It’z Who? at American DollHouses
It’z Who?
Owner : Kathy O’Brien
Architect, wife and mother of 3 (also known as Chief Instigator, Head Creative Designer, Boss Lady, and “The Flame”).
The oldest daughter to Dan and Carol Shahbaz, Kathy was born and raised in Michigan. She graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in Architecture. As a licensed architect she moved to Chicago, working in various architectural firms that specialize in residential buildings, creating award-winning designs. By the luck of the Irish, she met her soul mate, Patrick O’Brien, an entrepreneurial Irishman working in the States. They have three wonderful children, Kevin, Caitlin, and Peter.
Kathy and Patrick opened their own business, O’Brien & O’Brien Architect & Custom Builder with good success in 2002. However, struggling with the decline of the housing market in recent years, Kathy was exploring new career options in civil engineering, when a simple gift for her daughter put her on a life-altering path. Thinking smaller has led her to a really “big” opportunity! With a lot of gumption, some creative financial finagling, and total confidence in her idea, here’s to It’z Purple being It’z a Success!
VP of Operations: Barb Taylor
Graphic Designer, wife, and mother of 2 (also known as Chief Cohort, “a Virginia Weenie”, and “Aunt Barbie”).
The youngest daughter of Dan and Carol Shahbaz, Barb was born and raised in Michigan. After graduating from Western Michigan University as an English Major, Barb moved to Virginia because she knew her husband was not in Michigan. It took her 2 years, but she found Dan Taylor. Depending on who tells the story, Dan woke up one morning to find himself married; he’s not sure how it happened – it just did! They now have two beautiful daughters, Genevieve and Sarah.
Barb has worked as project manager in foundations/philanthropy, government administration, and marketing in associations and private businesses. Becoming a “jack-of-all-trades”(including graphic design…thanks CB), in the Spring of 2011, when her sister started developing It’z Purple, Barb began fiddling around in Adobe Illustrator, sending Kathy logo and wall paper designs. She was truly overjoyed when her big sister decided that working together, they could make Kathy’s doll house vision come to life.
Artistic Consultant: Carol Shahbaz
Watercolor and Mixed Media Artist, wife and mother of 2, grandmother of 5 (also known as “Mary Poppins”, She-who-must-be-obeyed, and “Mom” to Kathy and Barb).
If the pen is said to be mightier than the sword, you should see what Carol does with a brush! Beginning young, Carol displayed a lot of creative aptitude that has manifested into a crazy, hugely-talented (and struggling) artist. Distracted by true love, Carol married Dan Shahbaz and they had two darling little girls (never were there 2 better daughters…really, no bias here!). Carol channeled her creativity in many ways, from sewing to weaving, from photography to puppetry, from music to storytelling. An award-winning professional artist currently disguised as a working class citizen by day, Carol continues to paint and is working on completing her first children’s novel.
When her oldest daughter, Kathy, came for a visit in the Spring of 2011, she found that Carol had the perfect painting studio to start creating the dollhouse look she envisioned. Providing both real painting skills and an insightful, artistic eye, Carol is part of the creative design team for the American DollHouses look.