TANYA DONAHUE, co-owner and president of RIKB Design Build in Warwick, has been named to the Kitchen & Bath Design News Top Innovators of 2020. The honor is given to individuals whose work, creative talents, business acumen and professionalism are leading the way for the industry and elevating the trade.
What was your reaction to being named to the Kitchen & Bath Design News Top Innovators of 2020? During such a challenging year, I am extremely honored to not only be nominated by my peers but to be named to such a prestigious list. I am so proud that we are being recognized for driving the industry forward through our ideas and our quality work. Before products are chosen and construction even begins, we want the homeowner to truly understand how they will use their new space and inspire their creativity. Our team strives to not only deliver fabulous design but excellence in business, education, technology and community service.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the kitchen and bath design field? My father was a general contractor and I have sawdust in my blood. Some of my earliest memories are of being on new-home construction job sites and I think that really imprinted on me as I grew older. My husband and I started a custom cabinet shop in 1989 and after my kids started preschool, I began working at the lumberyard in the kitchen and bath department. I have always been passionate, not only by the design of projects but how it all comes together in the end, so as I look back at my over 30 years in this industry, it makes perfect sense now that we own a design-build firm.
How has the pandemic impacted your business, and how have you adapted to survive amid the crisis? RIKB Design Build has found nontraditional, creative ways to serve our clients. We focus on personal “care calls” to check in daily to ensure their comfort level. I think what resonates with our clients is they know we are a people-first company and they trusted us to keep our promises. Some clients chose to postpone their projects due to COVID-19 and we had puzzles made of their project renderings for a fun activity to do while staying at home. We were a virtual company before the pandemic, so the transition was seamless for us to incorporate next-level communication. Our cloud system allowed us to share and communicate with our clients and our trade partners. Our sales team instantly converted to virtual consultations, proposals and contract signings.
What is the outlook for your business and what do you hope to accomplish moving forward? Staying home during the pandemic has inspired a lot of remodels, and we feel very lucky for the opportunity to create beautiful spaces during such a challenging time. For years, we have been offering remodeling for every room of the home, but this was not clearly conveyed in our company name. As a result, we recently relaunched our brand from Rhode Island Kitchen & Bath to RIKB Design Build to put our complete services front and center.