Interior Design Assistant - Part-time Carpenter

Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes is hiring an Interior Design Assistant and Part-time Carpenter in Highland, NY. This hybrid position combines styling expertise with hands-on carpentry skills, serving the company's Creative Looks department at Highland Passive House, a Passive House Certified warehouse and design center on four acres in the Hudson Valley. The applicant must live within reasonable commuting distance of Highland, specifically in Ulster or Dutchess County or within 15 to 45 minutes of the headquarters.

Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes is a top-ranked staging firm led by Emmy Award-winning television host and author Cathy Hobbs. The company specializes exclusively in real estate staging, styling, and short-term rental and vacation home design, and ranks among the Top 10 staging companies in the U.S. and Top 5 in Manhattan, with recognition for luxury vacant staging and short-term rental staging.

This role combines two distinct areas of responsibility:

Styling and Creative Looks:

• Build creative looks, vignettes, and accessory groupings for high-end stagings
• Pull and curate accessories alongside the design team
• Maintain the visual standard that defines the CHDR brand

Carpentry and Furniture Restoration:

• Repair, reinforce, and restore wood furniture, including joinery, gluing, clamping, and minor rebuilds
• Touch up and repair artwork and framing
• Keep inventory install-ready, sturdy, and in pristine condition

Inventory and Creative Looks Support:

• Organize and maintain the accessories library and curated collection
• Kit and stage accessories for quick and polished pulling by the team
• Support both Hudson Valley and Manhattan design teams as needed

Candidates must possess both of the following skill sets:

• A genuine eye for styling, visual merchandising, or prop styling, ideally in home decor
• Real carpentry skills including the ability to repair, reinforce, and restore wood furniture and comfort with basic woodworking tools and techniques
• Self-directed approach with the ability to contribute fresh ideas to inventory and creative looks
• Meticulous organization and pride in maintaining a beautiful, orderly workspace
• Comfort with and enthusiasm for physical work in staging and restoration
• Knowledge of current trends in interior design and home staging

Additional qualifications that are valued but not required include an AAS or BFA in Interior Design, prior home staging or prop styling experience, or visual merchandising experience specifically in home decor.

Applications must include a cover letter describing both styling background and hands-on carpentry experience, with photos of furniture the candidate has repaired, restored, or built if available. Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed. More information is available at www.cathyhobbs.com.