About Us

From bathrooms to kitchens, fireplaces to built-ins, Habitar Design creates breathtaking interior design work that will help you achieve your home vision. Our work has been recognized and featured internationally in design magazines, but at heart, we’re a small Chicago-based firm dedicated to customer satisfaction for both residential and commercial spaces. We offer a full range of interior design, decorating and remodeling services and our knowledgeable design and construction teams ensure 100% excellence for projects of all sizes.

Our sister company, Stratagem Construction, means the design to construction process is seamless and hassle free. Stratagem specializes in complete home remodeling, along with custom cabinetry, built-ins, tiling, painting, fireplaces, and hardwood flooring.

Our number one priority is making our customers happy by working cooperatively to help them develop and achieve their design objectives. Design is a journey. We try to make it enjoyable, organized and efficient.

Meet the Team

Mitch Newman, Principal

Mitch often wandered off the safe and time-tested route. He went to medical school at the University of Chicago, became a Board Certified Family Practitioner, and shortly retired from the medical field. He traveled, skiing in mountain resorts behind the iron curtain and sleeping under the stars in Italian vineyards. He studied in Germany at the University of Tuebingen and supported himself creating and selling T-shirts, one which became enshrined in the City’s Museum. Interested in Arab culture, he moved to Cairo and published his first short story in the Egyptian Times before returning to Chicago to become Artistic Director of Thirsty Theater. However, building was in his blood. His father started a real estate development firm in 1962 and in 1999 it could no longer be resisted. He built his first 3 flat. In 2005, he launched Habitar Design with Kapan Shipman, inspired by her work and friendship.

MacKenzie Cain, Designer, LEED

A graduate from Purdue University, MacKenzie is Habitar Design’s associate interior designer. Like many designers before her, MacKenzie grew up re-imagining and reorganizing furniture in her home. Her parents even let her pick out their paint colors and furniture when she was 12 years old. While in school, she acquired her BA in Interior Design and LEED Green Associate accreditation. MacKenzie is thrilled to be working alongside her fellow designers at Habitar Design.

Click to see photos of MacKenzie’s interior design work.

Brandy Rinehart, Interior Designer

Brandy Rinehart is a highly accomplished designer renowned for her expertise in luxury interiors and construction design. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Furniture Design from the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design. Over the course of her illustrious career spanning 27+ years, Brandy has made a significant impact in prominent design hubs across the United States. From Palm Beach, Florida to the bustling metropolises of New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago, she has successfully implemented her visionary concepts in diverse settings. Brandy’s exceptional talent and commitment to excellence have been recognized by renowned publications such as Veranda, Architectural Digest, and Luxe Magazines, where her work has been showcased and celebrated. Her distinctive aesthetic and meticulous attention to detail continue to captivate and inspire clients and design enthusiasts alike.

Click to see photos of Brandy’s interior design work.

Jaclyn Jensen – Office Admin

Jaclyn Jensen is the Office Admin for Habitar Design. She holds a BFA degree from the University of Central Missouri, and has over 15 years of management and administrative experience. While supporting the office with strong organizational skills and high attention to detail, her time outside the office is spent in creative pursuits. She is an actress in the Chicago storefront theatre scene, as well as local film and commercial projects.