In The MARKETPLACE
Creative Works A Seriously Full-Service Home Design Center By Deborah Schapiro, photos by Dan Epstein
W
hen Danielle Placenti entered the Fashion Institute of Technology over two decades ago, she fully intended to work in the fashion industry. By the time she graduated, though, she realized that she preferred home furnishings and design: “Fashion changed too much and too often for me; interior design was more about fine art than trends.” With this in mind, she opened Creative Works Design Center 23 years ago. Originally a small Summit shop selling home accessories, gifts and custom floral designs, Creative Works is now in Livingston and has expanded into a fullservice design center. The center reflects Placenti’s personal style, which she describes as natural and hand-made: “I like objects with a history, and I like anything with natural elements. I love wood, stone, horns—really anything organic.” Creative Works includes a showroom featuring a wide range of furniture, lighting, antiques, home accessories and gifts such as artwork and jewelry. In addition, Placenti offers services ranging from interior design to staging, decorative painting and custom closet creation. She also employs furniture painting, refinishing, reupholstering, and restoration professionals. From clock repair to holiday decorating to rewiring an antique lamp, she says, “there is really no limit to what we can do.”
Danielle Placenti
This has included, on more than one occasion, reproducing items that clients have seen on television. Placenti recalls a leather sofa with feathers and rhinestones that a client asked for after seeing it on a reality TV show: “It was a very complex piece that took a lot of work, but I did it for her.” Placenti is proud of Creative Works’ customer service, noting that “there is always someone here to help you, and if
I am not here, I will always get back to you within 24 hours.” She adds that she is happy to meet with a client either at her showroom or in his or her home and can even meet with a client’s architect to go over space planning and layout: “When I say full-service, I’m not kidding.”
Creative Works Design Center 46 East Northfield Rd., Livingston, NJ 973-992-8484 | www.creativeworksnj.com May 2017
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