Edward A. Schilling
Ed began his career as a display assistant after art school, where his strong attention to detail led him into visual merchandising rather than buying. He advanced quickly, working with Saks Fifth Avenue and later moving to New York, where he helped open 50 stores across the U.S., overseeing design, visual presentation, and promotions. He went on to hold senior design roles, expand firms into full-service store and furniture design, and eventually run his own retail and interior design business. After 15 successful years in Los Angeles working as West Coast director of Ralph Pucci, he relocated to Portugal in search of a new lifestyle. Today, he works as a multidisciplinary design consultant, collaborating on interiors, exhibitions, product development, and creative projects, focusing on passion-driven work with like-minded creatives.
Past & Present
“My goal is simple. To continue my journey of working with amazing people. Collaborations and partnerships. Learning and teaching. To find a reason for being, to go the extra mile. To be a nice person.”
Past
Education
Graduate, Art Institute of Design and Merchandising
Career Experience
Visual Merchandising Assistant
Assistant Director of Visual Merchandising
Store Planning, Visual Merchandising & Sales Promotion Director
Fashion Director
Vice President, Visual Merchandising Director & Creative Director
Vice President, Creative Director & Director of Sales
Owner, Schilling Sales and Interior Design
Owner, Second Home – Retail Home Furnishings Store
West Coast Director, Ralph Pucci International
Present
EAS Design Consulting International
Founder & Principal
Based in Lisbon, Portugal
Areas of Expertise
Interior Design
Visual Merchandising
Retail & Store Design
Visual Presentation
Fashion & Home Styling
Exhibit & Show Design
Curatorial Services
Product Consulting
Brand Representation
Testimonials
“Ed was blessed with an exceptional eye and personality, a winning combination in the design world. His 30-year journey with Ralph Pucci was filled with excitement and triumphs.”
— Ralph Pucci
“Under Ed’s sophisticated and stylish design guidance, we have renovated and built six residences over the past 15+ years. His unique vision and inspired sense of style elevate each space beyond anything we could have imagined. We are always delighted with our finished homes. Ed is a joy to work with—fast, efficient, and consistently professional. He makes the entire process enjoyable, and we are honored to call him our friend.”
— Ej Spevak
“Ed served as the West Coast Director of Ralph Pucci International, where he represented and sold my photography. From the moment we began working together, it felt like magic. Ed is a true master of design and one of the kindest people you will ever meet. That combination is rare—and feels like winning the jackpot. I cannot say enough wonderful things about him. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with Ed is incredibly fortunate.”
— Marjorie Salvaterra - Photographer, Artist
“Getting to know Ed while working at Pucci was an absolute pleasure. He is kind, thoughtful, and considerate, and his vision, taste, and presence as a showroom director are truly exceptional. His sophisticated and refined approach brings a unique level of elegance to every project. I especially appreciated the collaborative nature of our work together. Ed is incredibly open to ideas and sensitive to each client's vision, while also offering thoughtful guidance and maintaining a clear sense of what will best serve the project. His ability to balance creativity, collaboration, and expertise makes him a remarkable partner to work with.”
— Sabrina Che - Photographer
“I met Ed by a fateful chance one day on a flight from Milan to Los Angeles. It turned out we had both attended Salone del Mobile, Milan’s famous furniture fair. Since that serendipitous meeting, Ed has been immensely supportive and helpful with my work. He’s a great connector and collaborator—crucial characteristics for anyone working in the creative design industry.”
— Fong - Artist
“I will always remember the incredible relationship Ed shared with my mother. They were exceptional thinkers, designers, and dear friends, united by a shared creative vision and passion for great design. Ed’s insight, talent, and collaborative spirit made him an invaluable partner, and together they created work that consistently resonated with clients and industry leaders alike. I recall many major retailers saying that whenever the two of them worked on a project, the result was guaranteed to be sophisticated, intelligent, and beautifully executed. Those years represented a high point in retail design, and together they produced some of the most memorable and influential work of their careers.”
— Diana Neidermaier Hayden - Daughter of Judith Neidermaier, Neidermaier Design
“In late 2003, my husband and I made the big move from Washington, DC to Rancho Mirage, California. It was to be our permanent home. While on the East Coast we had remodeled and furnished quite a few properties. There we had all kinds of resources and professional help. By the time we reached Rancho Mirage all we had to work with was a 1950’s home that needed a lot of attention. We were intimidated by the enormity of the task, but we were positive. That positivity was rewarded on New Year Eve 2004 when at a neighbors house we met Ed. We had admired a clever and attractive bathroom installation in that home. Our host told us who the designer was and immediately introduced him to us. After the introduction we engaged Ed to take on the rebuilding and decoration of our home. He helped us to find an architect, general contractor, building engineer, landscape architect and finally all the specialty trades for interior finishing. With Ed’s overall leadership we were able to complete our project in a respectable time. Now the real challenge for Ed is that we didnt not bring much of furnishing. We had off loaded all our European art and all formar furniture. We wanted Ed to house is in a “soft” Art Deco or modern aesthetic. This plate obviously suited Ed. For he surpassed anything we could imagine. Our home was the site of many large, mostly formal, gatherings for musicians, charities, politicians and visiting firemen. It was featured in local publications and praised for its handsome comfort. Ed had furniture custom made for us and helped us select and commission artwork. The best reference for Ed is that we moved from that 5,000 sq. ft. home in Thunderbird Heights to a 3,000 sq. ft. condominium in a high rise on Wilshire Blvd. Western Los Angeles. Ed was able to take what we had and come up with a design scheme that really speaks to our artistic values. We are thankful for that bathroom we visited on 31 January 2003.”
— Dr. Joseph Lund & Dr. James Kelley