Hidden Gems: Meet Rebecca Bridges of House of Drennan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Bridges.  

Hi Rebecca, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi there! Of course – I started House of Drennan, a full-service design firm specializing in residential renovations + new construction projects, in 2018. LOTS of folks inquire about the name of my business, and the specific packages that I offer, and I am always eager to tell the story: it honors the three most influential women in my life; Martha Drennan, my grandmother, Jane Mahaffey, my aunt, and Kathy Raines, my mother, all of whom instilled in me a love of antiques and classic design, an appreciation for quality, heirloom pieces and taught me the importance of family and Southern tradition. House of Drennan was coined in their honor. My love for design and décor has been a constant for as long as I can remember – from selecting bedding sets from the Sears catalog as a child to decorating a dollhouse to collecting mid-century lady head vases as a teen (mom, do you still have those?), to learning about architecture + design styles throughout my extensive travels. Design, art, and décor have always been a constant. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? No way! Lol. I am a small business owner, with no business background, who has three small children. That right there says everything that you need to know. I am just winging it as I go! My oldest son was in elementary school and my twin boys were in a preschool program a few days each week when I realized that I felt a little “lost”. I loved being a wife and mother, but somehow during the past several years, I had been so focused on caring for our small, growing family, that I forgot to focus on myself. I needed something more– something just for ME. I wasn’t sure what that was or where I would find it. I toyed with going back to school, working at a local shop, and creating a small antique booth… but nothing felt quite right. Then one day, I had the opportunity to intern for a local decorator and I instantly knew it was just the thing I needed! Once I completed my year-long internship, I worked as a design associate and quickly realized that this life-long love of design was a fulfilling passion. I started House of Drennan shortly afterward. 

Being a mother, wife, and small business owner is a constant juggle with many, many balls in the air! I lean on my husband Rick, a fellow small business owner, for guidance and support — especially with the financial end of things. And, I am grateful that one of my best friends, Ashley Owens, is in a similar design-related industry. We “talk shop”, bounce ideas off one another, and give differing perspectives in terms of our industry. 

But mostly, I am figuring it all out as I go. I ask questions. I’ve taken classes. I’ve gotten certifications. I read and read some more. I am constantly learning and pivoting… and that’s ok. 

We’ve been impressed with House of Drennan, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Honestly, I am really proud that I just *did* it. I didn’t just talk about it or look back and wish I did something – I actually started my own business, House of Drennan came to fruition when I was almost forty with the help of a great friend, Brent Thompkins, who is an attorney, a personal loan from our family bank account (that was paid back within the first year of business), and zero clients. I am reminded that it’s never too late to do something that you LOVE and I hope my children look back one day and realize the importance and power of that 

Here at House of Drennan, we are a small firm. It is mostly me and my mom, Kathy, behind the scenes. I lead the creative end of things and my mom handles client communication, orders, and invoicing. I think clients appreciate our close-knit relationship and how the two of us balance each other out. I am a list maker that forgets where I put my lists and my mom is the list maker that sends you daily reminders of tasks on the list. Lol. I truly could not run House of Drennan without her. 

I think – and hope – our clients appreciate the authenticity that we have here at House of Drennan. We genuinely love what we do, enjoy working together and with our talented trades, and appreciate the opportunity to get to know our clients. There is nothing we love more than helping turn a house into a home. It is the greatest honor. 

I am also really proud of the Galentine’s Pop-Up that I host each February. Originally, I started the pop-up to unite local, female makers and creatives in my home. It was a great way to promote my new business AND celebrate other women-owned businesses. The first year was a tremendous success! So, for the future, I wanted to incorporate a way to give back to our community. We offered giveaways from local vendors benefitting The Heart 2 Heart Foundation, a women’s heart health organization here in Rock Hill, Last year, I am proud to say that we donated $2000 to the foundation in just a short 3-hour span. Women supporting women and working together is a really special thing! 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Oh, I have too many memories to count! I had a somewhat idyllic childhood, growing up in the country, outside of a small town. I am the youngest of three in our family and my two older brothers both passed away at a young age, so I have the unique perspective of both being the baby of the family and growing up like an only child. I think it’s important that I mention that because it helps others understand our close-knit family. 

The above solidified the importance of spending time together for my family. My parents were at my school functions, we ate dinner each night around the table, and they spent time with me individually (dad and I fished, mom and I shopped) … they were there and they were present. 

My parents also gave me the gift of travel growing up. We traveled, as a family, near and far… and we traveled often. Everywhere from National Parks to Europe to the mountains of North Carolina. I loved them all equally and chances are, my Aunt Jane and Uncle Bill would be there, somewhere along the way, too! 

For many years, we would spend Thanksgiving in New York City with my parents, aunt, and uncle. We would eat Thanksgiving dinner at a fancy restaurant, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, visit Santa, see a show or two during our trip, and just enjoy the sights and sounds of NYC. I loved these trips. And I loved visiting the “big city” and seeing all that it had to offer. I’ve been eager to take my own boys to recreate this experience and I’m excited to do just that next year. 

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@houseofdrennan.com
• Website: www.houseofdrennan.com
• Instagram: @house.of.drennan
• Facebook: House of Drennan

Image Credits
Christina Hussey
Lanai Collective
Lauren Norkum