With her Chappaqua jewelry and home store now in full bloom, ROCKS Jewelry Gifts Home Design owner Tanya Tochner has spread her wings to run a successful interior design business. Tochner applies the same creative eye and talent that she has used to curate her beautiful store to designing people’s home spaces.
As a Chappaqua resident for 22 years, Tochner feels right at home at her store in Chappaqua Crossing. The store carries affordable fine jewelry and accessories for the home. Many customers are people that she has known for years and whose children have grown up alongside her children. Some store customers have developed into interior design clients over the last few years.
Design in all its Forms
For Tochner, the interior design business naturally evolved. It began with store customers, fond of her home accessories, asking her to come to their homes and help them accessorize. These home consults gave rise to requests for her to renovate an entire bathroom or kitchen. Tochner now has a general contractor, an architect, and a team of professional tradesmen that she works with regularly to tackle any renovation from soup to nuts.
Word of mouth has spread and Tochner has found herself incredibly busy with a steady stream of clients. She attributes the rapid growth of her interior design business to everyone having spent so much more time at home due to covid and thus deciding to redo their homes.
In addition to designing homes and running the store, over the last year, Tochner was presented with and seized on the opportunity to stage luxury homes and apartments for real estate sales in Westchester and New York City. This new undertaking developed organically from having the store and doing interior design.
“This business that started off as a jewelry business fifteen years ago, me being a jewelry designer, expanded into home which became interior design which became that plus staging, so it’s all come full circle,” reflects Tochner. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about design. That’s what I love.”
The Brick-and-Mortar Advantage
As the owner of Rocks, Tochner finds it easier to source products than the typical interior designer. She has access to over 300 vendors so she sees more furniture, art, and accessories than many designers.
“As a brick-and-mortar, I have an advantage because I can offer deeper discounts to my clients with my dealer discount, rather than an interior designer discount, so I pass that along. There is also an element of immediate gratification since I carry stock so a client can just come into the store and we can pull from the store,” Tochner explains.
Why Hire a Designer
Tochner recommends hiring an interior designer because it helps clients stay on budget. Clients also save money with access to designer discounts. Additionally, she points out that “you may know what you like but not know where to find it.” A designer can help you source things for your space.
Tochner says her first consultation with a client is crucial to understanding her client’s aesthetic and what they want for their home. It is a collaborative process taking into account the client’s wishes, their needs, and how they intend to use the space.
Although her personal style is very modern, Tochner has designed spaces that are contemporary, traditional, mid-century modern and more.
“It’s all about listening to my client and making it personalized because it’s their space, not mine. Some people know what their aesthetic is, but for the ones that don’t, I can guide them through options.”
Satisfied client Lisa Schwartz says, “Tanya is an absolute pleasure to work with. She has an incredible eye for color, texture, and layout. She creates spaces that are chic but also comfortable and inviting. Tanya has helped transform my home and I couldn’t be happier with the results!”
To reach Tochner, email her at tanya@rocksjewelrygiftshome.com or call the store at (914) 219-5808. Rocks is located at 480 Bedford Road in Chappaqua.
