We recently had the chance to connect with Blima Ehrentreu and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Blima, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are really about setting the tone. I wake up, do yoga, and take time for prayer because that grounding is important for me. Then I like to move. If I am in New York, I will bike to work, and if I am in Florida, I will swim. That activity clears my head and gives me energy. Before the day starts pulling me in different directions, I take a few minutes to write down what I want to accomplish so I know I am leading the day instead of letting it lead me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Blima Ehrentreu, and I am the Founder and CEO of The Designers Group. At TDG we create purposeful spaces in healthcare, senior living, residential, and commercial sectors. For us, design has never been just about aesthetics. Our motto is designing with purpose, creating a better world. That guides everything we do, from our design work to the services that support our clients to our TDG Gives Back initiatives. The question we always come back to is: how can this make life better for someone?
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, I thought creativity and business were two separate worlds and that you had to choose one path or the other. Over time, I realized they are actually stronger together. When you combine creativity with strategy, and vision with execution, you can make beautiful things happen. That has shaped how I built TDG. It is not just about designing spaces, but also about building a business that amplifies the impact of those designs.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Every challenge we face in design pushes us to think more innovatively and come up with better solutions. That has been true in business, too, for example, when opening new offices in Toronto, New York, and Miami. Each location required us to learn the market, build the right teams, and adjust along the way. It was also true during COVID. That period changed how we worked as a team and how we approached projects. We had to adapt quickly, move remote, and create new ways to collaborate. At the same time, we kept pushing ourselves to innovate so our clients continued receiving the best solutions in uncertain times. It was not easy, but those challenges helped us grow in ways we never would have without them.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe that design has the power to change lives, and that belief drives my team in every project. It is not only about how a space looks but about how it makes people feel and how it supports them. A healthcare facility can ease recovery, a senior living community can bring comfort and dignity, and a school can inspire children to learn. When you see design through that lens, it becomes a way to create a better world one space at a time.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand is that purpose matters more than success alone. Achievements are wonderful, but they fade. Purpose is what lasts. People remember how a space made them feel, how it supported them, how it gave them hope. That is the legacy I want to leave. Not just buildings, but environments that improve lives and remind people they matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedesignersgroup.com
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