Conversations with Barb Dornbush

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barb Dornbush

Hi Barb, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Ann Arbor to parents who wanted to live on the East Coast. So, I grew up spending summers on the Jersey shore in a very arts-oriented family and I still love both art and nature. When it came time to select a college, I chose UM in Ann Arbor (much to my parents’ surprise). Then I fell for a young man from the South, and we moved to Atlanta.

After my first career teaching managerial sciences at business schools, I had my mid-life crisis and decided to go to art school and study interior design. Upon graduating I immediately opened the Dornbush Design Studio in 2004 focused on sustainable residential interiors because, although I love creating beautiful spaces, I was concerned about the impact of the home furnishings industry on the planet and those who live on it.

When my husband and I decided to move back to Michigan (with a bit of help from our daughter who lives in the state), we chose Grand Rapids for its vibrant art scene and proximity to nature. As I started to look for work here, I was surprised that no-one in Grand Rapids was offering cabinetry from Crystal Cabinet Works. Crystal encouraged me to open a showroom and Campau Kitchen & Bath was born. Although I always loved French design and food, I never knew I had French roots until late in life, so I chose to honor my French ancestors by naming the showroom after them.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Going to art school as the parent of an elementary school child was a bit more stressful than I anticipated. Although I loved the classes, I had a different vacation schedule than my daughter did. For the first couple of years, I never really took a break. When she was on vacation, I would bring my work with me wherever we traveled. And when I was on “vacation”, I would spend the time catching up on errands and other parental responsibilities at home.

My husband observed that I was exhausted, which I didn’t really see at first because I was so busy, but he was right. So, we took a nice long beach vacation one June. That really helped!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an interior designer with a long-standing interest in sustainability. I have been published in several magazines, have given talks to groups, such as Georgia Organics and the Art Institute of Atlanta, and served on the program committee of the IFDA’s national conference to bring information about sustainability to more designers. And I have been a guest on “The Lazy Environmentalist” on Sirius Radio. But what I am most proud of is winning the first ASID Design Excellence Award for Sustainable Design in Georgia.

Starting in 2019, I began designing a lot of kitchens and baths. Crystal Cabinet Works quickly became my favorite cabinet company, not only because of their sustainable features, but also because they offer the highest quality custom cabinetry made in the US in a wide variety of styles. So, when I learned that there was no Crystal showroom in Grand Rapids, I decided to start selling Crystal (and other products such as tile and countertops) to homeowners, designers, general contractors and builders.

I think what sets me apart from others is my strong affinity for style (which might be due to my French ancestry.) I enjoy helping clients figure out, if they don’t know already, what style will work best for them and their homes.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My father carefully setting up (and then lighting) a whole string of fireworks on the beach in front of our family home on Lake Huron for Fourth of July.

Pricing:

• Mid-range to Premium

Contact Info:

• Website: https://campaukb.com/