8.15.14 | New York, NY | With ancestral roots in Manhattan dating to 1770, Laura Hanshe is a true New Yorker. She works as a designer/specifier at Meadows Office Furniture Company, a Haworth dealer in New York City. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the New York Institute of Technology. Her passion for interior design started when she was a little girl.

“Growing up, I was constantly rearranging the furniture in my house. The living room became the dining room, the dining room became a sitting room,” Laura says. “I see it as a big game of Tetris, utilizing a floor plan to its greatest potential.”

Laura made the switch from CAD-based software to CET Designer about a year ago. One of the major challenges was to break away from a program she had been using for more than 12 years.

“At first, I was using CET Designer strictly for quick renderings and layouts,” she says. “Now that I’m more familiar with all of its functionalities, I use it for everything it has to offer, including my favorite tool, Reconfigurations! It’s like having an Excel spreadsheet ready for you with all of the formulas.”

Laura says the reaction from clients has been very positive.

“What’s not to love?” Laura says. “Customers are now receiving plans, elevations, 3D renderings and specifications in half the time. One of the salespersons I work with has told me numerous times that her clients are blown away. She said it has even helped her sell, without a doubt.”

Laura believes it’s important to use all of the settings in CET Designer and make them work for oneself. “For example, I like my rotating snap every 15 degrees,” she says. “That works for me, but may not work best for all. My tip is to get familiar with everything CET Designer has to offer in user settings, and also to save all of your favorites.”

When Laura isn’t designing, she likes anything DIY – Do It Yourself.

“I love taking anything old, breathing new life into it and making it pretty again,” she says. “It also saves the planet a little bit at a time. Pinterest is my go-to when I get home from work. It relaxes me - I’m a bit obsessed.”