BELMONT CRAGIN — As an artist, Kelly Rauch said she's had to reinvent herself several times.
It's this constant process of innovation, adaptation and creativity that's guided her as a businesswoman and artist in the Chicago area for the past 20 years, said Rauch, who owns custom furniture-restoration business Twice, at 5450 W. Belmont Ave.
In 2009, Rauch bought the two-story brick building along a scattered stretch of Belmont. Although the building was condemned at the time, Rauch said she needed to come up with a game plan that could allow her to use her background of art degrees to stay relevant in a turbulent economy.
“It’s a lifestyle, to me, in the arts," Rauch said. "I don’t care what anybody says, there’s a thing inside everyone that I think is going to make or break you as an artist. When your parents try to tell you, 'Don’t be an actor or don’t be an artist', they have a point because you [have to] pay your dues. I’ve been very lucky so far, it’s worked out for me.”
Services at Twice boil down to three basic concepts: consultation, collaboration and creation. She said many times her customers find items at garage or estate sales, dumpster dive, have a family heirloom or acquire new furniture after buying a home. Often, people want to keep and update these items, but lack the adequate skills or knowledge to properly restore them. That's when she steps in.
Rauch said her services at Twice not only embody her passion for art, they provide an affordable service to the area. She said the biggest misconception about custom design is that it's financially out of reach to the average person, but Rauch works with clients to find a cost-effective solution.
She admits her services "aren't inexpensive," but says the public can save money by seeking consulting and personalized design services because many people either buy poorly-made furniture or redo rooms they don't use.
“I think a lot of interior designers today are order-placers, and they’re going to hate me for saying that, but that’s a sad fact," Rauch said. "If you want something that’s really unique that you can’t buy anywhere else, this is the way to do it.”
Through Twice, Rauch said she's been able to stay active in the art business community and utilize her education.
Originally from Canada, Rauch received degrees in architecture, interior design, graphic design, painting and print-making before opening Twice.
Now that she's established herself in the area, she said she plans to spend at most another 10 years serving clients in Belmont Cragin, where she said she's noticed "an exodus of artists" from notably artistic neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Logan Square that are becoming too expensive.
"It works out beautifully, because for our business we’re all about small, reusing, recycling," Rauch said. "We won’t touch a 'McMansion,' it’s just against my grain; it’s not part of my ethical beliefs anymore.”
Twice is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment.
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