ABOUT "RO"HAB
THE LOWDOWN ON ROCHELLE WINTHER
I am an interior designer and construction manager and I love what I do. My life has always revolved around any and everything related to design, construction, production, entertainment, communications, management, operations and making a statement. I embrace every experience and treat challenges as rewards which allow me to bring more to the table.
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By having a wide range of work experiences and training throughout the years I have been able to perfect and develop my skills, talents and abilities. I have concentrated on using innovative ideas, clarifying all intentions and inspiring others. Throughout my journey I have traveled down many paths which have been steppingstones or have been directly related to the construction and interior design industries in which I have been engaged for more than two decades.
If you are looking to work with a person who gives 100%, has a "can do" attitude, thinks outside of the box, is hands-on, is creative, analyzes toothpicks, tells a joke or two, bakes cookies for you one day then cracks the whip on your project the next, then here I am!
"Life is about making choices with clear intentions and reaching
conclusions based on experiences and following your gut."
~ Rochelle Winther
STEP INTO MY WORLD
...a scaled-down version
MY DETAILED JOURNEY OF EXPERIENCES
USING MY NOGGIN & GUT
For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated and curious about people, places and things. By listening, observing, participating, investigating, and appreciating everything is how I developed my thinking skills...using reasoning and imagination. In essence, if it works don't fix it, but be open to new ideas. If it doesn't work, try different approaches until it does. Because this is how I have always operated and have been able to see the whole picture, I have been successful at multitasking and figuring out creative ways to solve problems.
FORT FIX
As a kid growing up in the Seattle area in a neighborhood full of trees and new builds, my best friend and I spent many hours collecting scrap lumber from construction sites to build our "designer" forts. A good piece of lumber to build a fort was a rare commodity. The neighborhood boys took great delight in lifting "our" lumber for their own forts and claiming it as their own. To combat the ongoing problem, we used extra wallpaper and paint from my parents’ home to mark our lumber and stop the boys from taking it. It worked! This was the beginning of my design-build experience and learning how to solve problems creatively.
CHORES & INVESTMENTS
What kid likes to do chores? I did! My parents posted an itemized chore list on the refrigerator which had different monetary values for each chore based on the level of difficulty and time involved. I was given a log to keep track of the chores I completed though I'm pretty sure my parents kept an eye on me to make sure I was really doing the work. My first experience dealing with project managers! I was told that if I saved the money I earned they would set up a personal savings account for me and they would double the amount. I was so excited! Not only was I getting a bonus for doing the work, but I would also get to go to a real bank, not just the Monopoly bank. I anxiously chose the big-ticket items so I could make money faster and have more for future investments…candy, toys, music and such. I thank my parents for providing me with guidance, direction and useful life tools. It is true...when you work hard it always pays off in more ways than one!
GETTING MY FEET WET
I have always been interested in learning new things, having hands-on experiences and taking advantage of opportunities thrown my way. From age 12 through college, I was fortunate to work part-time in many different industries to get my feet wet, learn how businesses run and to figure out ways to apply what I've learned. I did everything under the sun - typical jobs of a student...babysitting, doing administrative work at my dad's law office, helping my mom decorate her classroom, flipping burgers and making snow cones at fairs, flipping pizzas at the mall food court, wrapping gifts for Nordstrom’s during the holidays, selling music at music stores, working as a customer service representative for Ticketmaster, and working at the Bite of Seattle information booth for KING 5 News. These experiences helped me establish good customer service skills which I use to this day.
SCHOOLING & TRAINING
While in college I juggled school work, my part time jobs and participated in many cool work study programs the colleges offered. These experiences taught me how to multitask, establish great time management skills and activate my creative talents. Here's what I did:
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Hosted weekly alternative radio show at KGRG & KAOS as a radio DJ
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Wrote radio ads and PSA's for local television and radio stations
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Operated lighting, sound and camera equipment television shows
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Designed and built sets for television productions
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Designed fliers, album covers and backdrops for Seattle area bands
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Helped organize bands playing at college venues
Associate of Arts for Broadcasting
Green River Community College, Auburn, WA
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media & Communications
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
OPERATION ORGANIZATION
Upon completing college, I searched for various positions in communications. Unfortunately, during this time jobs were scarce in the Seattle area. I needed a plan B. I worked for various temporary agencies in the hopes of securing a full-time job in my field. Fortunately, there were a lot of administrative jobs available in the corporate world and at times I was able to hold two positions. I became a "Girl Friday" for business owners, principles, managers and executives and performed many clerical tasks...reception, filing, copying, data entry, writing, creating forms, ordering office supplies, scheduling, organizing company meetings and taking notes, making travel arrangements, making coffee for the staff, cleaning, etc. Because I was quick at getting things done, I was often asked to organize offices, set up operational systems and create training manuals. I was introduced to many different industries: real estate, mortgage, brokerage, finance, commercial construction, civil engineering, advertising and even worked for the major roast retailer, Starbucks, as the executive assistant to the V.P. of Research & Development. By working in these industries my time management skills improved, I learned about operations on a corporate level and refined my organizational skills.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
You know what they say, "When it rains it pours." That's what happened to me. While temping I was offered several positions in the field of communications and opted for two; as a writer and visual merchandiser. I worked full time at Muzak as the supervisor for "c-stores" (convenience stores) where I managed and trained a writing team. I wrote in-store audio ads, jingles and catalog ads for well known convenience stores and major petroleum companies throughout the U.S. The added bonus...I was able to utilize my broadcasting skills as voice-over talent narrating national ads promoting products sold in stores and over the phone. Because the company decided to relocate to another state, I designed and developed a c-store training manual and trained department heads and staff moving out east so the company would not lose money and were prepared for the transition. I also worked part time doing visual merchandising for various companies throughout the Seattle area where I created eye-catching window displays, store displays and tradeshow booths for conventions. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career where management, communications, operations and design were integrated.
Since I worked part time as a visual display designer I decided to look for additional opportunities where my skills and creativity could be utilized. I worked as an event planner for an event planning/catering company where I planned, managed and decorated venues for private and corporate events from weddings to setting up fancy luncheons at Microsoft. I also put my name in the Northwest Production Index, a resource guide for film and television advertising my services. One week after the index was published a director called me to work on a film in Oregon. Though I started as a production assistant, I ended up working as the set designer by the end of the shoot. Thereafter, I worked primarily in the art department as a production designer, art director and prop master for various independent feature films and short films where I designed, built and dressed sets. Since Seattle had very few "industry" people, when the big wigs from Hollywood rolled into town for films, television shows and commercials, I was one of a handful of people included to work on the productions. Many crew members from California encouraged me to pack my bags and move to Los Angeles to work in the industry. I was inspired to make the move because I had already been considering moving to Los Angeles to work in the industry and enroll in an interior design school for formal training. Project management and design played an important role in my responsibilities for event planning, film and television productions.​
Associate of Arts for Interior Design | Professional Designation
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
HELLO HOLLYWOOD!
In 2001 I packed up the U-Haul and headed to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry and look for a design school to attend. In less than a month I was working on various television and film productions, for an event planning company and a prop house. Pretty much doing what I did in Seattle. Since my jobs required me to go to a lot of different locations, I was able to navigate through LA pretty quickly...taking back roads, side roads and driving on multiple highways daily. Funny thing, I didn't grow up there and was giving directions to people who actually grew up in LA. Nothing has changed. However, I love driving!
HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
After a few years in the entertainment industry I pursued a formal degree in interior design at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles where I was trained in architecture, design and construction. Here's what I did:
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Learned the functional, aesthetic and principle aspects of interior design for commercial, hospitality, residential, retail, landscape, furniture and lighting
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Learned manual and computer-aided architectural drafting
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Created technical drawings (floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules)
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Created sketches, manual and computer-aided renderings, 3-D models, material boards and presentation boards
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Created space plans and layouts for furniture and equipment placement
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Applied different methods of color theory and color psychology to spaces
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Learned construction methods, building codes and duties of construction trades
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Created construction documents, budgets, estimates and schedules for projects
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Studied the history of architecture, building materials, furniture and interiors
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Learned how to estimate, specify and apply the use of materials and finishes to include fabric grades, upholstered goods, wall coverings, window treatments, drapery, windows and doors, lighting fixtures, flooring, tiling, custom and manufactured cabinetry, countertop surfaces, cabinet and door hardware, appliances, plumbing fixtures, etc.
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Learned how to design and construct custom furniture
MASTERING MATERIALS
SETTING THE STAGE
While in design school and upon graduating, I managed a high-end furniture showroom at the LA Mart Design Center. I assisted the owner with designing and creating custom furniture collections, upholstered goods, hand painted pieces, bedding, pillows and drapery which were sold by boutique retailers throughout the U.S. I learned a lot of about fabric content, types, grades, durability, patterns, and furniture production. I then became a showroom manager and interior designer for a high-end design center that carried plumbing fixtures, kitchen cabinets, vanity cabinets, countertops, architectural moldings, doors, door hardware, cabinet hardware, and flooring. I received extensive product training from representatives of manufacturers and suppliers and assisted customers with various interior design services. I was then offered a position with Home Depot as a kitchen and bath designer. I accepted the position to gain experience working with a broader client base and because they were considered the largest retailer of building supplies. I received training from manufacturers and also learned about departmental operations which was invaluable. I worked during the height of the housing market when everyone was remodeling their kitchens and baths. I was extremely busy....designing between 30 to 60 kitchens and bathrooms a month. I worked with a broad range of clients: architects, builders, developers, home owners, business owners and real estate investors. After a few years I decided to work in-the-field to gain more hands-on experience with clients and industry experts in interior design and construction.
In order to learn more about interior design and construction operations I assisted and contracted with seasoned interior designers specializing in design fields ranging from hospitality to designing for celebrity clientele. I expanded my pool and also worked with landscape designers and decorative accessory designers in order to get a full perspective of all aspects of design. Here's what I did:
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Met with clients, consultants, trades, building departments and building inspectors
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Prepared budgets, scope of work, schedules and completion date deadlines
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Coordinated, scheduled and managed contractors and trades for projects
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Assisted and created inspiration boards, design concepts, material boards and presentation boards
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Researched, designed and shopped for building materials, finish materials, furniture and decorative accessories
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Designed space plans, floor plans, electrical plans and furniture layouts
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Designed residential and commercial kitchens and bathrooms
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Researched entitlements, zoning and permits
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Expedited building and construction permits throughout Southern California
I learned to quickly identify bottlenecks in-the-field and internally because of my work history and was able to provide simple solutions. I created, developed and incorporated time-saving project management systems, and established policies and procedures, standardized forms, quality controls and overall standards. These experiences led me into working in the design-build and rehab industries.
PRIMED FOR PROJECTS
While working with various designers I was also hired as an in-house interior designer/project manager for a design-build firm specializing in luxury residential properties. I handled all phases of each project from planning through completion and was the go to person for clients, consultants and trades. When the real estate market took a turn in 2007 the construction and interior design industries slowed down and were affected; many clients put their projects on hold due to uncertainty. For this reason I needed a plan B. Within a few years I ventured out on my own offering interior design, construction management and consulting services to new and seasoned real estate investors who flipped and rehabbed residential properties primarily throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. Investors were extremely receptive with the services I offered and also asked me to be their personal advocate for their projects. I handled every detail for all phases of each project from acquisitions to the closing of escrow and typically worked on 15-30 properties a month. Within a few years I had flipped and rehabbed 100s of properties. Here are some of the skills I developed and refined while working on rehabs:
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Trained drivers to be able to make quick property cost assessments in "real time" during trustee sale auctions
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Reviewed property reports, home inspection reports, trade reports, permits, and costs for repairs during the due diligence period and advised investors on feasibility
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Prepared budgets, scope of work, schedules and completion date deadlines
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Procured bids, negotiated and issued contracts with general contractors and subcontractors
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Managed general contractors, their crews and subcontractors during construction
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Redeveloped and created new project management systems, policies and procedures, standardized forms, quality controls and standards for consultants, general contractors and subcontractors to adhere to for the rehab industry
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Prepared weekly property reports for investors and conducted meetings
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Provided full service interior design services and specialties
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Designed and created custom catalogs with different design concepts, color schemes, styles and material selections based on the project type, location and budget to speed up production
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Assisted listing agents with marketing and advertising properties; wrote amenities for MLS and coordinated photographers and home stagers
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Coordinated subcontractors for post construction services through the close of escrow
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Reviewed home inspection reports and advised listing agents while property was pending escrow
ROHAB IS BORN & TRANSFORMED
After working on luxury projects in the design-build world and in the fast-paced flip and rehab industries for several years in Los Angeles I launched Rohab in 2011 to offer real estate investors, real estate agents, developers, builders and business owners full service construction management and interior design services as well as simple value-based specialty services for their projects. My focus was to create innovative concepts and services to fit the needs of my clients whether big or small. In 2019 I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to seek out new construction and design opportunities. A few years later, in 2021 due to the shutdown, I shifted gears and offered virtual services to clients throughout the United States and introduced digital documents for all to use. I need to add, I missed the in-person interaction because I have always preferred taking a more hands-on approach when it comes to everything I do. In the late Summer of 2023, I decided to plant my final roots in the prosperous, growing and beautiful Huntsville, Alabama which is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains since the flip, rehab, new construciton and development industries are booming, the city is extremely active and there are many small, quaint towns and beautiful farms nearby! Currently I offer in-person interior design and construction management services within a 60-mile radius from Huntsville and also offer some virtual services throughout the United States. If your project is further than 60-miles, please do not hesitate to ask. I do not mind driving at all and always happy to help if I can.