Evoking Feelings Through Interior Design with Gretchen of Gretchen Reinheimer Design

Jul 17

Gretchen Reinheimer is Principal Interior Designer of Gretchen Reinheimer Design, known for bringing a behavioral science approach to creating residential and commercial spaces.

In this episode of Let's Talk Limbic Sparks, Gretchen reveals how to uncover the way people want to feel as input to design. She shares many stories of designing spaces and the process that she goes through to envision the perfect environment for the people who will use it.

We talk about bringing an evidence based design approach and an understanding of scientific research, to ensure that spaces are designed for comfort, utility and enjoyment. She details how she works with clients to create plans for the space, and how she works with contractors throughout construction to overcome obstacles, so that the environment evokes the personality and feelings people desire.

Key Takeaways and Soundbites:

“Your surroundings affect how you feel.”

“Using this evidence based design, we are delivering a space that evokes a feeling that supports the need of the homeowner… Anywhere we are, we want to be comfortable... So that's why taking and applying the research that the scientists have done, is powerful to our designs.”

“I will ask, how do you want to feel in this space? Because I design and create to a feeling... Words to describe how we feel point me in a direction to begin the whole design process. We start with 'what kind of a feeling are we creating?’”

“There's always some kind of solution to make sure that everybody is heard, and that the house becomes the home for the people living in it. Not my style, not my design, but for the clients. That it evokes their personality and the feelings that they want to create in their space.”

“You need to create in your mind who that person is you want to speak to. Who are we speaking to when creating the brand? Then you have to imagine what that person cares about.”

“People ignore the power of emotions because they're either just lazy or ill-informed. Why would they not want to, because so much of our choices are made by and fueled by emotion.”

Here are some fun facts about Gretchen…

Gretchen Reinheimer, founder and principal of Gretchen Reinheimer Design, is a Certified and Licensed Interior Designer. From an early age, Gretchen was instilled with the belief that objects and spaces should be both beautiful and functional. This philosophy informs her work to this day, as does inspiration from nature, her world travels and the unique stories of the people she meets. She believes our surroundings truly affect how we feel and is committed to transforming and designing spaces that elicit joy.

Gretchen received her academic training from Fashion Institute of Technology and holds degrees in Interior Design and Marketing. After working for several distinguished Interior Design Studios, in NYC, she launched GRD in 1995. Gretchen is currently the Vice Chair of The Architectural Review Board of Upper Nyack, NY, where she lives with her husband, Rick.