Steve Lesniak, owner and founder of celadon home, came to Charleston from England in 1992. Having spent the last 10 years working in the fashion, retail, design, and manufacturing industries, Steve noticed a gap in the local Charleston market for non-traditional home furnishings. The next eighteen months were spent attending trade shows and learning the industry.
In 1994, celadon home was born.
What Steve realized was that people were ready for a change. His appreciation for clean, simplistic, European lines translated well into the Charleston market. It was clear that consumers wanted to create a more practical, user-friendly home, enhanced by one-of-a-kind pieces found at celadon.
Growing up in England, Steve had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Early on, he developed an appreciation for the unique landscapes, art, and architecture found on his journeys. Since founding celadon, Steve has traveled to India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, China, and throughout Europe in search of unique and functional furniture. celadon's selection is a reflection of Steve himself: fun, adventurous, and worldly.
Outside of celadon, Steve is very active in the Charleston community. A boat captain, he enjoys sailing competitively and for fun, and he spent 5 years living on his sailboat. His love for animals can be best summed up by the pet friendly atmosphere at celadon. Customers' dogs are pointed to the water dish and bowl of treats at the front door, or are greeted by Steve's dogs, Jez, Allie, and Taloo.
Steve is on the board of Rein and Shine, a charity that gives children and adults with physical, mental, social, or emotional limitations an alternative method of healing and therapy through horseback riding. He is also the founder and chairman of the Cindy Mahan Cancer Foundation.
Steve is married to Kathleen Fox, a talented creator of children's games and a former librarian. Ever the romantic, he proposed in Istanbul overlooking the Blue Mosque.
Today, celadon is still very much in keeping with Steve's initial vision. Fun, funky, and with an emphasis on superior customer service, celadon is a unique store in the Charleston marketplace.
A founding member of The Sustainable Furniture Council, celadon is committed to providing furniture produced by companies sharing the same commitment to the environment.
Steve has united a staff who shares his vibrance and fun-loving spirit, whose main priority is creating the best customer experience. Voted Charleston's best furniture store, Steve has helped make celadon a household name.