Warm. Cool. Chic. Inviting…easy like Sunday morning. This is what you might feel when you see one of interior designer Tina Ramchandani‘s beautifully curated spaces. With more than 16 years of working in high-end residential and commercial fields, Ramchandani has more than proven herself a staple in the design industry and a genuinely well-rounded artist of minimalist yet meaningful and functional home space.
Her Story
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Edison, New Jersey, Ramchandani found herself drawn to the bustling beauty of New York City, where she also found the best of what the creative design world could offer. Even at a young age, she knew that she could not settle for any typical career path. She was driven creatively and wanted to use her unique vision and love for travel and worldly inspiration, to make something undeniably perceptive of her own.
In Manhattan, she found herself working on projects for well-known design firms, like Vicente Wolf Associates and other top-tier agencies. It is here that she began to master her craft and develop a defined prowess that would lead to opening her own design firm, Tina Ramchandani Creative.
Since 2014, Ramchandani and her team “specialize in creating warm, modern homes for clients who don’t have the time to design, or capacity to manage a renovation project, and allow them to live in completed, well-designed interiors, in an efficient, easy way.” The trademarked “soulful minimalism” shines through each project, which you can view in an online portfolio from her website.
Ramchandani has been nationally recognized in several publications, including a title as the “2018 Next Wave” designer by House Beautiful, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Elle Decor, and others.
Recently, SEEMA did a Q&A with Ramchandani to get to know her and also afford some insight into her creativity, inspiration, and the future of her stunning and artful interior design work.
How did you become interested in interior design?
Tina Ramchandani: I entered college, unsure of what direction I wanted my life to take. I knew that the traditional career paths, such as a physician, attorney, or engineer were not going to make me happy. On a family trip, I entered a hotel that filled me with joy. I loved the layers of texture, lighting, sounds, and scents. I wanted to embrace this feeling and recreate it in my professional life. That’s what led me to interior design.
Did you have a mentor or anyone in your life who inspired you? If so, how did they help you along your journey?
TR: I’ve had several mentors along the way. When I first started my career, I worked for a women-owned firm, who started their company when they were both just 25 years old. That was very inspiring to me to see how young they were, how much they had accomplished, and understand their drive. Of course, they taught me several practical things along the way.
Next, I worked for A-List designer Vicente Wolf. He is in incredible force in the industry, and from him, I learned so much and had a chance to hone my design aesthetic. I now work with a business coach who specializes in interior design. She was a designer for many years, so she understands our industry and particular struggles. Overall, I believe in surrounding myself with smart, strong, and uplifting people.
Tell us what a typical day might look like for you.
TR: Every day is so different! Suppose I have a day in the office. In that case, I typically spend part of the day designing, part of the day managing my team, and the rest of the day making introductions and chatting with new clients.
Days that I have site meetings, I try to stack them, so I’m hopping from one place to another. Job site days energize me, but they’re very intense. We’re typically meeting with teams at each site — architect, contractor, millworker, electrician, etc. So, we’re taking in a lot of information and sharing a lot of information.
What inspires your creativity?
TR: I’m someone who is inspired easily, as I see interesting things at every turn. I love to travel, and that’s always been a source of inspiration for me. During the pandemic, obviously, travel has been halted. However, I’m still so inspired by things around me: New York City, design books, and even elaborate movie sets.
What is your overall goal or vision for your career as a designer?
TR: I’m fortunate that I found my calling early in life, and I’ve been working in the design field for more than 16 years. I launched my own firm in 2014, and I’m thrilled with all of the projects we’ve completed so far, the many clients that I now call great friends, and the amazing honors and awards we’ve been given. I’ve also been published in several national magazines and a book, On Style: Inspiration and Advice from the New Generation of Interior Design, by Carl Delatorre.
I envision my firm growing, taking on larger and more diverse projects, perhaps a furniture line or something similar, and maybe even a book. At this point, I see so many paths to move forward, and I’m completely open to them all. I am someone who looks at every opportunity, and I’m always open to jumping into something new!
What aspects of South Asian culture have influenced your path?
TR: I grew up surrounded by textiles and garments, so fabrics are something I notice, and that I focus on when designing.
What is your advice to young people, girls in particular, who might be interested in pursuing a career in interior design?
TR: I’m a huge believer in education paired with life experience. I would say, take a design course and apply for an internship to see if this career is for you. There are many different job choices after graduating, so figure out what interests you the most. Do you like new construction or renovations? Do you like decorative interiors? Are you more of a draftsperson or project manager? Like any career, do your research, and see if this path aligns with your goals.
Are there any organizations you would recommend to young people to help guide them in their journeys as designers, or in general?
TR: ASID, IIDA, and NKBA are great organizations for budding designers, and they have fantastic student chapters. If you’re located near a design center, attend events, and reach out to people at the design center.
In general, invest time in learning things that are typically not taught in schools. Much of this job, as with any job, is obtaining real-life experience.
Tell us about your personal life: family, friends, hobbies? How do you create work/life balance? How do you recharge?
TR: Work/life balance is always something I’m working on. I am very close to my family, who live within an hour or so from me, so we often see each other. I live in Manhattan with my husband and my feisty dog Figaro, and we try to fill out weekends and some weeknights with dates with friends. I try not to work on the weekends, as weekdays are jam-packed. I take the weekends to sleep in and recharge.
