Dwayne Bergmann doesn’t think like many other interior designers.
For one, he grew up in a family of custom home builders and spent the formative years of his career working with HD Supply, the wholesale arm of Home Depot.
Not only has the Fort Myers-based designer mastered aesthetics, he also understands the nuts and bolts that go into making a home.
That know-how gives him an edge in his field (most of his work comes from referrals from contractors who appreciate his order and savvy), but it’s the heart he puts into his projects that sets him apart. “I don’t run my business as if I have the only right perspective,” he says. “I don’t go in with a predisposed style or aesthetic.” The personal attention and drive to deliver on individuality contributes to Bergmann’s distinctive aesthetic.
Even his commercial projects, like The Southwest Florida Community Foundation Collaboratory, are proof of this. At the hands of another, the center may have been a nice office space. But with Bergmann’s vision, the renovated train station-turned-community hub exudes style.
Bergmann’s life is the perfect example of using one’s talents and influence to better the world around us. The same heart that goes into his work is reflected in the roster of community initiatives he supports.
Look at any list of philanthropic affairs for a season and you’ll see Bergmann’s name on many committees. He and his husband, Luis, donate their talents and funds to Pace Center for Girls, Lee County; Better Together; SWFL Children’s Charities—the list goes on. “I really don’t think you understand the level of happiness you can achieve until you’re giving back,” he says. And, while he values and supports national organizations, he prefers to invest his dollars and time locally.
He is also growing his business locally. This year, marks the transition from Dwyane Bergmann Interiors as a design business to Dwayne Bergmann as a brand. The designer just opened a showroom on Naples’ Third Street South, where he also introduced his new cabinet line—a range of custom styles that take built-ins beyond the “boxes-and-doors” concept that is common form, combining luxe materials into functional designs. Next comes his own furniture line in 2021 and a yet-to-be-announced licensed design collection the year after that.
We couldn’t think of a better brand to get behind. —Stephanie Granada