We had the good fortune of connecting with Tina Stoecklein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As an artist and in school, risk never use to be an issue. I never cared about what people might think, or what was in trend. But when I started in residential design, it was all about the resale value, or being afraid we would get tired of a design choice (this always comes up with color), and will it have to be redesigned in the next 5 to 10 years. In the last year or so I have decided to let that all go. From a young age, I was told I was a trendsetter. I hope to return to that, not being afraid of the risk, and being okay that some choices will be successful, and some won’t be. I think the decisions we make reflect where we are at in life, how we are feeling at the time, and there is nothing wrong with that. Deciding not to do something because of an event of feeling that may or may not happen in the future sounds worse!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I went into architecture because I loved residential design, but after undergrad the Denver Art Museum by Daniel Libeskind was being built and I totally got architecture star struck. I went into commercial architecture in hopes of working on projects like that, realizing quickly that the commercial world wasn’t for me. The 2008 recession left me without a job in architecture, and to be honest, I was okay with that. I even questioned if I wanted to stay in the field! There was a three-year period that was very hard, I didn’t know what I wanted to do and took any job I could get. I landed in lighting sales which lead to connections in residential design. Without even realizing it, it had all come full circle! The entire reason I got into architecture was staring right at me and when the opportunity to work at residential architecture came up, I quickly said yes! I have now been in residential design for 10 years. I have learned that any situation, good or bad, has taught a lesson to take with me as I move forward in life and in my career.

I have always been creative and residential design has proven to be the perfect mix of all things creative for me. Because of my background in architecture, I was able to mesh both the architecture and interiors of a home. A fully cohesive approach because I can be a part of the home design from the exterior all the way through what pillow ends up on the living room sofa.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first stop is easy… lunch/ dinner, drinks, hanging out, whatever! at Union Station, my favorite spot in Denver! From there it would be a nice walk through Rino to check out some artwork, and then maybe a Rockies game. From there I would head south to Colorado Springs, I grew up there, so I have to put that on the list. Garden of the Gods (of course), a trip up Pikes Peak to check out the new visitor center, and then dinner in Manitou or Old Colorado City. From there it would either be a trip to the Great Sand Dunes, Salida/ Buena Vista area, or a trip up 70 to Grand Lake for the full mountain town experience. Hiking, fishing, and hot springs!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I always tell the story that my interest in design started in middle school when I toured a home with an indoor outdoor pool. I told my mom, “I want that!” She said, “become an architect.” So, my mom gets the first shout-out, because it was at that moment my design path was set. From then on it was whatever I needed to get into school. Including my mom getting me out of gym class in high school so I could take art and CAD class instead.

I was also introduced to Odyssey of the Mind in elementary school, I have no doubts this shaped how I problem solve and think about my designs creatively. Like a design client, you are given a challenge with rules and restrictions you must follow. It challenged us to come up with different solutions and different ways to reach those solutions.

Website: http://www.wheremymindwonders.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheremymindwonders.design/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wheremymindwonders

Image Credits
All photos by Where My Mind Wonders

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