Jennifer
Gilmer, CKD, has been creating beautiful kitchens in the
Washington, DC area and beyond for more than 20 years.
Starting with a drafting job in a small kitchen design
firm in McLean, Virginia, Jennifer soon realized she had
an absolute passion for this creatively technical work.
She also discovered an innate ability to understand the
needs and personalities of her clients and to create
spaces to compliment each individual. Her award-winning
designs span the spectrum from classic and traditional
to sleek and contemporary. She is committed to
fulfilling her clients’ needs, doing it well and making
the process as joyful as possible.
Jennifer is a
native of the Washington, DC area. After her initial
drafting job, Jennifer worked with legendary high-end
kitchen designer Richard Tunis for eight years. She and
a partner then opened Kitchen and Bath Studios, Inc. in
Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1993. In 1998, she decided to
launch her own firm -- Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath,
Ltd. Her vision has grown into a successful business,
which now includes several other designers and a
dedicated support staff who strive to provide the firm’s
clients with outstanding designs and exceptional
service.
Carolyn B.
Thomas
Carolyn B.
Thomas has a Masters of Fine Arts in Design, is an NKBA
Certified Bath Designer, and an Allied Member of ASID.
She joined JGKB in 2001, after 12 years of experience in
bath design. Her projects have been seen in many
national publications and on HGTV. She is the recipient
of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s “Best Small
Bath” Award.
Washingtonian
Magazine wrote in its review of the metro area’s best
kitchen & bath designers: “Carolyn Thomas is praised by
peers and even competitors as the best in town. Her
years as a (design) teacher at the University of
Maryland might be behind her ability to communicate
complex ideas”
Julian Palacios
I joined the
company in 2004 to lead our efforts in developing our
state-of-the art Drafting Services. I have 14 years of
experience in architectural design, development and
presentation of blueprints, drawings, floor plans and
elevations.
I obtained my bachelor’s degree in architectural design
in my country of origin, Chile, and started my
professional career at Ardeco Architects, a leading
Architectural firm in Santiago, Chile. I also have vast
experience in construction, interior and graphic design.
I have been working with AUTOCAD for 11 years and am
very proficient with this program. I immigrated to the
United States in 1996 and settled here as a permanent
resident with my family for 11 years. I try to keep up
with growing market trends, computer program updates and
latest architectural concepts in order to offer our
customers the best options in design.
In the near future, I would like to further my
architectural academic background to include a college
degree here in the U.S.
John Guzek
"I began drafting classes in 8th grade and I've
loved it ever since," said John Guzek, who joined JGKB's
drafting department in 2006. A native of Torrance,
California, John moved to the Washington area in high
school. He attended Paint Branch High School and the
Edison Center in Wheaton before earning a CAD
certificate at Montgomery College. "I was immediately
overwhelmed with work," he said.
John
initially designed and drafted residential and
commercial landscaping projects in AutoCAD for KT
Enterprises, Inc., where he worked for three years. He
then moved into the interior design field, working for
seven years with Builders' Design and Leasing, Inc.
|At JGKB, John's meticulous attention to detail and his
experienced technical skills help to translate the
designers' visions to clients and builders with the type
of exacting precision that leads to beautifully crafted
kitchen and bath projects.
Linda
McCormick
Linda
McCormick joined JGKB after working as a kitchen and
bath designer for a big box retailer. “From a design
standpoint, JGKB is more like a jewel box – the design
environment is more sophisticated and so are the
clients. As a new member of this team, I’ve been
impressed by the amount of attention paid to every
detail of the projects here.”
Linda is a graduate of the Interior Design program at
Montgomery College, with an emphasis in
kitchen design. She holds an MA from American University
and a BA from the University of Oregon. Her varied
career has included working as a reporter and editor,
teaching journalism at American University, and owning
radio stations in the Pacific Northwest. “Design, like
journalism, presents a daily challenge and is always new
and exciting,” Linda says.
Melissa
Reyes
Melissa has
always been passionate about design, form and function.
While earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and
completing a double major in fine art from Duke
University, she asked herself “How is the world designed
around me?” and “How can I design the world?”
Upon
graduation she worked for several design oriented firms
in the Durham, NC area not only gaining experience in
design but also in business. At the Bio-Design Studio
she managed this lab and designed working biological
research models. At the Center for Inquiry-Based
Learning she administered this hands-on science
education and research program. At SeeSaw Studio she
facilitated the early development of this youth-run
design and entrepreneurial program. At Galleria
d’Artiste she launched this retail gallery for fine art,
decorative accessories for the home, and gifts.
Shortly after
her decision to pursue a formal design education at
Montgomery College, she started as an intern at JGKB.
Ever since she has been inspired daily by one-of-a-kind
design, quality of product, and the highest standard of
professionalism.
Amy Pasek
Amy Pasek credits a love of puzzles, details and baking
to her decision to work at JGKB. “Kitchen design is a
challenging puzzle of function, mechanics and aesthetics
that, when all the parts are assembled, provides its own
rich reward,” she said. She thrives on project
management and believes in keeping clients happy, well
informed and reassured that their projects are on track
at all times.
Amy is well suited to the diversity of projects at JGKB.
She grew up in cosmopolitan San Francisco, then chose to
earn her undergraduate degree at Whitman College in
rural Walla Walla, Washington. A study abroad program in
Strasbourg, France, provided a springboard for Amy to
travel throughout Europe, where she reveled in the
diverse art, architecture and cultures. She lived and
worked briefly in Rhode Island before settling in
Maryland, where she worked as a teacher prior to
deciding to follow her heart into the design field.
While earning a design degree from Montgomery College,
Amy successfully led a team of designers in completing a
space in the National Symphony Orchestra Decorators’
Show House in 2005.
Priya
Gupta
Communications consultant and stylist Priya Gupta is
responsible for the creative advertising and marketing
functions at JGKB. With prior experience in managing
her own fine arts business, Priya enjoys the challenge
of promoting the work of the firm’s talented designers.
“It helps paint the whole cycle from creative
conceptualization to showcasing the value created for
our clients,” Priya said.
Priya holds a
BA in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of
Bombay, India and a post-graduate diploma in Advertising
and Marketing from St. Xavier’s College, also in Bombay,
India.
Helen Maga
A native of
Fairfax County, Virginia, Helen has a background in
nonprofit fundraising. After ten years of working in
that field, she decided a change was in order and made a
switch to the design world. She worked first for a
local granite distributor and then found happiness with
the JGKB family. Helen is in charge of ordering,
tracking, and following through with all the millions of
parts and pieces that create beautiful kitchens and
bathrooms for JGKB.
Teresa Ann Nyberg-Grim
Terry is a registered architect,
with a BARCH from the University of Notre Dame. The
challenge of integrating additions and renovations to
existing homes and life styles, has been a passion of
hers for decades. She found her architectural nitch in
the kitchen industry with JGK&B in 2004. When the dream
kitchen needs a little extra space to perform perfectly,
she magically creates it, naturally blending it with
form, & style. And, thus, functioning ideally with the
newly designed kitchen. When not engrossed with
designing client’s additions, Terry is busy with her
husband, three sons and playing USTA tennis.
“Imagination is more important
than knowledge”. ---Einstein
