By Taylor Smith 

When did you first realize your passion for interior design?

My passion for interior design came to me organically. After remodeling and decorating my own homes, I realized that I had a passion and unrealized skill set for interior design. So, after having my second daughter, I went from a stay-at-home mom to a student at The Art Institute of Philadelphia pursuing a degree in interior design. 

What services does Rittenhouse Home provide?

Rittenhouse Home is a full-service design firm. We develop an in-depth understanding of each client’s expectations and our goal is to exceed those goals every time. Our design work includes complete kitchen and bath renovations and interior design of all scopes. Our current client work ranges from updates to complete remodels, and all the way to a completed home renovation and interior design plan from start to finish. Our kitchen and bath designers and interior designers lend their skills and expertise to provide customized solutions for each of our clients. We foster long-term relationships with our clients and they are our most valuable referral source.

What are you most inspired by and how does this influence your design aesthetic?

I am most inspired by architecture, new and old, and, of course, fashion. All those things combined make for a perfectly-curated design that will be timeless and enjoyed for decades to come. Trends come and go, but you can never go wrong with the classics. I believe in mixing genres — think an imported French Provence trestle table with the sleek, clean lines of modern chairs.  I’m currently working on a project that includes my client’s grandmother’s mahogany gold claw-footed dining table. We are restoring it to its original condition and paring it with new chairs and a new server.

In what ways does Rittenhouse Home deliver personalized service?

Rittenhouse Home is more than your average interior design firm, furniture retail studio, or kitchen and bath design showroom. I think my clients know from the very moment they walk into my showroom that they have found a true partner in their design vision. I collaborate with clients by providing more than 200 vendors of furnishings. These partnerships with the best vendors allow us to provide the best options for our clients, whether it be furniture, lighting, rugs, wallpaper, and everything in between. We are your dedicated design partners from beginning to end.

Our design team not only provides the design expertise to complete any given project, but we also strive to provide the best prices. Due to our large purchasing power, we are able to offer clients 30-40 percent off manufacturers’ retail pricing on all furniture purchases. Additionally, I share my contractors’ discounts, assuring that clients are getting the very best product out there at the very best pricing.

Describe some recent or future projects that you are particularly proud of. 

We have been fortunate to have worked on many larger-scale projects, which include total first floor renovations. These projects require me to work with clients to ascertain a realistic budgets and help them make smart decisions along the way to stay within that budget. No matter the scope of the project, we are here from beginning to end and remain dedicated to an outcome that will far surpass expectations.