Inspiring People: Dwayne Bergmann doesn’t think like many other interior designers

Reporter: Lindsey Sablan
Published: Updated:
Dwayne Bergmann (Photo by Brian Tietz/Courtesy of Gulfshore Life)

One local interior designer is a nationally recognized talent who gives back to his community, making him an inspiration to future designers.

Walking into Dwayne Bergmann’s Fort Myers studio is like walking into a high-end luxury magazine.

This year he launched Dwayne Bergman Cabinetry, which he says is a unique bespoke line of cabinetry.

From decor to cabinets to furniture, Bergmann’s talent has taken him around the world.

So why did he stay here?

“I’ve been asked this so many times, why Fort Myers?” he explained. “‘You’re talented you could be anywhere’ … and I think we deserve this level of talent, and quite frankly it was a little bit of a challenge.”

And fort Myers is home to Bergmann, his husband, and their two seven-year-old boys.

When asked if either of them has taken on dad’s appreciation for design yet, Bergman said, “[We] definitely have one that we argue about the clothes they’re wearing every day, and one, who just wants to wear his gym shorts and t-shirt every day.”

His own children are one of the reasons Bergmann gives back to so many charities, including Ronald McDonald House.

He just decorated a room at the newly expanded house donating his time and all the materials.

Bergman said, “Giving back to the community is one of the most important things that we do and we feel like it’s our responsibility to the community.”

This visionary designer is keeping his vision right here in Southwest Florida.

Bergmann was just recognized by our partners at Gulfshore Life magazine as one of the men of the year.

As for what the latest home design trends are, Bergmann says the design industry is moving to more neutrals to create a soothing, calming space in homes.

Read the full Gulfshore Life magazine story below.


Dwayne Bergmann
The Visionary Designer

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 Dwayne 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

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