Tiffanni Reidy uses design to transform restaurants and residences into inviting spaces

Reidy was able to work with Plauson’s builder on design challenges such as where to place the kitchen sink, move the master bedroom door, and set up the bathroom in the tiny house that was completely gutted.

“She masters difficult times with a lovable, calm focus and a graceful presence,” says Plauson. “What I love about her is that she is always the most creative person in the room, but also the most concentrated … and the first to solve seemingly stubborn problems.”

When working with clients, Reidy meets with them to find out their ideas and intentions, and then develops concept boards and 3D models to guide the project. “A large part of my work is education,” she says. “There should be reasons why we make design decisions, not just because it looks pretty. It should have a meaning behind it. “

Her background in computer graphics and photography often comes into play in her work. She encourages her commercial clients to choose their branding so that they can choose one type of design.

“The more they know about branding, the more I can bring it to life in their field,” says Reidy, who has experience with logo and website design. She credits photography for giving it an insight into the composition of a room. “You want to capture it from many angles, especially if you are in a restaurant. You don’t want people to think it looked great when they walked in, but once they sit down it is [just] OK.”

Reidy is currently working with Chelsea Gregoire, the managing partner of the yet-to-be-opened Church Bar in Old Goucher. Reidy describes the multiroom space as “a long, older house with front patios, decks, anteroom, bar, kitchen and a main area”, with each sector having its own feel and mood. “Chelsea is my ideal customer,” says Reidy. “Chelsea knows what their business is and what the brand is.”

Gregoire didn’t want to go into specific details about the layout and furnishings, but says Reidy helps with the finish, furniture and design of a space that “fits our concept and spirit we want to create for the community” Place where people will gather and feel welcome and comfortable.

“I’m really excited that Tiffanni is part of Church,” says Gregoire. “Ultimately, there is nobody who is more talented for this project. It goes beyond what is expected. “

Reidy knew about it As a child she was interested in art. “That was what made me really happy: drawing and painting,” she says. While she says her two younger sisters are also artistic – one is a musician; the other was engaged in visual arts – she notices that there is no one in her family who was a role model for artists.

“I think it’s more of an impact on giving them the space to create, rather than saying, ‘I want to draw like this person or paint like this person’ as a kid,” she says.

An avid market goer, Reidy supports the 32nd Street Farmers Market in Waverly, the Baltimore Farmers Market & Bazaar, and the Hamilton Farmers Market near her home. “My neighborhood is like a mini Baltimore,” she says, referring to the many restaurants and shops in Lauraville-Hamilton.

Popular eateries include the Red Canoe Cafe and Silver Queen Cafe for dining, Walther Gardens for plants and fancy items, and Cloudy Donut Co. for vegan pastries.

When she’s not working, she has a large organic garden where she grows eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, cucumbers, beans, blueberries, and flowers. “We eat a lot of what we grow and give away products,” she says. “I live in my garden all year round.” She made an “enormous amount of cucumbers” that summer, she says.

Reidy follows her own design mantra in her 1920s home, keeping public spaces minimal, though she admits her office is cluttered with work-related and other paraphernalia, from boxes of tile samples and color swatch books to garden seeds and props like glassware and golden cutlery. “There is always chaos in the room,” she admits.

She prefers “simple colors” like green, gray, black, blue, and purple for her home. “It’s easy to change color,” she says. She doesn’t use many patterns other than accents like wallpaper and tile, and is a big fan of the African mud with its delicate designs.

“It’s really about my appreciation for clean lines. THERE IS NOT A LOTS OF FLUFF OR DECORATION, ”SAYS REIDY.

A current design project was particularly close to her heart. When she was 3 years old, Reidy designed a playroom for her daughter and describes the project on her blog “The Tea” on her website. “She can go in there and wreak havoc,” Reidy says. “If we need company, we can close the door.”

The walls of the room are painted periwinkle and offer plenty of space to hang up Autumn’s artwork, while a colorful carpet in periwinkle, orange and blue makes the room pop. There is a children’s kitchen, art tables, and a seating area with pillows.

“We tried to recycle things and not spend too much when we thought they really weren’t going to keep it for long,” says Reidy. To design the creative play zone, Reidy bought from Target, Ikea, HomeGoods and Burlington. “It screams for space for children, but remains modern and fortunately not full of primary colors,” she says.

This is another talent from Reidy. Die-hard bargain shoppers and collectors actually like to look for ways to save money. “I love to save,” she says. And not just for their own customers. So far, her own souvenirs have included around 25 teapots and several matching cups; more than 100 Pez dispensers that she keeps in a box; a growing batch of enamel pins; and all kinds of tin cans with food related themes. She is also known for her luscious earrings.

“It’s great,” she says. “But sometimes it’s a problem where to keep them.” As such, Reidy can relate to their customers’ storage needs. “It was through Tiffanni that I found Mathew Laflamme at Robbins Custom Builders and together we created the kitchen of my dreams in a very small space,” says Hampden’s homeowner Plauson. “Maybe my favorite discussions with her were about colors, wallpaper, and the choice of lighting. She has such a wonderful eye. “

Reidy often builds close relationships with her customers. “I get to know my customers so well,” she says. “My aim is to build a sense of friendship.”

One of those friends is Amanda Mack, who with her husband Jarrod owns the Crust by Mack bakery in Whitehall Market. “I met Tiffanni on Instagram and we met in a café before I even had a storefront,” says Mack. “She was trying to figure out how to get into small business design and focus on the food and beverage industry.”

When Mack decided to open a shop in the former mill, she turned to Reidy for advice. “I like their aesthetics and attention to detail,” says Mack. “She knew the story of my mission in Baltimore. She was there from start to finish. “

The result is a shiny candy store with a pristine white quartz countertop and dusty pink pops of color to showcase Mack’s baked goods, which often sell out early in the day. “I am overjoyed with the result,” says Mack. “Tiffanni helped personalize the store so that things flow well in an area of ​​453 square feet. It helped make the space feel like walking into an intimate setting rather than an 18,000 square meter market. “

Reidy’s seemingly complete takeover of Whitehall Mill continues. She was also involved in another Mack project there, a 3,000-square-foot event space called Layers the Loft, where she created architectural drawings, 3D models, and suggested surfaces and furnishings. She also worked with the owner Jasmine Norton on the design of the Urban Burger Bar on Mühlenmarkt. Outside of the market, she was instrumental in designing the recently opened Vegan Juiceology, a storefront on Howard Street in the city’s Market Center-Bromo Arts District.

Though calm by nature, Reidy is a passionate advocate of her charges. “She’s cute and introverted, but when it comes to business, she’s a monster,” says Mack. “She makes sure that her customers get what they need.”