From left: Tracy McCray, Robin Wolfram, Jen Koski
In which we learn all about what Robin Wolfram is up to now.
Including what she misses about TV, why she's back in real estate,
and how she feels about shiplap.
Including what she misses about TV, why she's back in real estate,
and how she feels about shiplap.
JEN: Robin! You've returned to us! So happy to have you back in Rochester.
TRACY: And flexing some new creative muscle, no less.
ROBIN: It’s good to be back! And of course connecting with you two is the icing on the cake.
JEN: OK, so catch us up on your last couple of years.
ROBIN: It’s been a bittersweet journey. I left Rochester two years ago now to care for my mom and dad. They have both since passed, my dad most recently. Shortly after, I made the decision to return to the place I love and call home.
JEN: Well, Rochester loves you, too. I know a lot of people were sad to see you leave KTTC.
ROBIN: It was a tough choice to leave, but it was the right choice for me. It was important for me to be in Iowa with my mom and dad. … While I was there, I decided to re-enter the world of interior design and real estate. I didn’t have a lot of time to pursue it then—but I just wanted to prepare myself for the next journey without my parents.
TRACY: Which came first, Robin the broadcaster or Robin the realtor?
ROBIN: Robin the broadcaster came first. When I was married, I left television and worked with my husband who was a homebuilder. From there, I launched a design business and worked in real estate for six years in the Twin Cities. As life goes, we divorced and I decided to move closer to my family and Rochester. That's when I re-entered the wonderful world of TV at KTTC.
JEN: Do you miss TV?
ROBIN: What I miss most about television is the connection I made with the community. As strange as it sounds, we sit in a studio and look only at cameras, but the outreach is amazing. I was so embraced by Rochester. And that didn’t end after I left KTTC. When I came back to Rochester during my respite weekends to visit my sister, so many people approached me and asked about my parents. It’s almost as if the following became even bigger and more supportive as viewers followed my caregiving journey.
JEN: That warms my heart. People genuinely care.
ROBIN: Doesn't it, though, Jen? I was so deeply moved and truly felt a genuine draw back to this caring, loving and supportive community.
TRACY: And back to real estate as Rochester continues to boom.
ROBIN: I truly do love real estate. There’s nothing quite like helping someone find the home that was meant to be theirs! Many people don’t realize I have several years of experience in real estate, so I’m just excited to put that to work here. I’m working with Coldwell Banker Burnet off Elton Hills. I’m specializing in residential sales for both buyers and sellers. And although I have an incredibly supportive team at my office, I will be dealing individually and personally with each client. That's unlike the large teams we're seeing so much of. You never know who you’re going to get handling any phase of your transaction, and to me that’s a bit disconcerting
JEN: Will you still do design?
ROBIN: I'll continue to do some design work, but I’m focusing primarily on real estate and throwing in design for clients—and for Tracy McCray! Ha!
TRACY: Thank goodness! Isn't life grand?!
JEN: Hey, how do I get on this train? I've seen how you decorate. It's inspired!
ROBIN: You’re already on the train, you just don’t know that yet!
JEN: I think real estate would be so fun—if even just for the opportunity to look in people's houses. I love seeing how people live, their inner sanctums.
ROBIN: I simply love that part of it—looking at people's houses both in person and online. The problem is, I go in and immediately start thinking about ways that I could change it, update it, and improve it! I lose sleep at night dreaming of how to transform spaces!
TRACY: You are both sides of the Love It or List It show!
JEN: Yeah, you may have to head back to HGTV…
TRACY: It cracks me up how much realtors, contractors, landscapers, and carpenters all hate HGTV. They're tired of hearing, "It's not like on HGTV!"
ROBIN: It’s because HGTV makes it look so easy—I know from personal experience! I think HGTV is where it all started for me. I was so fortunate to be able to work with a different designer every week, so that I now have a very eclectic blend of styles.
JEN: When I think of HGTV, I just hear: "Shiplap! I want more shiplap!"
ROBIN: Quite honestly, I’m tired of shiplap, LOL. I’ve done it in a few houses and that’s plenty! Thank Joanna Gaines for that one!
TRACY: We have a LOT of paneling in our new home, which I'm trying to rebrand as "Minnesota Shiplap." So far no one's buying it.
ROBIN: That's gonna be a tough sell!
JEN: I see so many more Chat topics in our future. Robin, will you be our official home decor and real estate Chatter?
ROBIN: All over it, ladies! Any excuse to talk to you! We can even throw in some design and real estate tips for folks!
TRACY: Oh my gosh, my heart skipped a beat at "real estate tips."