Meet Raisa
Founder & Principal Designer
Raisa Taft is the founder and principal designer of House of Raya, a residential design atelier dedicated to creating timeless homes inspired by harmony, balance, and quiet elegance.
For more than twenty years, Raisa has been designing, building, remodeling, and refining homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey Peninsula.
Raised in Moscow, she grew up surrounded by the rich traditions of European and Russian art and architecture, developing an enduring appreciation for beauty, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.
Before pursuing interior design, Raisa spent many years as a classical pianist and piano teacher. Music continues to shape her creative vision through harmony, balance, rhythm, and emotion—the same principles that influence every House of Raya project.
Having personally designed, built, and remodeled four homes in Northern California, she subsequently pursued formal studies in interior design, earning certifications in Interior Design and Kitchen & Bath Design. She is a professional member of ASID and NKBA.
Her work combines artistic sensibility, architectural understanding, and hands-on experience to create interiors that feel natural, refined, and deeply personal.
Our Philosophy
A home should change the way you feel.
Our philosophy is to approach each home as a composition, bringing architecture, interiors, art, landscape, light, and material together into a harmonious whole.
Inspired by the principles of great music, we consider scale, proportion, rhythm, and the relationship of each element to the whole. Balance creates calm. Rhythm creates movement. Thoughtful proportion allows each element to breathe. Emotion is how a home makes us feel.
We take the time to get to know our clients, understand how they live, and discover what makes a home feel special to them.
Our goal is to create a beautiful, welcoming home that feels naturally and uniquely yours.
The Raya Composition Method™
- 01
Listen
Every project begins with listening—to you, to the architecture, and to the surrounding landscape. This understanding becomes the foundation for every decision that follows.
Outcome:A clear vision that reflects both you and the home.
- 02
Refine
We simplify, rebalance proportions, enhance architectural details, and remove visual noise so that every element has purpose.
Outcome:Quiet elegance through thoughtful refinement.
- 03
Compose
Materials, textures, furnishings, lighting, and art are thoughtfully brought together, with each choice considered in relation to the whole.
Outcome:A timeless interior where every element belongs.
- 04
Curate
Art, objects, textiles, books, and natural elements are thoughtfully curated to bring warmth, authenticity, and individuality.
Outcome:A home with depth, character, and soul.
- 05
Endure
We favor exceptional craftsmanship, timeless materials, and enduring design over passing trends, creating spaces that grow more meaningful with time.
Outcome:A lasting investment in beauty and quality.