater Boston?

Our​ ​work​ ​-​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​in​ ​which​ ​we​ ​work​ ​-​ ​is​ ​driven​ ​by​ ​our​ ​high​ ​standards​ ​of​ ​excellence in​ ​each​ ​phase​ ​and​ ​turn​ ​of​ ​the​ ​project,​ ​not​ ​just​ ​a​ ​promised​ ​result​ ​that​ ​furthers​ ​to​ ​enhance our​ ​portfolio.​ ​Client​ ​satisfaction​ ​prevails​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​journey​ ​with​ ​Platemark because​ ​we​ ​over-deliver​ ​on​ ​promises.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​define​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​project?

A​ ​fully-satisfied​ ​client​ ​typically​ ​expressed​ ​with​ ​laughter​ ​and​ ​sometimes​ ​tears.

Please​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​FAQ​ ​you​ ​receive​ ​from​ ​clients​ ​and​ ​the​ ​answer.

How​ ​Long​ ​will​ ​it​ ​Take?

Depending​ ​on​ ​the​ ​scope​ ​of​ ​work,​ ​your​ ​project​ ​could​ ​last​ ​anywhere​ ​from​ ​12​ ​to​ ​16​ ​weeks after​ ​the​ ​design​ ​is​ ​approved​ ​—​ ​longer,​ ​if​ ​we​ ​are​ ​undergoing​ ​a​ ​project​ ​with​ ​construction and​ ​remodeling.
The​ ​fact​ ​is,​ ​everything​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Design​ ​world​ ​works​ ​very​ ​slowly​ ​and​ ​carefully.​ ​At​ ​the moment​ ​we​ ​are​ ​experiencing​ ​an​ ​increased​ ​demand​ ​for​ ​services.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many companies​ ​that​ ​will​ ​lead​ ​you​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​they​ ​can​ ​do​ ​things​ ​quickly,​ ​only​ ​to​ ​disappoint. But​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​our​ ​company.​ ​We​ ​favor​ ​quality​ ​over​ ​speed,​ ​every​ ​time.

Who​ ​inspires​ ​you?

Extremely​ ​driven​ ​female​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​industry​ ​leaders:​ ​think​ ​Barbra​ ​S.,​ ​Joan​ ​C.,​ ​and​ ​Oprah
W.

Who​ ​are​ ​the​ ​local​ ​businesses​ ​that​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​deserve​ ​a​ ​mention​ ​and​ ​why?

I​ ​cannot​ ​perform​ ​my​ ​job​ ​without​ ​the​ ​help​ ​from​ ​many​ ​talented​ ​businesses​ ​we​ ​work​ ​with locally.​ ​To​ ​name​ ​some:​ ​Masterpiece​ ​Woodworks​ ​builds​ ​my​ ​custom​ ​furniture​ ​designs, which​ ​are​ ​only​ ​ideas​ ​until​ ​their​ ​expert​ ​hand​ ​makes​ ​them​ ​-​ ​for​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​a​ ​better​ ​word​ ​- masterpieces.​ ​And​ ​Designers​ ​Services​ ​for​ ​all​ ​our​ ​logistical​ ​receiving​ ​and​ ​delivery.​ ​That’s where​ ​the​ ​magic​ ​really​ ​happens.

Is​ ​there​ ​anything​ ​a​ ​potential​ ​client​ ​can​ ​do​ ​to​ ​prepare​ ​for​ ​an​ ​in-home​ ​consultation?

I​ ​encourage​ ​clients​ ​to​ ​clip​ ​magazine​ ​images,​ ​online​ ​inspiration,​ ​travel​ ​pictures​ ​from memorable​ ​hotel​ ​stays,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​think​ ​about​ ​how​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​feel​ ​in​ ​the​ ​space.​ ​I’m​ ​very intuitive​ ​and​ ​with​ ​a​ ​few​ ​cues​ ​can​ ​swiftly​ ​interpret​ ​where​ ​a​ ​client’s​ ​dreamland​ ​lies.

Anything​ ​else​ ​our​ ​readers​ ​should​ ​know​ ​about​ ​your​ ​business​ ​and​ ​services?

More​ ​advice,​ ​really:​ ​Always​ ​remember​ ​your​ ​dimmer​ ​switches.

Contact Craig

Craig Tevolitz
45 Newbury St #503
Boston, MA 02116
Email: craig@platemark.com
Phone: 617-487-4475