Renate Ruby Design

Our experience with Renate was different from the other reviewers. I initially sent her an email to describe our needs which were very specific: help us with flooring selections (hardwoods and carpet) for our main floor. We had narrowed our choices down and were looking for confirmation. Renate said she was happy to help and we set up a time for her to come by.
When she walked in the house and we started to talk, she talked about everything except our specific questions, which was more than a bit disconcerting. Most of her suggestions were well out of scope for the work we were contemplating (replace windows, move a large pantry, change lights, etc.) It got to the point where I became so frustrated that I had to stop the conversation and bring us back on point.
Thinking we might be missing the boat, we ran Renate’s suggestions by both a realtor with over 30 years of experience in our residential market as well as a contractor who specializes in high end homes. They both concluded that several of her ideas would have been quite expensive and wouldn’t have added any value to our home so they were quickly discarded.
I’ve been a consultant and know you’ve got to keep work in the pipeline, but I felt like Renate was using our time with her, that we’d paid for, trying to convince us that we needed more of her time in the future. Should we have the need for design service in the future, we will look to another resource.

Phenomenal job– Renate really knows her stuff! She knows immediately what will make your place the best it can be.

Renate came to my house in May to give me ideas for the external of my simple 1950’s house. I wanted to use more contemporary colors. She gave me a series of ideas beyond the colors that were very helpful and got my own creativity flowing as well. For example, she suggested doing the soffits around the house in natural cedar. It looks fantastic! I am super happy with the result. She coordinated with some things I didn’t want to change, like the fence color which was helpful also.

Renate really delivers when it comes to creating a one of a kind look for your home. Saw her work recently when I was there at a guest house project collaborating on the interior walls. Her vision simply made this new guest house have the charm of a hundred year home. Unique light fixtures, reclaimed floors, green kitchen cabinets, wax candle sconces, and even a hammered copper island countertop. Highly recommend.

Renate is the motivator you need if you’re looking to refresh your home! We hired her for a color consultation for our contemporay townhouse. It was fun to watch her get right to work– she readily offered a brainstorm of ideas, listened to our feedback, and double-​checked her own intuition. She also offered isuggestions for furniture and room layouts. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Within minutes of her departure, we were clearing out the old, rearranging and preparing for the new.
Her choices were brilliant! The house has a clean, contemporary, cohesive look, with a real splash of style. We wouldn’t change a thing!
We had used a color consultant once before and ended up repainting some of the walls. Renate really delivered.
Now if she only approved of our sofa!

Renate Ruby Design is an awesome resource for us design-​confused and color-​clumsy lay people. I’ve painted entire rooms only to discover at the end of the project that the idea of the color is completely different than the reality of it on my walls in my home. I’ve made some hideous mistakes. Renate is a genius when it comes to color — she is spot on every time for using and choosing color to create the space that works her client.
I’ve used Renate for color consultation for the exterior and interior of my home, a professional space and recently she was the force behind a design concept for a remodel of a challenging use of space in my home. In fact, Renate came up with the design concept in only 10 minutes of brainstorming!!.
Additionally, while she has fabulous taste in high end design options she’s also able to work on a budget. I highly recommend her.

There is nothing I love more than meeting a professional who knows how to do their job brilliantly. Renate is one such designer!
We hired Renate to help us wth a new project, a home we will live in short term and then rent out. We were worried about having something we can live with while making it easily rentable when the time comes.
In less than 2 hours, Renate had helped us choose colors for every room in the house, saved us a bundle on remodeling projects we no longer need to do and left us with a firm plan on what to do.
I can’t wait to have her back for the next step — after paint, before kitchen and bath projects. She has made a huge task seem simple, affordable and actually fun.

Renate’s understanding of color is just about as deep as it gets. Her background in art really allows her to think and breathe in color, understanding not only which colors look good together, but how colors are created.
On top of her great understanding of color, she is a whizz with furniture, too. She knows every maker out there, so she is sure to find the right piece. And if she can’t find it, then she knows how to get it made!
We have worked together on several projects, and I am always glad to refer her to friends and clients!

Renate Ruby is great to work with. She has an amazing flare for color and design. When we first purchased our home a few years ago, Renate recommended bold, fun colors. Recently, when we were ready to update, she created a wonderfully workable kitchen design for our small kitchen and helped us choose very warm and inviting colors in our living room, and dining room. Renate also articulated important color features for our computer room, hallway and bathroom ceilings. We have a few more rooms to paint and are thrilled for the upcoming changes. Thanks Renate!