Today we’d like to introduce you to Rod Winterrowd
Hi Rod, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Rod Winterrowd Inc. is a New York-LA based design firm with Principle Rod now living exclusively in Los Angeles. The company specializes in interior design and interior architecture, with projects in New York City, The Hamptons, Connecticut, Palm Beach, Washington DC, Dallas, The Bahamas, Aspen, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, London, Mexico, Beverly Hills, Bel Air and the Hollywood Hills. After a decade as an executive at Disney Studios Rod moved to New York to attend The Parsons School of Design. In 2003, Rod Winterrowd Inc. opened its New York City office on 5th Avenue on the parlor floor of a 19th century townhouse overlooking Central Park on the Upper Eastside.
Rod describes his style as tailored, crisp, contemporary, yet steeped in tradition. It is based on a contemporary interpretation of the formalist architectural principles of order and balance. We work with clients to create beautiful, classic interiors, for both new construction and remodels of existing properties. Our philosophy is based on the following principles:
To offer superior service. To begin each project with a strategic plan that adheres to order, discipline, and organization, resulting in a project that is on time, on budget, and beautifully executed. To foster a relationship between the client and designer that translates into a residence complimenting the taste and lifestyle of the client, not the designer. To operate in an atmosphere that instills goodwill, teamwork, and collaboration among employees. To recognize that all of our clients expect and deserve the highest levels of discretion.
Like so many of the designers we interview, Rod came to the job after another entirely different career—in his case a vice president in television for Disney. One Thursday in 1999, just before Memorial Day weekend, he was finally released from his Disney contract and the following week he began studying interior design at Parsons.
He grew up in Rolling Hills Estates, which he says is “a very lovely community and a wonderful place to have grown up”
His unique last name is English.
The family is English and French on both sides. “We are all immigrants, aren’t we?”.
Most of the ‘RWI” clientele are very private people. He’s had to sign NDA’s for the majority of his projects. “The really great stuff is never published, or seen” even on their most comprehensive website.
Rod is a fourth generation Angelino. He graduated from USC and I went to work for Disney. He was there just shy of a decade. One of his goals, he laughs about now was to be a vice president by the time he was 30. It happened when he was 27. Several years later, after some other personal life changes, he tendered his resignation after being offered a position in New York, which included a promotion to senior vice president. He was moving to New York all right, but to the shock and fear out of love from friends and family, he was headed east to follow his passion and pursue a career in design by starting school at Parsons. By this time he already had an apartment on the Upper Eastside and a house in Southampton. So when he got the news that he was being released from his contract at the studio he just hopped on a redeye, arrived Friday morning to start school the following Tuesday after the holiday weekend. Rod says “life has such a funny way of working out the way it is intended”.
From a very young age he loved fashion, design, beautiful hotels and houses. He was fortunate enough to travel with his family to Europe and that opened his eyes. His aunt, ’Mima’, “just got me”. He describes himself as being different from the other boys his age. While they were playing video games, sports or trying to kill each other as young boys do, he had his nose in the latest edition of Vogue and Architecture Digest. He says he was also “completely intrigued by the great films and movie sets from the 30’s, 40s and 50s. Particularly Hitchcock. “The Edith Head pistachio green suits he dressed many of his leading ladies in like Grace Kelly in Rear Window and Tippy Hedron for The Birds was visually so stunning. Anything Joan Crawford, Audrey Hepburn and Bette Davis; and of course Cary Grant were in transfixed me. I would be glued in front of the TV for hours”.
“Disney was where I learned my business acumen. What it gave me was a sense of entrepreneurship. I had to be responsible for running a mini-company within this major corporation. It taught me a great deal of discipline, the importance of hard work and to always be prepared. It’s proved to be much more transferable than I ever imagined. At the studio, I had to prepare for extensive presentations. Now, when I take on a new project, for example a 19th century Portuguese revival, I’m going to do a deep dive into the history of that period as well as the culture while I learn all I can about the architecture and design of that century. In a sentence, it was like going to business school, before pursuing my passion. I will always be grateful for those nine plus years”.
We asked how he would characterize his style? “That’s funny because people often ask me, “how do you do what you do? I would be so overwhelming for me.” “My answer is always the same. I simply don’t like 99 percent of what’s out there. Well, I could say I’m not a fan of mid-century, but then I find a fabulous piece by Tommy Parzinger or Billy Haines from that period and love it. I know it when I see it. At this point in my career, I think I’ve designed houses and apartments from every period. I was blessed to be educated on the classical tenets of architecture and design hailing back to the Greco Roman empires. Scale, balance, proportion and symmetry. I always start with the bones, whether it’s new construction or returning an old residence to rights. Every space has to have these rules of classical order because without them, no matter how beautiful the furniture, antiquities and art are, it will never be right. That is the same with a mid-century house in the hills of Santa Monica or a turn of the century apartment on 5th Avenue”.
What are your dream projects? “The ones that I have been doing!” He won the Ballinger Award (the Ballinger Award commemorates a restoration or a renovation that best exemplifies the traditions of Palm Beach’s original houses and the architects who designed them). We inquired whose house it was?”. After hesitating, he answered “well since it’s a matter of public record I suppose I can answer. The Koch family. “What do you think of the Koch family? I read an interview with Charles Koch in the Financial Times and he came across as very reasonable”. “The family has always been very kind to me and wonderful clients”.
“Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?”
“Nobody gets through life unscathed. It’s not what happens to us, but the way we choose to cope with it. Every day is a choice to be happy, give back, look at life through the lens of abundance instead of scarcity. I’m a people pleaser, however less so with age. I’m also a perfectionist, but I’ve mellowed a bit there too. Working in a rarefied world designing for some of the wealthiest people on the planet, requires both humility, as well as strength and self-respect, not only for myself, but for my team. I suffer no bullies”.
“Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so – who are they and what role did they play and how did they help?”
“I’ve had wonderful mentorships. My art history teacher at Parsons, Kohl Yohannan championed me. When I was a neophyte back in the day when only the best of the best were invited to do the important show houses, Charlotte Moss, Mario Buatta and Richard Keith Langham all went to bat for me to be included. While it was just a former closet off the entry hall, I was able to turn it into a little library, I was so incredibly grateful to be included. Another mentor and dear friend was the very talented designer Marjorie Shushan who taught me so much about how to run a design business and make money. She was always tough on me, but it was out of love. Every sentence began with “sweetheart…“. Sometimes a compliment, more often than not constructive criticism. She recently passed, and I miss her terribly and will always be so grateful for the gifts she bestowed onto me. However, the biggest source of mentorship and guidance was from my dear Uncle John. He gave me so much of his time and shared his sage wisdom on how to run a successful company. Sadly, we lost him as well a year and a half ago.
“I’ve had wonderful mentorships. My art history teacher at Parsons, Kohl Yohannan championed me. When I was a neophyte back in the day when only the best of the best were invited to do the important show houses, Charlotte Moss, Mario Buatta and Richard Keith Langham all went to bat for me to be included. While it was just a former closet off the entry hall, I was able to turn it into a little library, I was so incredibly grateful to be included. Another mentor and dear friend was the very talented designer Marjorie Shushan who taught me so much about how to run a design business and make money. She was always tough on me, but it was out of love. Every sentence began with “sweetheart…“. Sometimes a compliment, more often than not constructive criticism. She recently passed, and I miss her terribly and will always be so grateful for the gifts she bestowed onto me. However, the biggest source of mentorship and guidance was from my dear Uncle John. He gave me so much of his time and shared his sage wisdom on how to run a successful company. Sadly, we lost him as well a year and a half ago.
Rod describes the full circle return to Los Angeles as the beginning of an exciting new third chapter.
“Instead of globetrotting around the world, it’s wonderful to be close to my family and very best of friends while I focus on work here in Southern California. I traveled so much when I was at Disney, and it’s been nonstop since I opened the doors to my firm. For the first time I feel settled and content. Instead of racing to the airport, I get to stay home with Phineas my true love. A 16-year-old PBGV. The only regrets in life I have are if I hurt anybody along my journey. The rest are all just lessons to glean acquired wisdom from and move on. I don’t dwelled on the past. I focus on the now as I look forward to the future. Every day is a new opportunity to work in a job I love and try to give back as much as I can to my country, and those less privileged than me. If I can do that, I am a very, very blessed man.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Rodwinterrowd.com
- Facebook: Rod Winterrowd’
- Other: Rodwinterrowd/intro.co
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