Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Duncan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I was very attracted to shaping space in any way I could manage and afford. I found it had a profound impact on my mood and overall happiness. As a child, I would make furniture in the attic with my parents’ old tools and later I transformed every apartment and home that I lived in throughout my early twenties. I majored in English and Theatre Studies, but when I graduated in 2008, it was difficult to find employment, especially the enjoyable kind. I spent a lot of my twenties feeling a bit lost and not knowing what direction I should take with my career.
In 2010, I randomly found a dilapidated old house on the market in Seattle, in a fantastic part of town, which I magically purchased when two of the other offers fell through. I spent the next year renovating the single family home into a triplex to rent. What started as a financial opportunity that year became the love of my life. I felt like I was in my element and I was very good at what I was doing. I proceeded to flip two more houses and take a semester of design at Cornish College of the Arts.
While I have a natural aptitude for design and construction, I found I was missing the tools necessary for a successful career in the business. I moved my family back to Chicago, where I had done my undergrad, and received a Master’s degree in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design. When I graduated, it seemed like a natural transition to finally start my own business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I experienced many setbacks and failures before finding my career and I experienced some tough times afterwards, but I think the early failures made me stronger, more resilient, and determined to cope with the hard parts and get where I wanted to be. Starting from scratch sucks, whether it’s depending solely on yourself, figuring out how do a million things you have never done before and that you now have to do, turning a profit, finding the right people to support your organization….it is all very hard and scary and stressful. However, it is also so rewarding when you get past all the struggles.
Rae Duncan Interior Design – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I run a small residential and commercial design firm. We reimagine how people live, work, and play. We strive to make client’s spaces more functional and more beautiful. We are a collaborative team, we collaborate with each other and with our clients to heighten their vision and elevate their interiors. We don’t have a particular style, we do all styles. We are hands on, very responsive, and a lot of fun.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is being happy with where you are and enjoying what you do every day and appreciating the process. For instance, at the beginning, I was often just breaking even, which felt like a fail, but it’s not the sole measure of success. Employing people is very cool and knowing where you are going and that you are on an upward trajectory can be very gratifying.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2544 n Clark
- Website: www.raeduncanid.com
- Phone: 312 796 1228
- Email: info@raeduncanid.com
- Instagram: @raeduncanid
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RAEDUNCANID/
Image Credit:
Brad Meese and Charis Brice
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