BACKGROUND
As long as anyone can remember, I’ve been a nonconformist maverick fence jumper who saw things a little differently. Professionally, that translated to “Personality Design” (the client’s, not mine) and not what everyone else is doing. Clients seek me out to help reflect a home as unique as they are, see it in new ways and make them smile when they enter their rooms. They describe it as a fun collaboration with surprising solutions. The rumor is that I get my exercise running from the herd.
Roots
I grew up in the Midwest (a town in Iowa about half the size of Mayberry). A small- town survival kit included a very active imagination fueled by the work ethic and creativity of my mom who ran a cake and catering business out of our very custom designed kitchen-centric home. She was town mayor in her spare time.
Oregon Trail
I went from Iowa to Idaho and, 5 years and two babies later, I hit the Oregon Trail and arrived in Portland, my soul city, in 1988. With the help of my 2 kids, my skilled teams and a phased master plan, I’ve remodeled 12 rooms of my 1941 home while also remodeling hundreds of Portland clients’ homes.
Side Gigs
Meals On Wheels: For 20+ years, I’ve had the privilege to serve as a driver and a board member, passing down a family tradition from my mother to my 3 granddaughters that food is life, sharing it is love.
Airbnb: Since 2012, an early adapter, we’ve had the world come to our door as well as a wealth of fun people, stories and making them feel “at home.” I’ve designed Airbnb conversions for many of my clients (kind of like “The Property Sister”).
“We hired Rhonda to transform the basement of our 100 year old house into a living space we could rent through Airbnb. She listened to our ideas and came up with a fabulous design that really works for us and our guest. She was very communicative, worked through many options, drew professional plans and recommended the contractor. As a team, they worked very well together and our place turned out beautiful! Since we opened, we’ve been booked steadily and our guests love the place. What an investment pay-back!”
EDUCATION
CERTIFICATIONS
Why it matters: Did you know there was such a specialist? Specialized training and certifications separate professionals in this highly technical design area, kitchens and bathrooms (vs. general designers who “also do kitchens”). Like a medical specialty, who goes to a GP to deliver their baby any more? You get one chance for these monumental investments of where you spend a lot of money and home time; choose the right professional.
(See Portfolio projects for examples of professional kitchen/bath plans.)
CMKBD
Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer, NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) - An elevated honor after Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer certifications
CAPS
Certified Aging In Place Specialist, NARI (National Association of Remodeling Industry) Green Design, Wellness Design, Universal Design and Feng Shui principals are also part of my background, training and factored into each and every project.
degrees
After my interior design degree, I wanted to learn more about construction and moving spaces, not just surface treatments, so I added architectural design to the learning tree.
Interior Design, A.A.S.
Architectural Design, A.A.S.
Continuing EDUCATION
What that means to my clients: Staying ahead of the curve, avoiding designs in the rear-view mirror (dated micro trends and herd mentality). It requires being an eager, perpetual student and teacher. Being recipient of the inaugural “Professional Of The Year” award by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, as one who “exemplifies and promotes advanced continuing education in the industry” was a special honor.
Industry Shows: National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) - Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). As both attendee and presenter, annual industry shows help me bring global trends back to my clients.
Manufacturer’s Training: Classes, tours, design councils and invitational summits keep my clients and I on the cutting edge.
Seminars/Classes/Forums Presented: For both industry professionals and consumers, I’ve presented whole house planning, kitchen and bath design challenges/solutions, global trends, aging in place and also improv design solution demonstrations at HGTV speed. Fun example: Kitchen & Bath Industry Show “Designing For Airbnb” forum presented with Bobby Berk from famed Netflix “Queer Eye.”
INDUSTRY AFFILIATES
A personal thanks to these companies and more, the industry’s best, for their investment in training, education, support, exemplary industry leadership and innovation. They make the difference for professional designers like myself and for my clients.
“We spent years looking at this kitchen with my architect son, assuming we needed to do a kitchen addition to get the space we needed. With Rhonda’s ingenious solution (seems simple now), we moved an interior doorway, got a better plan, a big island, everything on my wish list…and more. We were about to spend a ton of money we didn’t need to. THAT’S what this trained professional can bring to your project!”
EXPERIENCE
Design + Build
The best recipe? For life and design, it’s all about the mix, sage wisdom + fresh innovation.
Experience: Decades of it can’t be bought or taught - it’s good to have one foot in the past.
Trends: Staying ahead of the curve, influencer/innovator/insider - it’s important to have one foot in the future.
Wish you could combine the skill set of a designer and a builder? Because I’ve walked in contractor’s shoes, my designs are not only artful and creative but also grounded in plans, construction knowledge, language and costs effected. For decades, I not only designed it, I built it.
Rhonda Knoche Design: 2012 - present, design only
Design / Build Firm: 1988 - 2011, senior designer, one of the largest residential design/build firms in the country
Small design/build firms and custom cabinet shops: Pre-power tools (Kidding. Mostly.)
“Rhonda truly has a gift for seeing spaces. She saw the house we’ve lived in for 3 years in ways that we literally never, ever imagined. We needed an innovative approach to our whole house space use (vs. the addition we realized we couldn’t afford), and we truly got that solution with Rhonda.”
