BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Rachel Ogburn is a Wash Park neighbor and the owner of Rowe Interior Design. She is a master of designing your home to make you feel happy. She is extremely down to earth and makes it her mission to be transparent with her clients, every step of the way. We asked her to give us a look inside her design process.
Let’s start at the beginning. Did you always know you wanted to be in design? How did you start Rowe Interiors?
I really believe that we all hint at our passions and talents somewhere in childhood. When I was about eight years old, I was given an American Girl “illuma-room” for Christmas, which was essentially a cube of a room where you could move around the furniture, swap the wallpaper, choose different sofa cushions, etc. I was OBSESSED. No one realized it at the time, but looking back, it absolutely pointed me straight in the direction of interior design from a young age. Rowe was born many, many years later after being in the design and construction industries for eight years. After seeing so many different sides of design world and working in a variety of different roles, I knew it was time to take all that experience and turn it into my own firm.
Tell us a little about your philosophy and aesthetic.
My business philosophy always starts and ends with the client. I approach each project with an understanding that a major renovation is one of the largest emotional and financial commitments that people will make in their lives. My design philosophy is more fluid. I approach every project differently, depending on the client and their priorities. Do they want to completely change the feel of a room? Maybe our foundation is a saturated paint color on the walls and ceiling. Are they looking to add a sense of character and charm? Let’s focus on adding architectural detail first and build from there. Aesthetically, I am always moved by the architecture of the home. Design works best when you honor the existing space. With that being said, I always add a little funk to liven up the home and bring in the unexpected.
Where do you find inspiration?
A lot of the time, I find inspiration in conversation with the client. As a designer, spending the time to get to know a client can tell you a lot. How adventurous are they? What makes them feel at home? What did they love about this house when they first purchased it? What are their goals for this project beyond what the eye can see? Those conversations can lead to so much insight that it is hard not to be inspired. And that information leads me to dream up a unique space that speaks to who they are.
You’ve worked on so many projects, do you have a favorite you can tell us about?
One of my favorites was a project I just wrapped up a few months ago. Richard hadn’t updated his home or furniture since moving in back in the early 2000’s. And then Richard met Pat, an artist who has lived all over the country and who has a serious eye for color and aesthetics. The project started with just new paint and floors, but quickly grew into so much more. We not only brightened up the interior paint and added all new hardwood flooring, we also modernized the lighting, refreshed the kitchen and brought in new furniture and accessories. What makes this project one of my favorites was that it now felt like Richard and Pat’s home, with both of their personalities shining through. It’s the same home but in the same breath, it’s not. It speaks to both Richard and Pat’s history and future together.
Everyone can envision their dream home. Tell us what yours looks like.
Every designer knows that the hardest home to design is your own. There are just so many options! But in a dream world, I would be living on the coast in a cozy cottage. The path to the front door would be lined with beautiful flowers and greenery. Inside, I’d have worn hardwood floors that squeak in certain spots. The furniture would be airy and comfortable, with a permanent imprint on the sofa where my dog likes to sleep. And the walls would be filled with pictures from travels and memories with family and friends. Really, I just want my home to emanate warmth.
If you had to choose three items in your home to save in a fire, what would they be?
My aunt’s jade ring that I received when she passed, the cozy throw pillow my mom gifted me when I moved to Colorado and the three brass “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” monkey statues that I brought home from Thailand.
We find constant solace and comfort from art, books and music, especially when it feels like the world is on fire. What are you reading right now and what’s spinning on your record player?
I am reading the cutest book called “Romantic Comedy” by Curtis Sittenfeld that a friend loaned to me. It’s light hearted fiction about a covid romance and I am eating it up! It is extremely well written and keeps me chuckling. Although I am not cool enough to own a record player, my Spotify has been filled with funky, alternative vibes that get me dancing along to the beat. “I Don’t Miss You” by JP Saxe came up on my Discover Weekly and it has been on repeat!
What are the ways that you support other women who have started their own business or are interested in a creative career like design?
I am so passionate about lifting up those around me. A rising tide lifts all boats, right? As a younger woman navigating the world of running a small business on her own, I have found inspiration through other women who are doing or have done the same thing. Whether you are dreaming of selling your art that no one has seen yet, opening the flower shop on the corner that you’ve been dreaming of since you were little or striking out on your own in any industry, please go for it! We have talents and skills that the world needs and will welcome with open arms. It is not easy, but with help and support from those around us, we can do it. I am always looking to connect with other entrepreneurial women and open that channel of communication so that we can support each other in the crazy day-to-day.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Expect to see more of Rowe! We will be photographing and releasing a few projects that have been in the works for the past few months, as well as starting new projects in the local area. It is so exciting to see such a wide variety of clients and projects get started and then come to fruition, I can’t wait to share the designs with everyone. Everything from bold, contemporary and striking to classic, Ralph Lauren styled spaces are coming out soon. I would love for the local community to follow along via social media or by reaching out to see what beautiful projects are happening right now and will be happening down the road.
Thank you so much for offering a glimpse into your practice, Rachel. To learn more, visit roweinteriordesign.com.
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Photos 1, 3 & 5 by Randy Land, RL Creative LLc