NYC Entrepreneur of the Month:
CELESTE COUGHLIN
founder of:
Mention Code: FIND20 and Receive 20% off on-site work for March and April
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN NYC?
– I moved into the city in 1989, after graduating from RISD, when my sister offered to let me live with her. Thank you! The first apartment I had on my own was in Williamsburg in 1995. It wasn’t so hip and posh back then. Fun fact, my nephew lives in my basement so the tradition continues.
WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHY?
– Carroll Gardens. We have lived here for the past 15 years and it’s home. We have transformed our house from the ugliest house on the block (literally) to a wonderful home… although definitely still a work in progress! This is where we are raising our children. The playgrounds, schools and neighbors all hold sweet memories for me and for that reason I have a real attachment to this place.
HOW AND WHEN DID ASTERISK DESIGNS BEGIN?
– William and I started Asterisk in 1996 when we were first married and trying to find a way for two artists to make a living. We were fortunate to work with great interior designers like Kitty Hawks and Paul Siskin which led to projects with Rockwell Group and Victoria Hagan. But it is our long relationship with Peter Marino Architect that really made us who we are today. Since then we have traveled to many lovely and exotic places to work on Mr. Marino’s exquisite residences: Paris, Milan and Mustique to name a few. It was because Peter Marino Architects requested to use our finishes for CHANEL boutiques in Asia that we developed our Venetian Plaster Wallpaper. Years and yards later and we are still going strong and have our signature Venetian Plaster wallpaper in CHANEL and Louis Vuitton stores world wide.
DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY’S IDEOLOGY.
– Working with interior designers to create beautiful finishes for their projects.
WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE OFFERING?
– Recently we began experimenting with copper leaf. It is a warm and luxurious material that is underutilized. So in our finish Zig Zag in True Blue Copper, copper is the new gold! For pattern and texture I am really excited about our newest finish called Silt. Think travertine meets lace. It’s classic and fresh and appropriate for many different applications. Our line of Venetian Plaster Wallpapers can be seen at Studio Four NYC.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR ASTERISK DESIGNS?
– Keep making beautiful finishes.
WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF BEING A SMALL BUSINESS IN NYC?
-The rewards are great. We can provide for our family. We hire talented and interesting artisans. We have pride in what we do. And if we want to take off to go to the science fair or dance performance at school, we do. Running our own business forces us to manage many different situations and it has been an incredible experience.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NYC BASED CHARITY AND WHY?
– City Harvest. I am totally impressed by how they saw the waste that happens in the food industry and found a way to turn that into a positive efficient thing for New Yorker’s in need.
IF YOU HAD ONLY ONE DAY LEFT IN NYC, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT?
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Mostly eating. I would go to my old favorites from my early days exploring the city. B & H Dairy in the East Village. Queens for Indian food at Jackson Diner. Vietnamese food in China Town or Korean BBQ in the 30’s. Cheesecake at Monteleone’s
Celeste Coughlin
Founder of
