boutique interior design based in portland, oregon
Rachael Millkey creates beautiful spaces that capture and enhance her clients’ visions on projects small and large – from single-room updates to comprehensive renovations and new buildings. Working across a wide range of styles and budgets, Rae’s responsive approach combines beauty and technical planning, with a concern for a building’s architecture and its surrounding landscape.
Rae currently works in Portland, Oregon and New York City, and enjoys consulting remotely on projects throughout the country. She is in the process of updating her portfolio of work! Contact her if you’d like to see more or discuss how a project moves forward.
what is interior design?
The field of interior design spans interior architecture, design and decoration.
Like architects, interior designers have expertise in the technical aspects of building design, including drafting floor plans for construction and understanding code restrictions. But where architecture generally focuses on how a building relates to the outside world and big structural issues — interior design is primarily concerned with how a building relates to the human experience. Whether designers work independently or in tandem with an architect is typically determined by the project size.
design services
Rachael offers consultations and wide-ranging flexible services for entire buildings or single rooms, individually tailored to her clients’ needs and budgets – from construction drawings for renovations to furniture selection to quick room makeovers.
comprehensive design
Rachael leads renovation and new construction projects from concept development through construction to final installation and styling. She works with clients individually or in tandem with their team of architects and contractors, handling communications and collaboration to maintain the project vision, principles, and budget.
separate services
Rachael offers consultations and separate, flexible services for smaller indoor and outdoor projects, including: custom furniture and built-ins, space planning, selection of furniture, paint, lighting, window treatments or finish materials, downsizing and ADA modifications, staging and indoor/outdoor improvements for home sellers, and site-specific artwork.
quick transformations
An affordable way to quickly improve the livability of your space. Using the furniture and items clients already own, Rae will make the minor adjustments that help a room come together. She will provide a list of additional suggestions that can be done fairly easily by the client to make the space look, function and feel better in the very near term.
It’s just wonderful. The flow, the function, the beauty… makes the space a joy to be in. She paid attention to our personal needs and style when making the design plan. She listened. I would absolutely recommend her services. She made me be bolder. She was a delight to work with. Always calm, always flexible and responsive to our wishes for our home.
– molly findley
rachael millkey
Born and raised in Georgia, Rachael Millkey is the third generation of a family of architects and designers. She earned her master’s degree in Interior Design from The Pratt Institute in New York City and her undergraduate degree in Fine Art from the University of Oregon, with a minor in Interior Architecture.
Rae has years of experience in interior and landscape design, starting when she was in college in Eugene and continuing through her founding of RMID in New York City. Although she loves New York’s arts culture, she missed Oregon’s natural settings and grounded sensibility, and returned to Portland. She continues to work in both cities.
While Rae works across a range of styles and contexts, she always looks for opportunities to blend art and function, and for ways to connect the indoors with its surroundings, whether a skyline or a garden.
Irrespective of the space and its purpose, listening lies at the heart of her process so that every design is a natural reflection of the client and the setting. “My goal is to create spaces that bring my clients joy and make their lives easier.”
I’ve hired Rachael for many projects over the years. I love both her design sense and her humanity. She understands what I like and I trust her. I want to work with her again and again!
– anita kawatra
I still haven’t been able to describe how genuinely good it feels to finally enjoy our space…Instead of seeing a project that I have to finish everywhere I look, I can just enjoy BEING there. It’s a big relief. It’s perfect. Rachael is amazing.
– teunis wyers
She really made the best use of space possible for our small space. Every time I walk in my kitchen I’m like, “Ahhh! It’s so nice to be here!”
– madison burnett
It was totally fascinating. She gave ideas about how to tie it all together that we hadn’t imagined. We are so grateful. Brilliant!
– marlene kadar
get in touch
Rae is happy to discuss projects of all types and sizes. Please be in touch!
Rachael Millkey
rachael@raemillkeydesign.com
718 483 0783
Portland, OR | New York City