A Space That Feels Like Home: Designing with the Client at the Center

There’s a difference between a beautiful space and one that feels like home.

The former might catch your eye. The latter holds your gaze, invites you in, and makes you want to stay a while. It's not about the trendiest tile or the right shade of beige. It's about resonance—something deeper, more intuitive. And at the core of that feeling? Our client.

Designing with, not for

Good design starts with listening. What do they love? What do they notice? How do they move through their day? What do they avoid or always gravitate toward without even realizing it? These questions matter more than square footage or ceiling height.

When you place the client at the center of the process, design becomes less about style and more about translation: turning someone's memories, rhythms, quirks, and values into physical space. 

Home as a Reflection, Not a Performance

We’re surrounded by images of perfect spaces—streamlined kitchens, immaculate mudrooms, minimal coffee tables without a single coaster out of place. But very few of us live like that. Nor should we. And keep in mind, a tonne of those perfect images you're pinning on Pinterest are photoshopped!

Designing a space that feels like home means giving people permission to be who they are, not who Pinterest or Instagram tells them to be. A family of five with muddy boots and constant motion doesn’t need a glass coffee table. A couple who cooks together every night needs counter space that’s forgiving. A perfect example is the dog shower being built in Project 31, sacrificing some laundry room space in favour of bathing their large sized dog with ease (shoutout Higgins). 

Project 31 laundry room drawing & shower reference.

Or take Project 21, where the focus was on creating ample, thoughtful storage for a young family with small children so the space would always feel peaceful, not chaotic, even in the midst of everyday life.

It’s about function. Ease. Joy. Maybe even a little imperfection.

Collaboration > Prescription

When a client is treated as a collaborator, not just a recipient of expertise, the process shifts. They feel invested, heard, and understood. They bring ideas and input. They notice things you might miss—like how the morning sun hits the corner of the living room or the fact that their dog always curls up in the same spot.

But not every client wants to be hands-on and that’s just as valid. For those who are busy or prefer to stay out of the details, we shape a process that involves them only at key milestone moments. This ensures the end result still reflects their needs and identity, without requiring their time every step of the way.

These details become clues; anchors. And when they’re respected, they lead to spaces that work both practically and emotionally.

“Lara took the time to understand our lifestyle and our routines. Her design concepts are elegant while still being practical. She made the process painless and fun.” - Allan, Project 14

Design That Grows With You

A well-designed space shouldn’t freeze a person in time. Life changes. Kids grow. Tastes evolve. What works now may not work five years from now—and that’s okay.

The goal isn’t to design a museum. It’s to create a foundation. A flexible, responsive base that can stretch, adapt, and evolve along with the people who live there. 

When the client is at the center, you’re not designing a fixed outcome. You’re building a relationship between person and place. We ensure this is the priority from the very first conversation, asking a number of questions that may not seem directly related to the design outcome, but are indicative of their way of life, thus influencing the design. Along the way, we listen to stories of family trips abroad, looking at collected items and photographs that may lend themselves to the design; a gallery-sized black and white family photo, a unique artwork from a flea, etc.

In the End, It's About Feeling

You know the feeling. You walk into a space and exhale. Your shoulders drop. The light feels right, the proportions are balanced, the materials make sense. Even if you can’t put your finger on why, it feels like it was made for you.

That’s the power of client-centered design. 

---

Looking to create a space that reflects you? Whether you're starting from scratch or reimagining a corner of your home, the process starts with you—and we wouldn't have it any other way. We’d love to chat.