Behind the Design: Brittany Haines of Authenticity B Design

“The most well curated spaces engage all of the senses, demonstrate effortless balance, and require a heightened awareness towards simplicity,” designer Brittany Haines says. “These are the spaces that give us a natural urge to linger.” The principal designer of her own firm, Authenticity B Design, Brittany channels inspiration from her father, a practicing interior designer on the East Coast, while she’s busy making her mark in San Francisco. After working for some of San Francisco’s top designers, Brittany’s breakout moment may have been at last year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase where she designed the office/study. The room certainly showed all signs of a well curated space and we can’t wait to see what else is to come from this talented young designer.


Designer Photo 2 - Photo Credit Bess FridayWhat is the most memorable space you have ever been in? 

When I close my eyes I can instantly recall precise details of my childhood home with a strong sense of nostalgia.  For a child especially, your home is where you feel most at ease and secure. I can distinctively recall the square terra cotta tiles on the Kitchen floor, the shadows of the large oak tree outside my bedroom window, the clustered generations of family photos that lined our upstairs hallway and the oversized farm table where we did crafts, annually carved pumpkins and gathered for many a birthday parties. Our home celebrated elegance, the people who lived in it and all that we collected. Perhaps it was the thoughtful selected furniture layered with elaborate architectural elements that made this space distinctive in my mind, but I believe it was just as much the memories that we built there that made it such an unforgettable spot for me.

Our home celebrated elegance, the people who lived in it and all that we collected.

What are your favorite cities for design? What shops or museums do you visit in each?

Almost anywhere in Europe! From the chic fashion on the streets to the amount of historical architecture, I am a sponge to inspiration when I visit Europe. Some of my favorite cities in particular that I have had the chance to experience include London, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Rome. My bucket list spots to visit is extensive when it comes to Europe. I am headed to London again this coming April and I am super excited to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum for the first time.

Portfolio Image 2 By Jonah Jonah PodbereskiShare your favorite Pinterest board.

I have a Pinterest board titled “Home” which is a collection of images gathered based on the dream home I hope to design for myself someday. This is definitely my favorite board!

Complete the sentence “When I design I feel…”

When I design I feel energized! I thoroughly enjoy the personal relationships that I build with my clients as we work together to make their homes authentic to who they are and how they live their daily lives. The most enjoyable projects I have worked on consist of design teams that build on each others creative ideas, problem solve with ease and have the confidence to try something they have never done previously. These types of collaborative relationships inspire and energize me!

 

When I design I feel energized!

What is your morning routine?

Most of my mornings consist of a “hurry up and GO” type of routine. I really do wish I were more of a morning person! I have recently started to thoroughly enjoy the process of crafting a drip coffee at home in the morning. Amidst waiting for the water to boil and the coffee to brew I am forced to slow down, if only for a moment.

Portfolio Image 3 By Jonah Podbereski

What’s always in your bag?

A tape measure, of course!  😉

How do you relieve stress and stay calm?

I do practice yoga pretty regularly, spend as much time as I can with people who make me laugh, and drink lots of red wine.

San Francisco Showcase Image 2 By Bess Friday

Do you have any business mantras or inspiring quotes that keep you going?

I recently visited the studio of painter Ian Kimmerly in San Francisco’s Hunters Point. Ian’s studio was filled with partially completed work on oversized canvases, buckets of varied paintbrushes and paint palates, as well as a long row of collected books with dog-eared pages. Amongst images of his family taped to the walls Ian had a hand written reminder scribbled on a piece of scrap paper – “Don’t over think it!”. The mental image of this insightful scrap of paper pops into my head quite often.

San Francisco Showcase Image 1 By Bess FridayWho are your role models?

My father is an interior designer on the East Cost and is one of my most inspiring role models in both business and personal life. Through example he has taught me the importance of building a strong relationship with your clients and vendors. It was not until recently that I began to fully appreciate how involved my father is in each of his children and grand children’s lives while at the same time so effortlessly juggling all that is involved in building and running a small business. I feel extremely fortunate to have a shared passion for design and have his continued guidance and support!

It was not until recently that I began to fully appreciate how involved my father is in each of his children and grand children’s lives while at the same time so effortlessly juggling all that is involved in building and running a small business.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned working in the interior design business?

The most well curated spaces engage all of the senses, demonstrate effortless balance, and require a heightened awareness towards simplicity.  These are the spaces that give us a natural urge to linger.