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Growing up in northeastern Ohio, I developed a love of art and design at an early age, and understood the feelings they could create. I studied Art History at John Carroll University in Cleveland and Interior Design at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City. My first design job was for Boris Kroll Fabrics in the NYC Design Center. For the next three years, I worked as an Interior Designer for an independent carpenter, then moved on to designing custom furniture, where I continued for eight years. Desiring a bit more independence, I moved to San Diego to open my own furniture and art gallery in La Jolla. I designed the retail space from a concrete shell and filled it with 20th Century classic furnishings, Italian glass and lighting, and local art. I relocated to Portland, Oregon in 1993 and began designing custom cabinetry, where I specialized in upper-end new construction and remodels. My career expanded and evolved; focusing on the fields of kitchen and bath design, and later, into the world of design/build as an in-house designer for a high-end remodeling firm. I am an NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certified designer and have passed all exams required to earn the CAPS (Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist), professional ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer, NKBA-National Kitchen and Bath Association) appellations. I also love to cook, and find that this has taught me a great deal about a truly workable kitchen design. Today, I combine all of these varied experiences and knowledge sets into my own venture, and offer it to you. Mark Parsons Design is the culmination of 28 years in the design industry and a deep desire to create beautiful and functional living spaces.