FAVORITE SOURCES: MUNDER-SKILES

Teak table, chairs, ottomans, and Bali bed by Munder-Skiles Photo by Matt Millman

One of the pleasures of working in a creative field like interior design is having the opportunity to associate with talented, artistic people. The Wiseman Group's need to source high-quality exterior furniture led them to Munder-Skiles and its owner, John Danzer.  

John and Paul on the loggia in Belvedere Photo by Richard Snyder

Munder-Skiles offers a distinctive and customizable collection of 130 wood and metal designs, in styles ranging from historical to ultra-modern. Many of the designs are licensed from historic houses or taken from wonderful old designs and reworked for modern settings. 

KEVIN PETERS, CEO and CFO

From his third floor office, tucked under the gables of the marine-blue, restored Victorian that The Wiseman Group calls home, Kevin Peters presides over the running of the firm. As CEO and CFO, he wears many hats: he is in charge of accounting, administration, marketing, and human resources. Managing a firm the size of TWG, with its twenty plus employees and substantial design commissions, requires a steady, trustworthy presence at the helm. Kevin provides that and more.

Kevin is a native Californian who, in spite of exposure to many wonderful locales in his travels, loves his state and will always call it home. He was born in southern California, attended college in central California, where he received a BS in Business at California Polytechnic State University, and eventually landed in northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his last year of college in San Luis Obispo, Kevin had the opportunity of a lifetime to co-found a company so successful that it has become a household name: Jamba Juice.
The Jamba Juice story is important, as it demonstrates Kevin's entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. He and a partner opened a juice bar in San Luis Obispo in 1990. The product was great, the operating system was tight, and the demand took off within the first year of business. Kevin and his partner incorporated in 1991, began franchise operations, and were soon approached by venture capitalists looking for the next Starbucks. Heady days followed, with a corporate move to San Francisco, invitations to speak to classes of business students, requests to serve as guest panelists at business seminars, write-ups in numerous magazines, and even a guest appearance by Kevin's partner on the Oprah Winfrey show. Kevin served as Vice President and, later, Director of Operations for the company.

By 2002, Jamba Juice had gone from the original store to 350 locations. Kevin realized that the tiny business he co-founded, once based out of his house and garage, had become a player in the fast food category. Seeking the opportunity to make a change from the food industry, he chose to return to a more intimate business setting and revisit his dream of being in the design business.

Coming to work for The Wiseman Group in 2003 proved to be a natural fit for Kevin. He had always had an interest in the design world, even reading and collecting Architectural Digest as a teenager. Little did he know that he would one day be running a world-class design firm. Combining his business background with his interest in design was a perfect melding of Kevin's skills. Kevin's predecessor taught him the intricacies of the design world before retiring, at which time Kevin assumed the company's key leadership role.

Kevin keeps an open-door policy, always ready to help when Paul needs his input, a staff member has a concern, or a client has a business question. Highly regarded by staff and clients alike, he takes a fair, balanced approach in running the company and is trusted implicitly.

The Wiseman Group has a worldwide reputation for superb business practices. When Kevin presents a contract to new clients, they can be certain that it will be clear in detail and transparent in its meaning. Clients know exactly what to expect of the firm and how their design goals will be achieved. By providing this peace of mind, Kevin allows them to relax and focus on the pleasure of working with the design staff to create a beautiful home—no small gift to those facing such an important undertaking.

Entrance hall of The Wiseman Group office

BRENDA MICKEL, Design Principal

Brenda Mickel is a talented woman possessing quiet sophistication. Born and raised near Washington, DC, she spent her formative years in an area rich in culture and dominated by neoclassical architecture. Her educational goals took her to University of Georgia, where she received a BFA in Interior Design. Brenda went on to study at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City, obtaining an Interior Design certificate.

Brenda has spent a lifetime cultivating a refined knowledge of painting, sculpture, antiques, architecture, and the decorative arts. As a young person, she traveled frequently with her family, and she has continued to pursue this wanderlust as an adult, traveling extensively in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Italy, France, Russia, India, and Morocco, in particular, have had strong impact on her professional work. This first-hand cultural knowledge is a distinct asset in the design world and has added real-life depth to her formal education.

Brenda has many years of experience as an interior designer. She began her career working for a firm in Greenville, SC, where her responsibilities included creating residential interiors, traveling extensively in Europe to purchase antiques, and designing custom furniture, lighting, and accessories to be produced in Italy. She then became a partner in a design firm in Atlanta, GA, and was later recruited nationally to join a highly-regarded residential design firm in Silicon Valley.

Once in California, Brenda’s unique personal and professional background caught Paul Wiseman’s attention. Impressed with her seasoned eye and discerning taste, he made her a member of The Wiseman Group design team in 2001. She is considered a “go to” person for advice on fabrics, antiques, and custom furniture design. Paul values her knowledge of scale and proportion and her innate sense of color and texture that, together, allow her to create beautiful living environments. Brenda is accomplished at designing a wide range of interiors, from traditional to modern. She understands the cosmopolitan lifestyles of her clients and works together with them to arrive at appropriate solutions that exceed their expectations.

Brenda is a designated project leader at TWG. She has a reputation among the staff for being well organized and efficient in her work. She develops strong relationships with the entire creative team, collaborating with the architect, contractor, landscape architect, lighting designer, and other key players. Her deep affection for Paul and appreciation of his past mentorship has fostered Brenda’s own commitment to the development of the studio's younger designers. She serves as both a role model and mentor, adding tremendously and giving richly to the firm.

Modern art, custom furniture, and antique chairs in a comfortable living room in Pacific Heights

Custom Bali bed, for TV watching or reading, overlooking San Francisco's park-like Presidio

Living room on the Big Isle of Hawaii with custom lighting, rug, and furnishings

Dining room in a southern California ranch-style home embodying casual elegance

JAMES HUNTER, Design Principal

James Hunter has been a valued member of The Wiseman Group design team since 1996. He knows Paul Wiseman’s thinking perhaps better than anyone else on the staff. They work together seamlessly, often arriving at the same design solution.

James came to TWG with a broad personal and professional background. Born in Upstate New York, he was raised in a small community as part of a large extended family. The security and safety of his close-knit town promoted a sense of self-confidence and independence in James, as well as a genuine interest in other people. These qualities serve him well in his professional life. He is able to meet clients on an interpersonal level that is both sincere and direct.

A focused academic background enriches James’s contributions to the firm. As an undergraduate, James majored in Art Education at State University College in Buffalo, New York; his course work sensitized him to the importance of scale, color, balance, and proportion. He traveled to Italy for a semester abroad, soaking in the magic of Siena, and then visited museums and sites of historical and architectural interest throughout Europe. With its appreciation for the ancient and its embrace of the modern, Europe gave James invaluable exposure to the possibilities in design. Upon his return, James remained in Buffalo, obtaining a Masters of Science in Art Education (magna cum laude) and doing post-graduate work in textile design and surface printing.

Early in his career, James worked as a fabricator of custom soft goods. He was able to observe firsthand the work of many top interior design firms. He managed his own design company for several years before joining the TWG team. James also owns a farm in northern Michigan, where he regularly spends time. The change of pace and shift in culture − Bay Area to rural Michigan, urban to country − provide a boost to his creativity and further his appreciation of context in design. These rich and varied life experiences  prepared him for his current challenge at TWG: creating a unique design vision for a wide range of projects.

James' long history with TWG, his wide knowledge base, and his sharp intelligence engender trust and confidence among the firm’s clients. They soon learn they can depend on James for sure guidance, attention to detail, and quick, well-considered decisions made on their behalf. He brings a discerning eye to every project, helping clients create interiors that are well-composed, cohesive, and appropriate to the space. He manages to do all this while bringing a functional and financial discipline to the project. He has also developed superb relationships with a wide variety of artisans and suppliers who create TWG's custom design elements.

James has applied these impressive personal and professional skills to projects as disparate as a 1000-square-foot pied-à-terre in a Chicago skyscraper, a sprawling wine country estate, a grandly scaled Victorian home in San Francisco, and an ultra-modern compound on the Kona coast. It's no wonder  James is considered such a key player in the firm.

Carefully chosen colors and custom furnishings complementary to the home’s architecture

Furniture and lighting custom designed for comfort and simplicity

A light-filled living room in a San Francisco Victorian achieved by combining rooms in an open floor plan

An office and smoking room with custom paneling, new and antique furnishings, and a special ventilation system

ABOUT THE DESIGN JOURNAL

As an internationally-acclaimed designer, Paul Wiseman leads a busy professional life. In order to make sure his client's needs are fully realized, he reads voraciously, travels extensively, and exposes himself to great art and design. On any given day, wherever his work may take him, Paul comes across interesting people, places, design, and products. It would be a shame not to share these rich experiences with both current and future clients. The journal allows a glimpse into how Paul sees the world and provides an inside look at his work-life adventures. So, enjoy the Design Journal -- early and often!  ~