Ever wonder who the people are behind DUNN?  We're a small team of six hard workers that each wears multiple hats.  As the owner, you may have already read some information on my background and role at the studio.  So enough about me!  Take a look at the multi-talented members that make up our super team.

 

Tom Pluzycki

What is your role a DUNN? Craftsman. I make the furniture that comes out of Studio Dunn.

How long have you worked at DUNN? 2 years and 2 months

Where are you from? Chicago, IL

Describe your job in three words. Woodworker. Craftsman. Sage.

How did you come to join the team at DUNN? Asher was my instructor when I was studying furniture making at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine. When the position opened he made me aware of the opportunity.

What is your favorite DUNN piece? The Coventry Stool. So simple, so versatile, so classic.

Where do you look for inspiration? The past.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a Fireman because, from what I understood, each was given a Dalmatian.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Haruki Murakami, Richard Brautigan and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Think of the stories!

What is your guilty pleasure? Dog memes.

If you could go back in time, when would you go to? New York in the 70s. Its looks BANANAS.

Which superpower would you like to have? How awesome would it be to drink the water and eat the street food everywhere you go?

Dream vacation destination? The Moon! Flight prices are going to drop... right?

Favorite piece of iconic furniture or lighting? The Forrest Gump Park Bench.

Tom will be departing our company later this month to begin his next adventure.  We're wishing him a fond farewell and we'll miss him!

 

Topher Gent

What is your role a DUNN? I'm the Operations Manager, which means I wear many hats! I oversee our production schedules and make sure the team has everything we need. I work closely with sales on custom projects and coordinate product development with Asher and our production team.

How long have you worked at DUNN? Almost 4 years at this point!

Where are you from? Providence, RI by way of West Greenwich... Rhode Island is small.

Describe your job in three words. I just can't.

How did you come to join the team at DUNN? I was a summer intern back in 2011 when I was at RISD. I kept in touch over the years, and even did some contract work before officially joining DUNN in 2015.

What are you most excited to achieve at DUNN? I'm always looking to improve upon what we already do, and also excited to continue developing new and interesting designs with this amazing team in 2019.

What is your favorite DUNN piece? I think I'd have to say the Sorenthia Collection is my favorite because it's so sculptural and dramatic. There are so many interesting ways this piece can be customized. I love working on custom Sorenthia configurations - the bigger the better!

Where do you look for inspiration? I guess it depends on the project. I look at a lot of art and design... galleries and museums but also online. When it comes to my personal artwork, it's less about finding inspiration and more about reaction.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? I was obsessed with outer space and definitely wanted to be an astronaut.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? All of my friends!

What is your guilty pleasure? Taylor Swift.

If you could go back in time, when would you go to? Back to the future.

Which superpower would you like to have? I guess flying would be fun?

Dream vacation destination? I love to travel and don't get to do it enough, so the list is long... 1 month in Australia... 2 months in Europe... 3 in French Polynesia... I'd spend my life as a nomad if I could.

Favorite piece of iconic furniture or lighting? While virtually anything by Charles and Raye Eames strikes me (I am an excessively proud owner of an Eames leg splint) I have to say the Artichoke Lamp Poul Henningsen was probably the most influential in my pursuit of furniture design.

 

Sarah Garrison

What is your role a DUNN? Marketing and Communications Manager

How long have you worked at DUNN? 6 years

Where are you from? Chicago, IL

Describe your job in three words. Talking about DUNN

How did you come to join the team at DUNN? After a brief stint teaching high school English, I applied for a job as Asher's Business Manager and Personal Assistant in 2013.

What are you most excited to achieve at DUNN? Building awareness of the brand and sharing our beautifully crafted, high-quality designs with the world.

What is your favorite DUNN piece? Hard to say. Maybe the Coventry Stool - it's classic and versatile.

Where do you look for inspiration? My family.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? I grew up around horses and always had a dream of becoming an Olympic equestrian.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Michelle Obama. Love her!

What is your guilty pleasure? Chocolate. Cookies. Really any baked goods.

If you could go back in time, when would you go to? No thanks. Things for women weren't so great as you go back in time.

Which superpower would you like to have? Mindreader.

Dream vacation destination? South of France. My husband and I met there and I would love to go back.

Favorite piece of iconic furniture or lighting? Eero Saarinen's eponymous table

 

Jamie Audet

What is your role a DUNN? Sales specialist. My job is to help you find the perfect pieces for your space.

How long have you worked at DUNN? A little over 2 years now.

Where are you from? West Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Describe your job in three words. Inventive, unique, fun!

How did you come to join the team at DUNN? After having spent 10 years working in the residential care field, I was looking for a new and exciting way to continue helping people better their lives. Joining the Studio Dunn team has given me the opportunity to help people create beautiful and inspiring spaces while working with an amazing group of people!

What are you most excited to achieve at DUNN? I hope to help every contact I engage with have the best consumer experience they have ever had. Every customer should feel like they have had a positive one of a kind experience after working with me (and the rest of the Dunn team)!

What is your favorite DUNN piece? It is impossible to have just one favorite DUNN piece. My own home will feel forever incomplete until I have a Stillwater Club Chair in addition to my Cumberland Pendants.

Where do you look for inspiration? I am always most inspired when I am spending quality time with my family in a natural setting. Camping and hiking are my favorite past times.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? As a child I wanted to pursue a career in Marine Biology. I have always been intrigued by the Ocean and all the mysteries hiding just beneath it's surface!

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Thomas Andrews, lead designer of the Titanic.

What is your guilty pleasure? Mozzarella Sticks. Always Mozzarella Sticks.

If you could go back in time, when would you go to? I would elect to tour the Titanic (before it sank!)

Which superpower would you like to have? I would love to have the ability to make any food I wanted to eat magically appear in front of me.

Dream vacation destination? Anywhere with a warm beach, great food, and friends and family!

Favorite piece of iconic furniture or lighting? I have always loved glass chandeliers.

 

Sasha Polan

What is your role a DUNN? I am a Lighting Associate.  I wire, assemble, and pack all the light fixtures as well as manage inventory.

How long have you worked at DUNN? A little over 3 years.

Where are you from? Tulsa, Oklahoma

Describe your job in three words. Cut, Strip, Illuminate.

How did you come to join the team at DUNN? Topher, the Production Manager, was a friend from college who knew I was looking for a job and recommended me.

What are you most excited to achieve at DUNN? I love making industry contacts, either through trade shows or just networking around town. It’s great to meet other designers, architects, and writers and see what they’re doing - my Instagram feed is filled with them.

What is your favorite DUNN piece? My favorite lighting piece is the Sorenthia 2-Arm and my favorite furniture piece is the Stillwater Club Chair.

Where do you look for inspiration? Everywhere! Everyone always makes fun of me because I have about a million Pinterest boards, I’m all over Buzzfeed, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Zillow, Trulia, and Instagram… just to name a few. I’m always trying to oversaturate myself to get a sense of trends and value.

What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a fashion designer but my mom knew I’d go into architecture or interior design because I was constantly making fairy houses at the base of trees. My favorite one was two stories with a grand twig staircase and button garden path.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? J.K. Rowling

What is your guilty pleasure? Pop Music, Bad TV, and True Crime Podcasts.

If you could go back in time, when would you go to? I wouldn’t because I would probably die. But If I could blend in and could get back I would want to either see Paris in the 1920’s or 1450's War of the Roses in England.

Which superpower would you like to have? Teleportation, airline tickets are way too expensive these days.

Dream vacation destination? Italy

Favorite piece of iconic furniture or lighting? Eames Black Lounge Chair and Ottoman.