was searching for the right designer to collaborate with me
on re-doing the kitchen layout for my new home. Built in1929, the antiquated layout was not functional for a family of five in this day and age. Being a designer myself, the vibe and chemistry needed to be just right. It was a huge challenge.
Then I met Lynne Shore at Rhode Island Kitchen and Bath on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick, Rhode Island. We clicked almost immediately! I loved her energy and the ideas she had, but what was really great was that she “listened.” She offered great ideas that I wouldn’t have thought of without her. Lynne created a kitchen that works beautifully for a growing family, not just for today, but for years to come. It was a huge chal- lenge and together we conquered it.
Lynne is a very talented and passionate designer who can deliv- er the finished product on time and as promised. I am not just saying that from my personal experience, but the many awards she has won just in the past 5 years proves she’s got what it takes. I asked the Rhode Island School of Design graduate if I could feature her in the RICM to showcase her award winning interior designs, and also talk about her journey getting to this point in her career. She immediately said yes!
RICM: How did you become an interior designer? Coming from a creative family, my father was in the film industry, I enjoyed designing and expressing my creativity throughout my life and in school. However, when it came time for college, I wanted to pursue my love of design as well as my love for medical science. Unfortunately, the late 70’s was not a great time for young people to pursue a career in the arts, it was considered the “starving artist career.” And my family could not afford medical school. Instead, my parents suggested that I follow a practical path of teaching and business interests because these are two tools that will help you to succeed in life. Their thought: You have the best of both worlds. A grounded education, and you can always follow your passion for design as a hobby. So, I did. Graduating Boston University in Education and Biomechanics Science, getting a job in education followed by a business career which gave me the tools to succeed in working with customers, managing time, budgets, projects and making a living-- while at the same time I followed my parents’ advice and pursued my hobby of design and freelanced. After completing an interior project for my next door neighbor, she encouraged me to attend RISD’s interior design program.
While working in the business area, I went to school part-time and loved it! To my chagrin, the business market that I had been in for 12 years encountered layoffs due to the economy and I happened to be one of the casualties. I continued with my edu- cation at RISD and graduated 2 years later as an interior designer. It was there that I met Prudence Stoddard, who was my kitchen and bath instructor. She inspired me to push the envelope in design and think out of the box while problem- solving an idea through design. She also happens to work as the Director of Design for RI Kitchen and Bath (RIKB). One day she mentioned the company was looking for more designers. I applied and have been with RIKB for the past 4 years. During that time, my learn-
22 | Rhode Island Creative Magazine
ing curve increased immensely and I’ve been fortunate to have such wonderful customers that put their trust in me to work together in creating their new space. As a team and the lead designer on the project, we have won numerous awards as well as high profile recognition in many designer magazines.
RICM: How do you set yourself apart from your competitors when designing for clients? I really like to get to know my clients, who they are, what in- spires them and their passions that they want to bring to their
Design That Tru
by Kimberly Sherman Leon Founder & Publisher
Lynne Shore, NKBA Member, RISD RIKB Interior Designer
new space. I also like to get my clients involved – hands on – in the project by giving them simple assignments that they enjoy doing as being apart of the design process. In addition, I treat my customers with respect, understanding and making them feel very comfortable with me and the project. Being a design- er, I think the biggest hurdle we have to get over is really LIS- TENING to our customer, asking and clarifying questions, and probing a bit deeper to make sure our communication with our customer is clear and concise so we are all working together on the same sheet of music. A special treat I like to give my clients is a hand-rendered drawing of their new project so they can see what the final outcome will look like after it is built. They really enjoy and love it!
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