Casey Contes
Assistant Designer & Project Manager
Sometimes interior design finds you. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, a young Casey Contes was tasked with designing her childhood bedroom. Unlike her brother and two sisters, who took the project less seriously, Casey jumped at the charge—and began obsessively assembling a three-ring binder with paint swatches and carpet samples. Fast forward 25 years, with a BFA in Interior Architecture from Kent State University under her belt, and Contes is bringing that same brand of gusto to Marshall Erb Design as the team’s newest member. And with more than eight years of experience working in high-end residential, and a feature in Architectural Digest worthy of a shoutout, she’s proving to be a powerhouse asset and rising star.
A passionate furniture refurbisher, Contes has an eye for antiques, a skill she honed while interning as a furniture designer for Dock 6 collective and RX Made at the ReBuilding Exchange. “I love Mid-Century pieces. I love finding pieces that people have overlooked or thrown out—and then stripping the wood, refinishing it, and bringing it back to life,” says Contes. “And I’m not afraid to put in 10 hours of elbow grease if that’s what it takes.” She’s also an avid painter who frequents classes at Lillstreet Art Center to better her craft. In her role at MED as Interior Designer/Project Manager, that marriage of intense work ethic and raw creativity is already serving her well as she dives in on client presentations, furniture selection, and schematics.
“I’ve had my eye on Marshall’s work for a while, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the team,” adds Contes. “His work has this way of being timeless but still modern. You can look back on his projects from 10 years ago and they’re still beautiful and current.” And in case you were wondering, she’s still known to have a three-ring binder tucked under her arm, filled with sketches and inspirational tears. “I have no idea what I would be doing if I wasn’t doing interior design. It’s my passion and makes up a huge part of who I am.”
