Our lives before Hamilton Rae and a little about us: (Written by Christina Smith)

My grandfather was an architect, and mother was a decorator for friends and family. As a child, a fun day would be spent driving around town admiring great architecture and historic homes, visiting antique and fabric stores, reviving old furniture, etc. My mother was a lover of history, and still is. She would teach us by explaining how old homes got their character. For example, did you know that Queen Victoria was Empress of India? You would if you walked through a Victorian home with my mother!

My father passed from Cancer when I was 17. That shifted my focus from design to dreams of becoming an Oncologist. I began college in a pre-med program but quickly changed my major to Interior Architecture and minor in Psychology after assisting a friend's parents with a remodel after a house fire. I have been addicted to helping people improve their living environments ever since. Twenty-six years ago, I started my career as a kitchen and bath designer. Although I have ventured into many aspects of design, I have always offered K&B Design to my clients. The two years before creating Hamilton Rae I was an Area Sales Manager for a large cabinet manufacturer, managing a four-state territory and teaching kitchen design to new employees.

My husband and business partner, Royce, is a born and bred Nashvillian. He grew up in West Nashville and knows so much about the city. He was raised to repair things rather than throw them out and purchase new. Having a push lawnmower for twenty-five years is normal in his family of hard-working tinkerers. He was a district manager for several years, worked as a warehouse, delivery, and installation team manager for thirteen years, and for the ten before we created Hamilton Rae, was an appliance service technician and technician manager.

Royce is one of those people that can fix absolutely anything, has never met a stranger, and strives to truly help people. That is why he was such a successful appliance servicer. He is also a stickler for doing things right, the first time. He doesn't cut corners, always tells the truth, and has the best character of anyone I have ever met. If he tells you he will do it, you can bet money, it is going to get done right! When Royce is faced with a foreign issue, he studies diligently and practices until he can master it, as if he has done it his entire life. I have never met anyone quite like him.

As our project manager, he spends most of his days on job sites, assisting our installation crew and making sure all things are done correctly, efficiently, and exactly how our clients expect, or even better. He is such a great team leader, teaching where he sees a need, motivating when times get frustrating, and jumping in there when needed. Our clients love him because he communicates so well with them and assures them, he is there for no other reason than to make them happy.

Together, we have six children (3 boys/3 girls), two grandbabies, and two dogs. We spend all of our "off" time with our family and we would not have it any other way!

What makes Hamilton Rae different:
We have a professional team of interior designers, a project manager, and a great crew for deliveries and installations. We have a diverse selection of all products needed to complete an interior design plan, as well as outdoor kitchen/living spaces. We truly put the customer first and work as hard as we can to deliver exceptional customer service, superior design, and undeniable craftsmanship. We take pride in all aspects of every project we accept. If we don't think we can bring that standard of quality, we simply do not accept the project.

"Do things right the first time and always do the right thing." It's more than just our motto, it's our way of life.

In July of 2020, while on vacation, my leg went numb and body failed me. After returning home, I went through vigorous testing and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After the initial shock, Royce and I began our research and devised a plan that has worked perfectly.
First on the agenda, my health. We partnered with the best professionals in Nashville and began my journey to healing. I am very happy to say that it is very rare that this disease phases me these days.
Next, we knew we needed to work together and still do what we love so much, and that is helping people! Cabinets and Interior Design have always been my thing and appliances were his so...Hamilton Rae was created! We added window treatments, furniture, and other products and services and voila!