Miami Herald
Aug 14 2005

PROFILES IN DESIGN

Cachet personified

Interior designer capitalizes on life’s unexpected twists

BY DAISY OLIVERA

If life experience can influence one’s creativity, then Courtney
Cachet is true to her word that she can deliver any style of interior
decor. From clean-lined modern to bold, colorful whimsy to
multilayered ethnic, she does it all with the panache.

The bubbly New York native is also a general contractor who speaks
several languages and has appeared on home and garden television
shows.

”Everything in my life has happened unexpectedly,” she says. She
grabs every opportunity that life puts in her path, made possible by
her rich background. ”Life is the best education,” she says with a
wink.

”I’m first-generation American. My mother was born in Dublin,
Ireland, and my father, who has an Armenian background, was born in
Marseilles in the south of France,” she explains.

ON WALL STREET

Cachet’s family spent Christmases and summers in France and by early
childhood she had traveled all over Europe. At 20, she decided to
switch from college to Wall Street, where she worked as a stockbroker
and commodities broker.

She made the switch out of boredom. ”I needed more of a challenge
because I was always business-minded and good at sales even though I
was always into art and design,” Cachet says.

Ten years ago, another opportunity led to three months of modeling
while living in Japan, adding to her roster of languages, which now
include Spanish, French and Armenian.

Five years ago, wanting to return to her financial roots, she sent
her resume to what she thought was a financial company in Miami.
”When I showed up for the interview, I realized my colossal error.
They were starting a contractor referral company which pre-screened
contractors to take the guesswork out of choosing one. I apologized
for misunderstanding and left,” she says.

They offered her the job anyway. She accepted, reminding herself that
she had grown up with her ”grandfather and father building and
fixing anything and if I taught myself languages, I can teach myself
anything.”

Cachet met with clients on high-end commercial and residential
projects throughout South Florida, including million-dollar homes in
Pinecrest, Coral Gables and Aventura. She coordinated big additions
like family rooms, master bedroom suites and bath redos, even
terraces and landscaping. ”I can kill a plastic plant, but I know
what looks good,” she deadpans.

FREE ADVICE

Cachet found that clients were asking her opinion on the interiors.
“After giving away a lot of free advice, I created Cachet Home
Remodeling Consultants,” which she calls “a one-stop shop from the
remodeling to the decorating.” She also took and passed the general
contractor’s exam in 2003.

Yet another twist would take Cachet into television. In 2004 she got
a phone call from HGTV. ‘They were looking for a contractor to redo
homes in the D.C. area for a show about home projects gone wrong. I
said, ‘I can do that!’ ”

She auditioned and was immediately cast. One show turned into half a
dozen more. After taping three episodes, as often happens, the show
was put on hold indefinitely. That experience led to Cachet appearing
on Telemundo (speaking Spanish like a native), the DIY Network and
close to 20 appearances on the South Florida Today Show on NBC-6
giving do-it-yourself tips.

“I realized my calling was to be a decorator, but the contractor
knowledge is a good base to have,” she says. To date, Cachet’s work
has snowballed just from word of mouth, with a niche created from
the burgeoning condo market.

“I have the most fun when the client only has a couple thousand dollars
for a room. I can structure a design plan from the very low to the very
high end. Good design is now available to everyone in different price
ranges. Everyone can have a beautiful home and I can help them do it.”