Andrea Wilkie, Kevin Wenzel and Jeff Wenzel.
“Our number one objective is our quality and workmanship. That is what we’ve based our business around,” says Jeff Wenzel. The brothers grew up in the workshop, spending their weekends and school breaks learning to strip furniture and work the tools from the age of 12. Despite that early exposure, neither of the boys were initially sure they wanted to join the family business. As they got older, the draw became stronger and both brothers tailored their education to support their goal of taking over Calgary Interiors. Kevin studied industrial design while Jeff earned a business degree, creating a great balance in the office; Kevin works on the commercial side of the business and helps in design and manufacturing, while Jeff supports designers on the residential side and lends a hand in upholstery and finishings.
Private clients and designers love to work with Calgary Interiors as well, knowing they are supporting a local, trustworthy company. Whether they are after a striking upholstered headboard or spectacular custom sofa, they know that Calgary Interiors can do it all. The Wenzels pride themselves on being a custom shop. Clients often come in with a magazine featuring a dream piece, photos of a few different pieces that they want combined into one, or a simple sketch on a napkin, and they know Calgary Interiors will be able to reproduce it. With access to more than 50 fabric suppliers including a Calgary exclusive with Premier Prints, a line by television’s Property Brothers, there is something that will appeal to every taste and style.
“Working here with my brother and dad – it’s nice to come to work. We have the ability to do the things we want to do, the way we want to do them; the ability to create with the people we have working for us, who are part of the family too,” says Kevin Wenzel.
“We don’t call it custom because you can choose between five different fabrics like other shops. It’s custom in that you choose the kind of foam you want, the size of the arms, the length, the shape, the stain colour of the wood, the fabric. It’s completely custom,” says Jeff.
The staff of 14 share in the Wenzels’ philosophy of using the best materials to create an amazing piece of furniture, paying close attention to the smallest details and ensuring complete customer satisfaction. With 350 years of combined experience in the shop, the results are second to none. The company’s work graces iconic hotels including the Banff Springs Hotel and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge as well as hundreds of restaurants including Bridgette Bar, Vin Room, Fergus & Bix, and Kinjo Sushi & Grill.
These custom pieces are completed in eight to 10 weeks, which is often quicker than many box stores can ship cookie-cutter pieces from their warehouses. And because Calgary Interiors is a local company, clients can come into the showroom to see the quality of the work first hand. They can sit on the sofas and chairs, talk to in-house designer Andrea Wilkie about their needs, see the different fabrics and wood options before making their choice, and they can even see their piece in various stages of production to ensure it is what they envisioned.
Calgary Interiors Corp. • 55 Years • 2