MEETING…MICHAEL BEDNER


“I’m trying to learn the position of Chairman and CEO, but doing something other than putting pencil to paper is probably the most difficult thing I have done in my career.”


to Bedner’s own passion and unfaltering


energy. “We’re blessed because we love what we do,” he enthuses before reciting the firm but fair mantra he instills in all his designers. “We have three major precepts: you do the best damn job can, no excuses. We never have enough money, we never have enough time, we never have enough direction etc. No excuses, you do the best damn job you can. The second is that you have to grow and learn from the experience. If you don’t, you can’t go back to the client with new ideas and expertise. The third thing, which is critical, is you have to have fun because we sure as hell don’t make enough money not to!” Bedner says he turns down around 20% of projects he is offered because he knows they’re “not going to be any fun”.


Bedner looks sheepish when I ask whether he is still designing, having been quoted three years ago as saying that he would like to phase out his day-to-day operations and take on


032 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2011 WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM


more of a consultancy role. “I hate to admit it but I am, I sneak it in,” he whispers, ignoring the glare of his colleagues. “I shouldn’t because I’m trying to learn the position of Chairman and CEO, but the concept of doing something other than putting pencil to paper is hard. It’s probably the most difficult thing in my career.”


Although he does still find time to work on a few residential projects for past clients, much of Bedner’s role involves overseeing the company’s activities internationally. As Lemor Moses later tells me of a recent trip to the London office: “All the designers run through their projects and Michael gives anecdotes here and there where he can help elevate the quality and have them see through his perspective of 45 years of design experience,” she explains. “And so he really touches most projects that leave the door, via physically drawing a line or by educating the designers. “It would be a disservice to have Michael


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