At elementary school, I’d ask my friends all about their dream homes. Even though they’d rather play four-square at recess instead of answering my client interview questions, I loved coming up with ideas for new spaces, and how to make what we already had better.

Being a designer is sometimes like being a therapist. I listen to what my clients say but I also hear what they are afraid of saying. Our design process helps people understand that whatever you like is ok, whatever you need is ok, and whoever you are is beautiful, and worthy of comfort and joy.

Owning my own design company allows me to blend all the things I care about into a life long project. I care about function and flow, aesthetics, and meaning. I care about longevity and nature, about composition, and story telling. I care about creating the community and society I wish existed, I care about my employees’ happiness, and I care about helping my clients find their way home.

One client told me that my projects don’t look like a designer was there at all, but that the clients just have really good taste. I loved this compliment. If I leave any of myself behind in a project, it’s only in composition, a satisfying mood, musicality, and an elevation of my client’s own taste.

-Anna León