West Chester’s Krystal Reinhard Launches Phila. Chapter of The Prestigious International Design Society
by Melissa Jacobs
Lead photo by Meghan Balcom
Old Soul’s Krystal Reinhard has a new role: President of the International Design Society’s new Philadelphia chapter. On Oct. 2, Reinhard hosted the chapter’s first event, a standing-room only forum featuring SchoolHouse Woodworking’s Jeff Devlin, owner of Sycamore & Stone Farm in Chester Springs and star of “Stone House Revival” and “In With The Old” on Magnolia Network, Max and Discovery +. “It was a wonderful event and I’m very grateful to Jeff for making the night so special,” Reinhard said. “And this is just the beginning for our chapter.”
The International Design Society (IDS) is one of the country’s largest organizations for residential interior designers and the craftspeople and vendors who collaborate with them. Founded in 1973, IDS will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Oct. 16 at High Point Market in North Carolina, the most exclusive interior design trade show in the US.
But … IDS did not have a chapter anywhere in the Delaware Valley. Krystal Reinhard, co-owner of West Chester’s Old Soul, decided to change that. “The interior design industry can be competitive, but I think it’s great to have a community and learn from each other,” Reinhard said. “I prefer IDS because it is open to industry partners like retail outlets, manufacturers and distributors of goods used by interior designers.”
Reinhard started the process in 2022. It wasn’t simply a matter of hanging out a proverbial shingle. Reinhard had a number of meetings with IDS’s national honchos. “They did a lot of research to make sure that a Philadelphia chapter would succeed,” she said. “One of the crucial elements is that Delaware and South Jersey don’t have IDS chapters, so people in those areas can come to our meetings and events. That will be great for networking and growing our own businesses.”
Reinhard has been busy growing her own business. Old Soul is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its newest showroom in West Chester. Located at Gay and High Streets, the showroom is home to Old Soul’s interior design firm and its retail section, which has rugs, lighting, artwork and easy grab-and-go items like pillows. All of that is in Old Soul’s signature style, which Reinhard describes as tailored and luxurious, and a mix of modern rustic with European flair.
Reinhard herself is a mix of disciplines. A classically trained fine artist, she graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and spent several years as the art department chair at the Woodlynde School in Strafford. In 2015, Reinhard switched lanes and went into interior design. Now, her team works on projects all around the Delaware Valley, and in Florida and North Carolina. Old Soul is also a family business; Reinhard’s husband joined the company in early 2023.
Now, Reinhard has her sights set on growing the Philadelphia-area IDS chapter. “I’m reaching out to trade vendors, reps, builders, architects and other designers to let them know about the business opportunities that this IDS chapter gives us,” she said. “I think this will grow into a great community and be a dynamic resource for the local interior design industry.”
For more information about the Philadelphia IDS chapter, click here.
Love interior design? You’ll love these 10 Main Line antique shops, and these amazing antique and vintage shops in Chester County.
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