Rachel Redfearn

Rachel Redfearn graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2013 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Design. She became NCIDQ-certified in 2015 and spent four years in the Boston area focusing on corporate interior renovations for technology companies. In 2018, she joined the team at Kaplan Thompson Architects as the firm’s first Interior Designer. She has since helped to develop and grow our capacity to offer a full spectrum of interior services, from space planning and code compliance to detailed aesthetic coordination and furniture selection.

For Rachel, interior design is a people-first pursuit; she feels the beauty of a space is most authentic when it brings joy, comfort, and safety to those who use it. “During the design process I put myself in the clients’ shoes and work to understand how their home, business, or space needs to flow. I love to study the function of a space and then dive into how to support that with aesthetics. The goal in my design work to have a positive impact on the users’ lives and daily interactions.” She applies this holistic consideration of form and function to projects of diverse scales and budgets, from detailing bespoke kitchen cabinetry for a custom home to coordinating exhaust systems for an active community kitchen.

Rachel pioneered our incorporation of trauma-informed design strategies into our standard practices for public spaces and continues to pursue innovative ways to better serve our community, celebrate local makers and artists, and support circular economies. In 2025 she participated in Leadership Portland, a six-month, hands-on program exploring the city’s industries and issues and preparing a new generation of leaders to help respond to them.

While her professional focus is on what goes inside a building, Rachel spends most of her recreational time outdoors. The relentless dedication to quality and empathy she brings to every project is paralleled only by her physical stamina; she is usually training for an upcoming ultra race (including the 129th annual Boston Marathon!) or skinning up a mountain in preparation for a last-skier-standing event. To relax between these trials of endurance, she hikes, bikes, and surfs with her fluffy four-legged companion Bear, regardless of season or temperature of the ocean. We are also grateful for her AIARE 1 avalanche hazard training, as we know she has the team’s back in case of extreme weather or when faced with a particularly fussy flooring transition.