The influences for the Dora Series are two fold. First there was the intent of designing a line that was softer and more feminine than the Otto series. I was working on a cabinet design that had curved sides when I saw a drawing of a Torii gate and was very much taken with that form. What resulted was a melding of that Eastern influence with my curved forms. I also like the symbolism of the Torii gate, which represents a gateway to the spiritual world.

Dora represents, for me, the culmination of all of the different styles and influences that I have admired over the years. I see bits of the Shakers, Arts and Crafts, and Eastern aesthetic, which all comes together in a line that will work in a variety of styles and settings.

The Dora Series is named for my Grandmother.