Growing up in a small town in New Jersey, New York City always on the horizon, I knew from a very young age that I needed the pulse of the city, the cultural diversity and the endless inspiring architecture and design the city offers. After graduating high school that is exactly where I went, the Fashion Institute of Technology was where I felt I had always belonged and Interior Design seemed to be my calling.

After graduating with a B.F.A in Interior Design my career took an unexpected but exciting turn out of New York City to Maine. Out of my element I found myself immersed in nature rather than buildings but still managed to find my desire for design at a Hotel Development Firm in New Hampshire, XSS Hotels. Here is where I found my passion designing high- end branded hotels for Marriott and Hilton. I started out as a junior designer renovating the companies dozen current properties but was quickly promoted to a Senior Designer where I was able to fully design new construction hotels. Throughout my three years at XSS I had the opportunity to learn both sides of the industry of hospitality, the functional budget conscious needs of a hotel owner as well as the demand for new and innovative designs, constantly needing to out do our last hotel.

From one extreme climate to another, my life lead me to South Florida where I became the Director of Commercial Design for Leighton Design Group. As Director I oversaw the creation and development of design concepts, while simultaneously managing problem solving and client communication for all aspects of the commercial design projects. My oversight of the procurement team and junior staff was critical to the successful delivery of every project.

During this time I also completed my professional goal of becoming a NCIDQ certified Interior Designer and a licensed Interior Designer in the State of Florida.

My love of hotel design, which was where my career had began, brought me to my next position as a Senior Project Manager for Interior Image Group. It was in this role where I learned how to not only design aesthetically pleasing interiors but how to tell a story through design that connects people to places and evokes emotion and meaning. What I took from my time in this role was that every detail is an opportunity to create a memorable place, and to craft a unique experience by connecting an interior space with its location, community or an overall feeling.

When the opportunity presented itself to work for Garcia Stromberg, I challenged myself to take on a luxury condominium development that was in need of strong interior design guidance to take an initial concept to a reality that would be constructed in budget and on time. After a year, the project opened the first tower boasting award winning designs and an extremely satisfied client. With Phase I completed, I am currently leading a team to deliver the same level of service for an additional two towers.

Outside of work, I live for the beach where I feel the most at peace and my two children where there is very little peace but a whole lot of love and giggles.

Contact

Samantha McLaughlin

NCIDQ#32978 | RID#6496

E: samantha.viglone@gmail.com

908 - 358 -7243