For Hill Rondero, a love of home design started early. As a kid, Rondero visited new home sites with her grandmother, a real estate agent, and her grandfather, a builder. “The design world was always part of my psyche,” she says. “I didn’t realize as a child that I would pursue a career in design.” And she didn’t, at first. After studying finance in college, Rondero and her husband moved to Los Angeles, where she opened a boutique. After a few years, a few children, and a move to Charlotte, Rondero’s own home was featured in a regional magazine, and she scored her first paid design gig. A new career was born. Today, she’s the owner of a full-service interior design firm, Ro House Studio, based in Charlotte. “Without this career path, I would be reinventing my own home again and again, similar to an artist with one canvas. It’s just not sustainable,” she says.
For her projects, Rondero is constantly looking for design inspiration. In addition to a huge collection of design books and a healthy Pinterest feed, she also turns to nature for ideas. “If you’ve followed me, even for a short time, you know that I am never opposed to a quick foraging trip. Nature is the jewelry for all of my designs,” says Rondero. “Most weeks, I’m driving around with branches extending out of a car window or trunk. It’s the juxtaposition of scale that does it for me. Imagine a large stone island in a freshly renovated kitchen; an even bigger branch will soften it in the best way!”
Give us the backstory on your Harris Road project.
Our Harris Road project is one of the most transformative and creative projects I’ve yet to work on. This full-home renovation was brought to us by an existing client who was looking to purchase the property to increase their square footage and livability during COVID.
The custom house was built in 2005. The interior was an interesting combination of old-world stone, rustic wood beams, lacquered wood countertops, and heavy ironwork. All that said, the interior of the home felt very dark and heavy. The exterior was classic, with a stone facade, wood, and an aged cedar roof. We wanted to lighten up and modernize the space while maintaining some of the rustic charm, which we knew could be stunning in the right portions. The clients were patient and committed to the cause, even taking up residence for quite some time in the garage apartment while construction progressed (slowly, at times).
How did you approach the project? What aspects were most rewarding?
The meeting of the design styles in a poetic way … The balancing act was a constant consideration running through my mind. It took a while to get to a place of “Yes, that makes sense.” For example, the entryway of the home had irregular blue stone floors, a heavy wooden staircase with intricate cutouts, and an iron lantern. There were interior windows with leaded glass, and a strange landing to seemingly nowhere. We had to decide: What do we keep? It was clear to me—the floors stay! The counterbalance to such a strong focal point was to lighten up the staircase and add modern lighting. The final entry is stunning, and the floors get the time, space, and attention they deserve.
What are your favorite details or elements of this design?
In the end, the rustic elements—newly reined in—make the space incredible; they were there all along and just needed to be complemented by the appropriate pairings. I think we achieved this, and the home will always be a favorite of mine. I love the original wide-plank soft pine floors. They were a labor of love and were bleached and stained to uncover a bright and textural appearance. These floors quietly set off the soft white plaster fireplace facade in the light-filled dining room. It’s perfection!
What ideas or tips can readers apply to their own space?
Start where you are. What is worth saving; what are the non-negotiables? I’m a fan of keeping the parts of a renovation that are quirky or interesting. It gives the soul to a space that you spend time creating in a new build. If there’s a brick wall, maybe keep it. It may create a less-than-optimal pass-through in a modern scale, but it’s worth it because, wow … it’s imperfectly perfect!
What’s one tip or hack that only a designer will tell you?
Give your space an identity. We are all in a state of imagery overload in the design world. It’s possible to appreciate and be inspired by all types of design styles, while still respecting the individuality of a singular space. It’s OK to find something you love and not bring it home. Be discerning in your choices. The magic happens in the edit.
For more of Hill Rondero’s work, check out her portfolio.
