Western Living Magazine
Trade Secrets: How to Design a Problem-Solving Prep Kitchen
Mood Board: 6 Things That Keep Designer Kelly Deck Inspired
KI Atelier: Immersive Storage Design
5 Incredible New Wineries Have Hit the Okanagan
The Grape Escape for Wine Enthusiasts
The Gin of the Summer (and Fall, Winter, Spring) Is on Sale
Dark Skies in Utah: Chasing Cosmic Connection on the Road
Cycling the Emerald Isle: A Windy Adventure on Ireland’s Greenway
Glamping Utah: Adventure Has Never Felt So Good
Discover California Closets – BC
Trending Now: 10 of Our Favourite Homewares for Late Summer 2023
Catch Top Vancouver Designers Sharing Their Decor Secrets in a New Design Convo Series
5 Reasons to Enter the WL Design 25
Introducing Western Living’s 2023 Designers of the Year Award Winners
WL Architectural Designer of the Year 2023: SMStudio
Retailer, designer, manufacturer: William Switzer was a triple threat.
As we prepare for our Designers of the Year Awards, we look back at some incredible designers that we have featured in the past. Today, we look at the iconic designer, furniture salesman and manufacturer William Switzer.When we originally talked to William in 1987, he had recently taken the design world by storm by leaving his well-established profession as an interior designer to become a full time manufacturer and retailer—re-establishing the hands-on relationship that he had with furniture starting 50 years prior. Switzer grew up helping his parents in the furniture shop they owned in Calgary, so it is only fitting that he made the full circle from retailer to designer to manufacturer.
I did miss designing to begin with, but I don’t anymore. I just work with all these other great designers. I like what I’m doing.
Switzer was so well known in the business that Robert Ledingham, who has a DOTY award named after him, couldn’t help but praise his manner: “I think Bill’s a great humanitarian kind of person. He’s been a solid friend to a lot of designers. He has a very optimistic outlook on life.” He was the type of guy to help out a competitor if they were having a rough time, and he enjoyed surrounding himself with a team of designers with talent and drive for the business.
Are you over 18 years of age?