Women, In Their Own Words: Bre Hance

Each month, we interview women in creative fields like interior design, architecture, fashion, and the culinary arts. This week, we heard from Bre Hance. Bre Hance is the Founder and Principal Designer of InHance Design + Build, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in home renovations, custom-built properties, and full-service furnishing and styling. InHance was established in 2014—initially as a one-person design operation. Over time, the company expanded its services to homeowners, architects, and investors—eventually evolving into a full-fledged design and build firm.

In 2020, Bre and her husband Brandon formally integrated their expertise to offer a cohesive design-build approach called “The InHanced Way,” which focuses on managing projects from concept to completion. Bre intends to deliver stress-free execution, timely delivery, and budget adherence for their clients.

Bre’s passion for design stems from her upbringing in Tempe, Arizona, where both her parents worked in residential construction. Her background as a D-1 athlete informs her leadership style—she runs her business like she leads a team, prioritizing discipline, communication, and strategic planning.

Her joint passion for business and design is one reason we included Bre in DesignDash’s Women, in Their Own Words series. Under her leadership, InHance has successfully completed over 200 remodeling and new construction projects.

Women, In Their Own Words: Bre Hance

DesignDash: If you could listen to only one musical artist while working, who would it be and why?

Bre Hance: Eric Church; I know almost all his songs—all the hits for sure. His music makes me happy, therefore productive. Oddly, I channel my redneck, and it makes me creative.

DD: What’s the most unusual source of inspiration you’ve found for your work?

BH: Everything is an inspiration to me, and because I have such a wild imagination, I can draw the parallel and make it make sense to me. For example, I’ve used old, vintage doors as “inspo” to design rugs before. Cool ideas come from the craftsmanship of old things.

DD: If you could collaborate with any historical figure (artist, designer, writer, etc.), who would it be, and what would you create together?

BH: Cleopatra would be fun. She’s beautiful, creative and smart. We’d have fun and would come up with some next-level modernized Greek and Egyptian aesthetics.

DD: Do you have a must-do creative ritual or superstition before starting a project? If yes, what is it?

BH: My best work is as I’m drinking my first-morning coffee, kids are off to school, on my laptop, and in my bed. I’m in peek flow? No distractions and can tap into a deep intuitive state. I do this at the beginning of projects and come up with all the big ideas to send off to my team to develop more.

DD: If your creative work were a color palette, which colors would be essential?

BH: All fall colors and jewel tones. I love a neutral organic and a rich, bold move.

DD: How do you manage the business side of being a creative—do you enjoy it or is it something you’ve had to grow into?

BH: I have both sides of the brain so it comes easy to me. I’m the most ocd, organized planner who’s spontaneous and a free spirit. Perfect combo! Plus, I’m friendly and genuinely love building relationships—clients, internal, trades, and vendors. Building a biz is hard, though, and has its days where it takes me away from doing what I love, but working on the biz and in it is a part of it all!

DD: If you could only use three tools or materials for the rest of your career, what would they be?

BH: Email, all comms, presenting, invoicing, and paper trail, the ability to search for whatever I muster up in my head and find it, and IG because that’s where all my clients come from. The rest I’d figure out. Crazy—all digital!

DD: How has your creative process evolved over the years?

BH: I personally have the exact same process. Coffee in bed and flow, but my process on how to bill for creativity has evolved a lot. It’s hard to quantify, but that’s my IP, and I’ve evolved a lot with knowing my value there.

DD: What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d known when you started your business or creative career?

BH: I was probably told? But you don’t know until you’ve experienced it, but to not take things personally. Design is subjective. Being creative is! It’s not me, it’s you. But really—I’ve evolved to learn how to take feedback and ask the right questions vs shut down to make sure I get it right for my clients and even with personnel.

DD: Have you seen the landscape change for women in the creative industry over the years? What still needs to change?

BH: Women IMO have always led the creative space. I don’t feel a huge disparagement. The industry, like all, has evolved, women have more of a voice and are heard, we lean in.

DD: How do you think being a woman has shaped your creative vision or business approach?

BH: Being a mom more than a woman has shaped my creative vision. My trademark is Elevated Everyday Living, and I design for a lot of families. I am in it, so can anticipate needs. My business approach also benefits me; I’m flexible, understand, and can relate to women’s needs. It makes me more compassionate or harder bc I know what I can juggle.

DD: Have you recently wrapped any exciting projects, collaborations, collections, etc.? Are there any on the horizon you’d like to share?

BH: We just finished installing two homes, turn-key- foundation to furniture, clients moved in, and it’s the driving purpose behind why I triple down day in and out on my business. Seeing clients’ faces of joy is priceless. I get to play a small part in building memories for them!

Many Thanks to Bre Hance for Participating in “Women, In Their Own Words“

A huge thank-you to Bre Hance for sharing her journey with us. Her ability to blend creative vision with practical leadership is inspiring, and her responses to our questions are an interesting read for anyone passionate about design and entrepreneurship. If you want a daily dose of design inspiration and behind-the-scenes insights into her work, be sure to visit her on Instagram at @InHance_DesignBuild.

Subscribe for more inspiring voices in our “Women, In Their Own Words” series. If you would like to be invited to participate in this interview series, please email our EIC at editor@designdash.com with “WITOW” in the subject line and your responses in the body.