Rachel B. Gamolsky is a certified architectural color specialist and founder of Sundance Colors, with 15 years of practice rooted in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California. Born in Germany to Israeli and German parents, her design sensibility was forged across two continents — shaped by Middle Eastern landscapes, European palaces, and a BA in Art History from the University of Berlin. She holds certification from the International Association of Color Consultants (IACC) and has earned seven consecutive Best of Houzz awards with a perfect five-star rating.
Background & Journey
After years of world travel and a career in high-profile floral design — including events at Buckingham Palace and galas for principal dancers of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Ballet — a client-funded sabbatical studying classical and baroque interiors in Rome redirected Rachel’s focus toward architectural color in all its dimensions. She founded Sundance Colors shortly after, and has never looked back.
A Portfolio That Spans Scales & Styles
Rachel’s work ranges from intimate residential projects to public and commercial spaces. Notable projects include the Don Bagget Theater at Nevada Union High School, painted ladies on Broad Street in Nevada City, office buildings, restaurants, dental practices, a multi-room psychologist’s clinic, a rooftop apartment steps from Piazza Navona in Rome, and a large clothing boutique in Montana. The majority of her clients are in the Nevada City and Grass Valley areas, with additional work in Roseville, Sacramento, San Diego, and internationally.
Her Philosophy
Rachel believes a home should first and foremost reflect the people who live in it — not the trends of the moment. Her role goes far beyond color selection: she guides clients through the full arc of a project, from room proportions and window placement to furniture, artwork, and artificial lighting. She helps couples align their visions without either person truly compromising, and she builds smoother working relationships between clients and their contractors. She is direct, honest, and graceful — and she will tell you frankly when something won’t work. The one question she won’t answer: “What would you do if this were your house?” Her response is always the same: “It is not my house — you need to love it.”
Her Measure of Success
“When you wake up two years from now and think, ‘I love this color’ — that’s when you write me a note. That’s when I’ll know I did my job.”
She puts her clients in the driver’s seat. She navigates. And she will get into the heart and soul of who you are — it never takes her long.