ABOUT "RO"HAB

LOWDOWN ON ROCHELLE WINTHER

I’m an interior designer and construction manager — and I absolutely love what I do. My life has always revolved around design, construction, production, entertainment, communications, management, and making a statement. I embrace every experience and treat challenges as rewards — each one gives me more to bring to the table.

Over the years, I’ve traveled many creative and professional paths that all led me here. With hands-on training, diverse roles, and a passion for innovation, I’ve refined the skills, talents, and instincts that shape the way I work today. I thrive on clear intentions, original ideas, and inspiring others along the way.

If you’re looking to work with someone who gives 100%, thinks outside the box, analyzes toothpicks, cracks jokes, bakes cookies for clients, and then cracks the whip on a jobsite the next day — that’s me.

"Life is about making choices with clear intentions and reaching conclusions based on experiences and following your gut."

~ Rochelle "Ro" Winther

STEP INTO MY WORLD

MY DETAILED JOURNEY OF EXPERIENCES

...a scaled-down version

Foggy Lights Transparent_edited_edited.png

USING MY NOGGIN & GUT

"Ro"hab...using creative problem solving skills.

FORT FIX

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by people, places, and things. I developed my thinking skills through a mix of listening, observing, participating, investigating, and genuinely appreciating everything around me. I rely on both reason and imagination.

If something works, I don’t fix it — but I stay open to new ideas. If something doesn’t work, I find different ways to make it happen. That mindset has helped me multitask effectively, see the full picture, and come up with creative ways to solve problems — in life and on the job.

Growing up in the Seattle area, surrounded by trees and new construction, my best friend and I spent hours collecting scrap lumber from nearby job sites to build our own “designer” forts. A good piece of wood was a hot commodity — especially when the neighborhood boys kept stealing our stash.

To solve the problem, we raided my parents’ wallpaper and paint stash and marked every piece of our lumber so they’d stop taking it. It worked. That was the beginning of my design-build journey — and my first real lesson in creative problem-solving.

"Ro"hab...learning how to invest in my future.

CHORES & INVESTMENTS

"Ro"hab...learning how to work in the real world.

GETTING MY FEET WET

What kid actually enjoys doing chores? I did.

My parents kept an itemized chore list on the fridge with dollar values based on difficulty and time. I was even given a log to track my progress — though I’m pretty sure they were secretly managing my “performance” from behind the scenes. My first experience with project managers, perhaps?

They told me if I saved the money I earned, they’d match it and set up a savings account. I was hooked. Suddenly, big-ticket chores meant bigger rewards — and I had a plan for my new “investment fund” (candy, toys, music, the essentials). I’m grateful for those early lessons in hard work, responsibility, and ROI. They stuck with me.

I’ve always been driven to learn new things, get hands-on experience, and take advantage of every opportunity that came my way. From age 12 through college, I worked part-time in a variety of industries to get my feet wet, understand how businesses operate, and find creative ways to apply what I was learning.

I did just about everything a student could do — babysitting, administrative work at my dad’s law office, helping my mom decorate her classroom, flipping burgers and making snow cones at fairs, working mall food courts, wrapping gifts at Nordstrom during the holidays, selling music at record stores, taking customer service calls for Ticketmaster, and running the Bite of Seattle info booth for KING 5 News.

All of those experiences helped shape the strong customer service skills I still rely on today.

SCHOOLING & TRAINING

While in college, I juggled coursework, part-time jobs, and several amazing work-study programs that gave me real-world experience in media, production, and design. These opportunities taught me how to multitask, manage time like a pro, and tap into my creative instincts early on.

🎓 Some highlights:

Hosted weekly alternative radio shows at KGRG and KAOS as a radio DJ
Wrote radio ads and PSAs for local television and radio stations
Operated lighting, sound, and camera equipment for television shows
Designed and built sets for TV productions
Created fliers, album covers, and backdrops for Seattle-area bands
Helped organize and promote bands performing at college venues

📘 Degrees Earned:

Associate of Arts in Broadcasting
Green River Community College — Auburn, WA

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media & Communications
The Evergreen State College — Olympia, WA

"Ro"hab...working in the administrative world.

OPERATION ORGANIZATION

After college, I set out to find a communications job — but opportunities were scarce in Seattle at the time. So I pivoted and signed up with several temp agencies, hoping to land a full-time role. That detour became one of the most valuable chapters in my career.

I worked across a wide range of administrative positions, often holding two jobs at once. I became a reliable “Girl Friday” — supporting business owners, principals, managers, and executives with everything from reception, filing, scheduling, and note-taking to writing, form creation, meeting prep, travel arrangements, coffee runs, and cleanup.

Because I was quick, organized, and proactive, I was regularly asked to:

Organize offices
Set up operational systems
Create training manuals

These roles introduced me to industries like real estate, mortgage, finance, brokerage, civil engineering, commercial construction, advertising — and even Starbucks, where I worked as the executive assistant to the VP of Research & Development.

I came out of that time with sharper time management skills, a deep understanding of operations, and the kind of organizational confidence that’s stayed with me ever since.

"Ro"hab...using my training and experience in smart ways.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

You know what they say — when it rains, it pours. That’s exactly what happened to me.

While still temping, I was offered multiple opportunities in the communications field and accepted two roles: one as a writer and the other as a visual merchandiser. I worked full-time at Muzak as the supervisor for convenience store accounts, where I managed and trained a writing team. We created in-store audio ads, jingles, and catalog content for well-known c-stores and major petroleum companies across the U.S.

As a bonus, I also got to use my broadcasting background as a voice-over artist — narrating national ads for in-store promotions and phone systems.

When the company decided to relocate to another state, I designed and developed a comprehensive c-store training manual and trained department heads and staff to ensure a smooth transition and minimal financial disruption.

At the same time, I worked part-time as a visual merchandiser — creating eye-catching window displays, retail setups, and tradeshow booths for events and conventions throughout the Seattle area.

These experiences showed me that I was most energized when management, communications, operations, and design were all working together — and that realization sparked the direction for everything I would build next.

While working part-time as a visual display designer, I looked for new opportunities to apply my creativity in larger, more dynamic environments. I landed a role with an event planning and catering company, where I managed and decorated venues for private and corporate events — from weddings to executive luncheons at Microsoft.

Wanting to expand even further, I placed an ad in the Northwest Production Index, a regional film and television resource guide. Just one week after it was published, I got a call from a director to work on a film set in Oregon. I started as a production assistant and ended up stepping into the set designer role by the end of the shoot.

From that point on, I worked primarily in the art department for independent films and short features — taking on roles as production designer, art director, and prop master, designing, building, and dressing sets from concept to completion.

Because Seattle had a small film production community, I was often brought on when large productions from Hollywood came to town. I became one of the go-to locals for film, TV, and commercial shoots. Crew members from California encouraged me to move to Los Angeles — and I took that as a sign to follow my instincts.

I relocated to LA soon after, to pursue interior design more formally and to dive deeper into the entertainment industry. Project management and design had been the core of everything I touched — from events to sets — and I was ready to bring that experience into something even bigger.

HELLO HOLLYWOOD!

In 2001, I packed up a U-Haul and made the move to Los Angeles — ready to dive into the entertainment industry and find the right design school to continue my education. Within a month, I was already working on television and film productions, event setups, and inside a prop house — doing much of what I had done in Seattle, just on a bigger stage.

Because the work took me all over the city, I quickly learned how to navigate LA’s maze of side streets, backroads, and freeways — sometimes better than people who were born and raised there. (Funny enough, not much has changed since.)

And yes... I actually love driving.

"Ro"hab...sharpening my design skills with more education.

HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

"Ro"hab...drafting my way into interior design.

After several years working in the entertainment industry, I decided to pursue a formal education in interior design. I enrolled at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in downtown Los Angeles, where I received professional training in architecture, design, and construction — with a strong emphasis on both aesthetics and technical precision.

🎓 My education covered:

Functional and aesthetic principles of interior design across commercial, hospitality, residential, retail, landscape, furniture, and lighting sectors
Manual and computer-aided architectural drafting
Technical drawings: floor plans, elevations, sections, details, and schedules
Sketching, rendering (manual & digital), 3D models, and presentation boards
Space planning and layout for furniture and equipment
Color theory and color psychology applications
Construction methods, building codes, and contractor responsibilities
Construction documents, budgets, estimates, and project scheduling
History of architecture, materials, furniture, and interiors
Material and finish specification: including fabrics, wall coverings, window treatments, cabinetry, flooring, tile, hardware, appliances, and plumbing fixtures
Custom furniture design and fabrication

📘 Degrees Earned:

Associate of Arts in Interior Design | Professional Designation
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), Los Angeles

MASTERING MATERIALS

SETTING THE STAGE

While in design school — and after graduating — I managed a high-end furniture showroom at the LA Mart Design Center. I worked closely with the owner to design and develop custom furniture collections, including upholstered pieces, hand-painted furnishings, bedding, pillows, and drapery — all sold through boutique retailers across the U.S.

That experience gave me an in-depth understanding of:

Fabric types, grades, and content
Pattern selection and application
Durability and manufacturing processes
Custom furniture production

I later became a showroom manager and interior designer for a high-end design center that specialized in:

Plumbing fixtures
Kitchen and vanity cabinets
Countertops, flooring, architectural moldings
Doors, door and cabinet hardware

I received extensive product training from manufacturers and suppliers and assisted clients with full-scope interior design services.

From there, I accepted a position as a kitchen and bath designer with Home Depot to expand my experience and work with a broader client base. Home Depot was (and still is) the largest retailer of building materials, and the training I received in product specs and departmental operations was invaluable.

I worked during the peak of the housing boom, designing 30 to 60 kitchens and bathrooms each month. My clients ranged from architects and developers to homeowners, business owners, and real estate investors.

After several years in retail showrooms, I made the leap into in-the-field design and construction — where I could work more closely with clients and collaborate directly with trades and industry experts.

To deepen my knowledge of interior design and construction operations, I collaborated with seasoned interior designers across multiple sectors — from hospitality to celebrity residential design. I also worked alongside landscape designers and decorative accessory specialists to understand how each layer of a project contributes to the full picture.

🎯 My responsibilities included:

Meeting with clients, consultants, trades, building departments, and inspectors
Preparing budgets, scopes of work, schedules, and deadline targets
Coordinating and managing contractors and trades
Assisting with and creating inspiration boards, design concepts, material boards, and presentations
Researching and sourcing building materials, finishes, furniture, and accessories
Designing space plans, floor plans, electrical layouts, and furniture placements
Designing kitchens and bathrooms for both residential and commercial spaces
Researching entitlements, zoning requirements, and permit pathways
Expediting construction permits throughout Southern California

Thanks to my hands-on work history, I was able to quickly identify bottlenecks both in the field and behind the scenes — and offer simple, effective solutions. I began developing time-saving project management systems, along with internal policies, procedures, standardized forms, and quality control measures.

These experiences laid the foundation for my transition into the design-build and rehab industries — where I could bring everything together under one roof.

"Ro"hab...learning from industry experts in business.

PRIMED FOR PROJECTS

🎯 My responsibilities included:

Meeting with clients, consultants, trades, building departments, and inspectors
Preparing budgets, scopes of work, schedules, and deadline targets
Coordinating and managing contractors and trades
Assisting with and creating inspiration boards, design concepts, material boards, and presentations
Researching and sourcing building materials, finishes, furniture, and accessories
Designing space plans, floor plans, electrical layouts, and furniture placements
Designing kitchens and bathrooms for both residential and commercial spaces
Researching entitlements, zoning requirements, and permit pathways
Expediting construction permits throughout Southern California

These experiences laid the foundation for my transition into the design-build and rehab industries — where I could bring everything together under one roof.

ROHAB IS BORN & TRANSFORMED

After years of working on luxury design-build projects and fast-paced flip and rehab properties across Los Angeles, I launched ROHAB in 2011. My mission was to offer full-service construction management and interior design, as well as simple, value-based specialty services for real estate investors, agents, developers, builders, and business owners.

From the beginning, my focus has been on creating innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of each client — whether the project is large or small.

In 2019, I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, eager to explore new design and construction opportunities. Then in 2021, during the shutdown, I shifted gears and began offering virtual services nationwide, including a full library of digital documents to help clients stay organized, informed, and in control.

But I’ll admit — I missed the in-person interaction. I’ve always preferred a hands-on approach in everything I do.

So in late summer 2023, I planted new roots in Huntsville, Alabama — a vibrant, fast-growing city nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. With booming development, active flip and rehab markets, and charming small towns all around, it felt like the perfect place to bring the ROHAB way to life once again.

Today, I offer:

In-person services within a 60-mile radius of Huntsville
Select virtual services throughout the U.S.

And if your project happens to be beyond that radius? Just ask. I love driving — and I’m always happy to help if I can.

EXPLORE OUR SERVICES

Interior design. Construction management. Real results.