Meet Ricki Kline of Ricki Kline Design and Build

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricki Kline.

Ricki, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After moving from my home in Brooklyn to San Francisco in the early 1970s, I settled in as a union carpenter, working mostly on big commercial and public jobs, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. Eventually I headed to LA where I began making original hand-crafted furniture. Over the next decade, I built art studios in Venice for leading artists, such as Ed Ruscha, Judd Fine, Laddie John Dill, and Ed Moses (also known as the Venice Beach Mafia) and elegant homes for Hollywood stars.

Now I continue to combine my skill for design with my functional know-how from my days in the construction world and as a carpenter, to develop incredibly unique venues with one-of-a-kind furnishings you won’t find in any catalog.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely been an erratic road. One of the biggest struggle was learning how to take my craft and turn it into a business. Doing the work is the easy part for me, but the business side is challenging. From the expense sheets to overhead costs, it will always remain a challenge. Before Ricki Kline Design + Build, I was a freelancer and now I have a company with a staff, which has taught me how to work with a team and the importance of communication.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ricki Kline Design and Build – what should we know?
Ricki Kline Design + Build is a boutique design firm with a highly developed interest and specialty in the hospitality industry. Based in DTLA, we have forged our reputation by combining cutting edge design and high-quality craftsmanship to create beautiful settings for a variety of clients. We take pride in providing an unmatched level of customer service with a fresh and personalized approach every time.

We bring a level of craftsmanship and artisanship to each of our projects that is pretty rare in this industry. We design everything ourselves, from lighting fixtures to furniture to wall coverings whereas most design firms purchase already made items. It is such a passion of mine so I am incredibly proud of the work my team has done.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Our team is a huge part of our success. The actual design + build work is only one part of what we do – the rest is operating a business. This includes client relations, team communication, staying on top of new trends, etc. Our team leader, Rashida, and the rest of our team are so important to the success of RKDB. The company is representative of all of us, not just one person.

Contact Info:

• Address: 112 W 9th St #915
  Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Website: https://www.rickikline.com/
• Phone: (323) 475-8789
• Email: info@rickikline.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkdesignbuild/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/RKDesignBuild/

Image Credit:
White Oak Communications

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.