Out of Office: Rachell Bilbrey

Several years ago, I started purchasing real estate and flipping properties, so [in terms of] finding inspiration, I do a lot of research. I’ll draw ideas from interior design professionals, since it’s just my side hobby. I’m very artistic naturally, and I just explore … the trends and then I start to blend those all to make my own artistic style.

I get to blend my own artistic ability into something that reflects my personality and the character of the space I’m working with. It’s about creating an environment that feels alive but reflects who I am.

There are elements [in banking] that allow me to be more creative, but it’s very structured, and it’s defined by specific parameters that I can do my work in. … My role at the bank has a little bit of creativity when it comes to thinking through strategies and working with customers and things like that, but [interior design] is a space where I can just fully express my creative side and take risks.

I don’t pick out trends that are just “for now.” I pick out something—because it takes a long time to do these projects—that I can admire for a long time … and the projects I pick are timeless, elegant and they’re more interchangeable, so I don’t have to completely start from the ground up.