Mandy Glickman
An artful start and a big finish
By Liz Biggs / Photos by Kate Treick Photography
Inspired by her grandmother, who was an interior designer for several Hollywood stars including Carol Lombard and Loretta Young, Mandy Glickman knew she wanted to be involved in the art and design world at a young age. Her grandparents lived in Los Angeles from the early ’30s to the ’50s where her grandfather, Chet Lauck Sr., portrayed Lum of the “Lum and Abner” comedy radio show.
After they moved to Hot Springs, Glickman loved visiting and admiring the fabrics and beautiful objects at her grandmother’s interior design business. Hoping to follow in her footsteps, she majored in interior design and art history at Florida State University.
After graduation, Glickman spent her first summer back in her hometown of Pensacola under the artistic wing of Jody Bond, assisting with jobs all over the Gulf Coast. In New Orleans, she was introduced to master finisher Joel Dyer, continuing to assist him on projects as recently as two years ago.
Glickman continued her interior design career in Atlanta working for Brunshwig and Fils showroom in Atlanta Decorative Arts Center and later for Marcia Davis and Associates, designer of the NY Marriott Financial District as well as the Norfolk Marriott and Convention Center.
“I loved my three years or so there, but it was the late ’80s and early ’90s, and I didn’t love the corporate world or having to wear pantyhose, so I moved back to Pensacola and thought I’d try something different,” Glickman said. “I longed to have my own business but didn’t know what or where.”
Glickman and a childhood friend created C&M Central Market located on 12th Avenue in East Hill where Ozone Pizza is now located. They had a wonderful deli — selling rotisserie chickens, gourmet items, beer and wine.
“One of my best memories is painting the wine room mural — sky and limestone to mimic the exterior of the building,” Glickman said.
When the deli days came to an end in the late ’90s, Glickman decided to focus on her calling of being a decorative painter. She took faux finishing workshops in New York and added to her portfolio in order to build her decorative business. Working as an assistant to Pensacola designer Jim Goldman, Glickman met her future husband, artist/actor/musician Jeff Glickman, when he was in town with a crew from Eli Wilner & Co. from New York City.
Living in New York City, Glickman was a faux finisher for Sirmo’s Lighting, worked for John Derian in his studio and retail space, and worked with Elizabeth Dow, who decorated the White House for Obama.
“Jeff and I moved back to Pensacola in 2004 and incorporated Big Finish LLC in 2005,” Glickman said. “We specialize in plaster kitchen hoods and fireplaces, color matching, custom stains, woodgraining and marbling, metal leafing, gilding, decorative finishes for walls, furniture and pretty much everything else that involves paint.”
They also partner with local artist Cindy Mathis for interior mural work.
She loves being part of the interior design world.
“I love being a part of their master plan — whether it is a large focal wall, beautiful gem of a powder room or kitchen hood, or just tweaking the color of the drapery hardware to elevate their design,” Glickman said.
Her advice to anyone wanting to be creative is to keep learning.
“I hope to take more workshops this year because there is so much I don’t know. They are a fun way to meet other creatives and you can learn from other people,” Glickman said. “Try a small project at home. Whether it’s a powder room or a piece of furniture that has potential — it’s just paint!”
From childhood dreams of following her grandmother into the world of interior design, to being most fulfilled when painting, Glickman feels fortunate that her two passions came together. “It certainly didn’t happen overnight, nor was it a direct path,” Glickman said. “But I am truly blessed to be able to do what I love, with my love, in the town I love.”
