Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Rinehart.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brandy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my design journey in college, majoring in Furniture Design at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA and was fortunate enough to start out surrounding myself with an amazing array of talent that consistently pushed my potential. After college, I was incredibly fortunate enough to step into an amazing role with a renown architectural and interiors firm based in Palm Beach, FL & New York City – that quickly help to sculpt me into who I am today. I decided it was time to a break from NYC and moved to Atlanta, to settle into the next chapter of my life and took a brief ‘break’ to have my daughter.
Coincidentally, needing to start my own firm was originally based on noticing the lack of employment opportunities after having my first child. She’s now 14, and I also have a 6 year old, and my company is still thriving, so I’ll take it as a blessing in disguise.
Having worked with award-winning architects, decorators, designers, and builders from Miami to Connecticut, and California to Chicago my ability to gel with various personalities, a keen attention to detail, and maintaining a sense of humor with my own custom cabinetry, interiors, and architectural designs has allowed for me to celebrate 25 years in the industry, and 13 years with my own company(s).
Has it been a smooth road?
To say there were some large blocks and derailments along the way is an understatement. Anyone over 30 might be able to remember the housing market collapse in 2007, while dealing with that I also was unfortunately going through a divorce, but had the wonderful opportunity of relocating to Chicago, with the excitement of a new company partnership. Sadly, that fizzled due to a partners bad investment choices.
However, it was a wonderful lesson learned, and I met those I now consider lifelong friends, business mentors, and am involved with a design industry ‘family’ that I truly love and adore! Having experience in various cities, Chicago’s Design & Arts community has always shown me endless amounts of support and inspiration.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rinehart Design Group (RDGi) story. Tell us more about the business.
Rinehart Design Group (RDGi) is predominantly a high-end custom cabinetry company, we literally can design build anything. Yes, anything. Our shops are state-of-the art, and work with CNC machinery as well as craftsmen that hand-make details where artisan nuances are required. Our Signature RDGi cabinetry has a life-time warranty and includes finishes that are admired and revered nationally. We have the ability to create elegant classic custom millwork or ultra-sexy clean and contemporary. Whatever our clients tastes or style meet can easily meet.
RDGi also has a full service interiors studio, that can assist with decorative and soft goods needs if a project requires. We’ve cultivated an arsenal of craftsman from all over the world that fabricate our custom lighting, drapery and furniture needs.
I believe the fact I have an education in design, I thrive on details, and truly enjoy collaborative projects. Though we are considered a boutique firm, our team truly loves what we do, we are not sales people. I am a designer that wants each client to have an enjoyable (and fun) experience creating the home/life setting they have dreamt of and deserve.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Technology has certainly created wonderful pros (and cons) for my industry. It’s made it MUCH easier for us to explain preliminary ideas and allow clients that aren’t able to communicate what they think their interests are access to better resources, thanks to various sites and social media.
There are also sites and technology that allow for more streamline designs and bid work for people that want to take the ‘mystery’ out of a renovation or new construction. However, we cater predominately to a luxury market, that we pride ourselves on bringing both materials, design ideas, and experiences to help our clients better understand their project – direct to them. Taking out the personal experience in a luxury market doesn’t always go hand-in-hand.
There are also genius software resources, our studio utilizes that gives our clients EXACT images of the materials we choose, the layouts, and floor plan recommendations so our customers have the ability to see their specification and what all those products will look like when installed. This level of technology honestly helps our industry remove client confusion and the inevitable disappointed ‘Darn, that’s not what I thought it would look like…’ moment.
Instead we hear, ‘AWESOME! That looks exactly like the drawings and CAD illustrations! So Beautiful!’ I can only imagine that future software and social media will allow for even more stress free client (and industry) experiences as time evolves.
I’ve been working with software friends with my own ideas of an APP that allows my own ‘Smart Cabinetry’ to send messages to your phones/computers explaining what products are currently in your pantry and refrigerator and subsequently sending recipe ideas for what you have available. While also creating an algorithm that pulls foods you often purchase, hunts digital coupons, creates future recipes ideas for food the app knows you enjoy, and of course sends you a shopping list.
Seems there is no limit to where technology will take us – but I enjoy the idea of interweaving technology with my design work.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1341 W Fullerton Ave. #160
Chicago, IL 60614 - Website: RDGi.co
- Phone: (850)591-7140
- Email: Brinehart@RDGi.co
- Instagram: BrandyRinehart@BlondeTornado
- Facebook: RinehartDesignGroup@BlondeTornado
- Twitter: BrandyRinehart@RinehARTdesign
Image Credit:
Patrick McDonnell, Jim Youngs and VHT Studios
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