McElheran’s Fine Furniture has been providing Edmonton homes since 1994, when David McElheran and his son Jeff opened a small design studio on Whyte Avenue called Origins Fine Furnishings, Fabrics & Floors.

Almost immediately, customers seeking quality furniture and accessories at a fair price recognized the studio as a leader in the industry. After four years, the focus of our business moved from interior design to retail furniture sales, and the McElheran’s soon outgrew the Whyte Avenue location. In 1998, we moved to our present location on 124^th Street, which features a showroom and a drapery studio and changed our name to McElheran’s Fine Furniture.

Over the next six years, we continued to grow, necessitating a complete renovation of our space in 2004 and the purchase the neighboring Dairy Queen building to house McElheran’s Added Touch.

Though our physical structure continues to change, the quality and service you have come to expect from McElheran’s remains the same as it did when David and Jeff first opened our doors.

Employment Opportunities

Staff

Anne, Design Consultant

Anne specializes in color coordination, texture, leather, space planning and window treatments. She would love to come to your home for an in-home consultation! Anne will earn your trust through her extensive experience and knowledge for all your home design needs. Contact annes@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: As a kid Anne loved to rearrange her mom’s furniture
Favorite Music: Chariots of Fire
Favorite Movie: Bucket List
First Job: Bakery
Perfect Day: Walking down by the river with her dog, Sport
Biggest Challenge: Being a mom
Proudest Moment: Seeing her children succeed
Perfect Pet: German Shepherd

Judy, Design Consultant

A seasoned designer with more than 11 years of design experience, Judy specializes in “all things design,” including floor plans, colour schemes, furniture placement and space accessorizing. Her outstanding contributions have attracted a long list of satisfied customers who value her genuine listening skills and natural gift for creating practical yet exciting design solutions. Contact judyf@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: Interior Designer
Favorite Music: Most music other than country or rap
Favorite Movie: Under the Tuscan Sun
First Job: In a bakery, part time while going to school
Perfect Day: A hot day in Maui lounging at the pool
Proudest Moment: The day my three children were born
Perfect Pet: Two dogs – a West Highland Terrier and a Scottie

Kristy, Design Consultant

A graduate of the interior decorating program at Fanshawe College, Kristy began her career in furniture sales, where she acquired her fresh design perspective. She is fascinated with different cultures and strives to help her clients create divine homes that reflect their exquisite tastes and personalities. Born in Ontario, Kristy now is proud to call Edmonton home. Contact kristys@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To be a Zamboni® driver
Favorite Music: Everything from Conway Twitty to Kings of Leon
Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz
First Job: Delivering newspapers
Perfect Day: Being with friends and family on a nice fall day
Biggest Challenge: Make it to the So You Think You Can Dance audition
Proudest Moment: Becoming an aunt
Perfect Pet: Gussles, Kari’s dog

Bruce, Design Consultant

An experienced designer with more than 30 years of experience, Bruce holds a degree in Architectural Engineering, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Sculpture and a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Arts and Art History. He has served as a consultant to various building contractors. Bruce invites you to take advantage of his experience and work together creating a welcoming interior. Contact bruceg@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To own a lisping parrot and live by the ocean
Favorite Music: I love a good souse!
Favorite Movie: Who is Afraid of Virginia Wolf?
First Job: Paper boy
Perfect Day: Any day at the ocean
Biggest Challenge: Getting to the ocean
Proudest Moment: Arriving at the ocean
Perfect Pet: A lisping parrot

Jason, Design Consultant

After graduating on the Dean’s list from Grant MacEwan’s theatre program, Jason’s performing career took him to over 35 countries, accomplishing many exciting feats including performing with superstar Elton John at the prestigious Lido de Paris in Paris, France. Returning home, Jason pursued his passion for Interior Design where he completed the UofA’s Residential Interior’s Program. He began working immediately as a Designer and Sales Manager. Jason’s passions include Design, Yoga and life, all of which he shares with his partner of six years, two cats, one dog and a mélange of fish. Contact jasonm@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To be a professional dancer.
Favorite Music: Anything with a diva that has a beautiful voice.
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings / Avatar
First Job: Discount Jim’s Warehouse
My idea of a perfect day: Lying on a beach with no one around
Biggest Challenge: My dance career ending with a  knee injury.
Proudest moment: Performing with Elton John & my wedding day
The perfect pet: So many. My dog Oliver because of his devotion, My cat P’tit Chou because of chatty nature, our other cat Mr. B. because he is wacky and our managerie of fish that are serene & beautiful.

Debbie, Design Consultant

Most of Debbie’s life has been spent on Vancouver island, moving to Edmonton in 2000.  The past ten years have been dedicated to design and decor.  “What we surround ourselves with speaks volumes about who we are in terms of personality and lifestyle.”   It is of utmost importance to establish a strong relationship with clients, revolving around making your home a sanctuary.  Debbie’s strengths lie in determining her clients needs and wants, it is her goal to ensure that your home is filled with beauty AND functionality.  Contact debbiec@mcelherans.com

Childhood Ambition: To be an artist.
Favorite Music: Glen Hansard/Emily Smith
Favorite Movie: Sliding Doors
First Job: Newspaper proof reader
Perfect Day: In my garden sitting by the water
Biggest Challenge: Going back to school for a new career
Proudest Moment: Getting married and graduating 2nd time
Perfect Pet: Koby & Nuby (my two ragdoll cats)

Helen, Sales Manager

Helen left her parents’ home in Penhold Alberta and moved to Calgary, where she studied business administration, marketing and sales. For more than two decades, she has specialized in furniture advertising/promotions, merchandising, customer service, purchasing, sales, design and management. Helen has excelled in her field but still considers raising her four children her true success story. Contact helenb@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To be an accomplished blues guitarist
Favorite Music: I am a lady of the blues
Favorite Movie: Crossroads
First Job: Teaching private guitar lessons
Perfect Day: Blue sky, sunshine, lakeside
Biggest Challenge: Learning to cope with being orphaned
Proudest Moment: The birth of my children
Perfect Pet: A well-trained dog – my companion, my friend

Kari, Display and Merchandising

If you’ve been to McElheran’s Fine Furniture and thought the store looked beautiful, you have Kari to thank. She began her career in retail design in the early 1990s and graduated from design school a few years later. Kari followed her interest in design to McElheran’s in 2005 and is active in raising money for a cancer foundation in her free time. Contact karil@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: Sometimes I wanted to be a special agent; other times I wanted to volunteer my time in third-world countries. I guess I wanted to save the world
Favorite Music: Opera, big band, Danny Michel, Herabliser and Neil Young
Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
First Job: Dairy Queen
Perfect Day: Up early with an espresso, cycling through the Rockies, (although going to France would be nice, too
Biggest Challenge: Training for the 31km Birkie ski race while there is no snow
Proudest Moment: Raising oodles of money for the cancer foundation
Perfect Pet: Gus, my Bichon, and perhaps one day a big Labradoodle

Sue, Accounting

The “muscle” of the organization, Sue is the highest ranked female Karateka in the world. She holds a sixth degree black belt in karate and a fourth degree black belt in kobudo. She is a five-time Canadian champion in Itosu Ryu Karate. When she’s not beating people up, Sue handles the accounting and IT needs of the company, as well as collections if necessary. Contact suel@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To be a cowboy
Favorite Music: Vanessa-Mae
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter
First Job: Horse trainer
Perfect Day: Brunch with friends, then a motorbike ride
Biggest Challenge: Getting out of bed in the morning
Proudest Moment: Saving the life of an unconscious woman
Perfect Pet: A pet rock

Fran, Customer Service

Fran has been involved in making music from a young age – her parents started with accordion lessons when she was about 10 (no wonder she took up the flute when she went to junior high!)  Ultimately, Fran chose to pursue a career in business administration rather than that of a “starving musician” and was recruited right from high school into a clerical position with the Government of Alberta.

Over the next several years Fran developed skills in all areas of business administration in a variety of industries.  Although she hasn’t been with McElheran’s very long, she enjoys the congenial, productive and customer-service driven environment.  Contact franb@mcelherans.com

Childhood Ambition: Have Fun!
Favorite Music: A wide variety of styles and instrumentation – wind ensemble, orchestra and big band.
Favorite Movie: The Electric Horseman
First Job: Clerk-Typist
Perfect Day: Being productive and having fun doing it.
Biggest Challenge: Learning to live with osteoarthritis and giving up golf as a hobby.
Proudest Moment: Many moments – getting married, buying our first home, and getting a puppy.
Perfect Pet: Our Portuguese Water Dog puppy, Jazz, that challenges us every moment of every day.

Robyn, Clearance Center Sales Consultant

Robyn works part-time at McElheran’s while attending her first year of nursing school at Grant MacEwan College. She enjoys working with the customers and the challenges that come with it, and still finds time to volunteer as a Sparks leader in St. Albert. Contact robynp@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: To be a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer like her father
Favorite Music: Rock, Metallica, AC-DC, The Ramones
Favorite Movie: Any 007 movie – I live James Bond
First Job: Cashier at Save-On-Foods in St. Albert
Perfect Day: Doing something new and different with one of my good friends, like hot air balloon rides or rock climbing. Just being out there and doing something
Biggest Challenge: To not overthink anything or obsess about fixing things
Perfect Pet: A potbellied pig

Daniell, Clearance Center Consultant

As an Alberta boy, born and raised, Daniell feels he really hasn’t been around the block too much. His career has seen him dabble in a number of areas including fast food restaurants, utility providers, cell phone companies and various retail outlets. At only 21 years of age he brings a vast array of experience and knowledge. He looks forward to expanding his horizons with a post secondary education in the near future. Contact daniellr@mcelherans.com.

Childhood ambition: To start my own custom build PC store.
Favourite Music: Orchestral, preferably with strong violin; Love Chopin!
Favourite Movie: Interview with the Vampire.
First Job: Paper Boy
My idea of a perfect day: Doesn’t matter about the day as long as I end it watching the sunset from a hot air balloon.  Perfect!
Biggest Challenge: Beating all of Namco’s mother ship “Tales” games.
Proudest Moment: The first time I beat my Dad at chess.
The Perfect Pet: Misty (1983 to 1996)

Mike, Warehouse and Delivery

A drummer in the local band Triple Exposure, has been with McElheran’s for four years and enjoys working with the customers he comes in contact with.

Childhood Ambition: To replace Animal on The Muppet Show
Favorite Music: Rock and roll, heavy metal
Favorite Movie: Two words: zombie movies
First Job: Wendy’s
Perfect Day: No stairs, zero gravity and free massages
Biggest Challenge: Singing while drumming, and moving armoires
Proudest Moment: Releasing two albums in one year
Perfect Pet: My two kitties, Scratchy and Clawdia

Scott, Warehouse and Delivery

Scott has lots of experience with furniture stores from growing up in a family of furniture people. Scott is a graduate of the NAIT radio program and has been the morning man for a radio station in High level. When not in the warehouse Scott performs as a standup comedian and has toured across the country with many of the big name comedians.

Childhood Ambition: To work in a warehouse 4 days a week. As a small child I would move one box from point A to point B just pretending to warehouse.
Favorite Music: Rock & Roll, Bluegrass
Favorite Movie: Dazed and Confused
First Job: Running numbers for my uncle “Tony” from little Italy to Chinatown at the tender age of 12.
My idea of a perfect day: Sitting on a deck in the sun, with a cold beer, Led Zeppelin playing louder than it should be.
Biggest Challenge: Touring the country as a standup comedian for six weeks last fall.
Proudest moment: Scoring the only goal in the novice hockey tournament game where we lost 23-1
The perfect pet: A plastic plant (not Robert)

Dave, Warehouse and Delivery

A guitarist since the abe of 15, Dave has been in and out of bands but now just plays alone.   Recently started with McElheran’s Dave has been enjoying his time both in the warehouse and on the deliveries.

Childhood Ambition: To have 2 Children
Favorite Music: Heavy Metal
Favorite Movie: Star Wars
First Job: Bubbles car wash
Perfect Day: Sitting by a beach
Biggest Challenge: Going to Chile and Argentina
Proudest Moment: Buying my first X-Box
Perfect Pet: Dogs and Cats

Otto, Warehouse Manager

Otto joined McElheran’s in 2004 and has more than 28 years of experience in the furniture warehouse/distribution industry. Born and raised in Edmonton, he is proud of his marriage of 20 years, his two children and going to college at the age of 35.

Childhood Ambition: Playing in the World Cup for Italy
Favorite Music: Almost anything except country
Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight
First Job: Flyer boy
Perfect Day: Good food, good company, great beer
Biggest Challenge: Going to college at age 35
Proudest Moment: The birth of my children
Perfect Pet: Someone else’s

Jeff, Manager, Janitor, Advertising and anything else that pops up

Jeff’s first business venture was a lemonade stand in the driveway, but by the age of 11 he made $3 pricing fabrics in his father’s store. Jeff joined forces with his father after attending college and getting married, and they began what would later become McElheran’s Fine Furniture. Jeff truly takes pride in being able to help people create a home they can be proud of and strives to make the store an extension of that belief. Contact jeffm@mcelherans.com.

Childhood Ambition: For awhile, to be an interior designer, and for awhile, to be a youth pastor
Favorite Music: A wide variety, but especially jazz
Favorite Movie: The Game
First Job: Pricing fabric samples for my dad
Perfect Day: Exploring new places in the world with my family
Biggest Challenge: Separating the important things from the urgent things
Proudest Moment: The day my wife agreed to marry me, followed by the birth of my two kids
Perfect Pet: A bronze dog, which you can buy at our store. Very low maintenance and extremely affordable compared to a real dog