Tina Ramchandani
Tina Ramchandani Creative
A trip to India, a blog and working under one of New York’s most celebrated designers led Tina Ramchandani to where she is today. But her career choice wasn’t so clear from the get-go.
“I was searching for what I wanted my life to be,” she said of her formative years before discovering interior design. “The careers I was exposed to at a young age didn’t appeal to me; I couldn’t get excited. I needed something that would stimulate me in a different way.”
Ms. Ramchandani, 40, launched her eponymous company, Tina Ramchandani Creative, in 2014. Since then, she’s been named one of House Beautiful’s Next Wave of Top Designers, “A Star on the Rise” by the D&D Building, and received the Innovation in Design Award by Cottages & Gardens.
Her studio is located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and offers interior design services for new construction and existing homes. The firm’s approach is “Soulful Minimalism,” a phrase Ms. Ramchandani trademarked. The wordage refers to a modern design style that’s inviting, comfortable and functional––an aesthetic reflecting the people who live in the home. “We’re taking a deep dive to understand their goals and why they’re doing this project right now,” she said of her clients. “Soulful Minimalism helps the client understand that I am here to create not just a house but a home. It’s not just function; it’s a little bit of emotion.”
Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Ramchandani enrolled at Rutgers University but struggled to select a major. It wasn’t until she went on a family vacation in India that something clicked and she felt motivated by a thoughtfully-designed space.
“I entered the hotel, and it excited me,” she mused. “I realized this is interior design: walking into this environment and feeling happy. I wanted to capture that feeling.”
Ms. Ramchandani transferred to The Art Institute of Philadelphia to major in interior design, then set her sights on New York, a decision that would shape her as a designer. She honed her skills at Frank & Marcotullio Design Associates, a boutique commercial design studio, before Vicente Wolf, a highly regarded interior designer with a global presence, hired her. “I was thrilled for the opportunity,” she said about working with Mr. Wolf. “I knew within a week that residential design was what I wanted to do.”
These days, Ms. Ramchandani and her team of four stay busy with a portfolio ranging from a traditional Georgetown, Washington, D.C., home with a modern interior, to two gut renovations on Park Avenue in Manhattan and a townhouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Frequently partnering with artisans such as Ottra by Zimmerman Workshop, a Red Hook, Brooklyn, furniture maker crafting sculptural wood pieces, she likes incorporating elements with a story. “Whether it’s an antique, a heritage piece, or by a maker, purchasing a piece helps them and their family. It’s giving back in a way.”
Beyond helming her company, Ms. Ramchandani will highlight her favorite rooms in homes across the U.S. on the Magnolia Network’s new show, “Rooms We Love,” this year.