LUDC Guide: Building Your Custom Home Today
Designing your custom home can be more rewarding than purchasing an already designed space. However, proceeding with a custom build can present a number of challenges. Lack of robust knowledge of the process or choosing the wrong team for the job might compound these challenges. For more about working with a design team — like […]
How to Work with a Residential Architect
Building a new home from the ground up can be incredibly daunting. It involves hundreds of small decisions interspersed between dozens of major ones. Managing contractors, builders, and other members of the construction team can be overwhelming. This is why lot-owners seeking to build a new home on their site hire a design team to […]
10 ICONIC HOMES WITH MODERN ARCHITECTURE
Emerging in the mid-20th century, modern architecture is defined by simple structures that emphasize functionality with a clean look. Well-known architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry endorsed modern style architecture all over America. Leading modern architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, introduced the Prairie Style of architecture in Chicago. His […]
Meet Gina Elkins: Our New Creative Director
After more than a decade of focusing exclusively on interior design, we re-introduced ourselves as the Laura U Design Collective earlier this year. Our newly expanded team supports a thoughtful architectural focus, allowing us to provide a seamless design experience from the ground up. And we couldn’t have done it without our new Director of […]
Say Hello to the Laura U Design Collective
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been making some major changes here at the studio. And we’re now ready to reveal our biggest change yet: a name change! Starting now, we are the Laura U Design Collective. Our firm has always embraced the evolution of our industry, and as such, we are evolving ourselves. Because now, we offer […]
5 High-End Interior Design Renovation Projects I Love
At Laura U Interior Design, we take on three types of high-end interior design projects: renovations, new construction, and furnishings-only clients. While I love working on all our projects, renovations are my favorite. I love making the homes functional, while still honoring the history and architecture of its original build. The process of uncovering the […]
How Culture Continues to Impact Architectural Design
One of our greatest inspirations is the architect Alvar Aalto. He once said: The ultimate goal of the architect…is to create a paradise. Every house, every product of architecture… should be a fruit of our endeavor to build an earthly paradise for people. This is why culture is so central to the architectural process. People are […]
Houston Home Renovation Design in Avalon Place
When our clients stepped into this lovely Avalon Place home for the first time, they felt it couldn’t be saved. Over the years, previous homeowners had added onto the original home, leaving behind a too trendy footprint. It was disjointed and dated, in desperate need of updates and a cohesive design. Our clients believed that […]
6 Things To Consider Before Purchasing New Windows
When I purchased the Boulevard Showhouse, one of our biggest challenges was the windows. They desperately needed to be replaced. But because the home is historically protected, it was a trickier process. The preservation society requires all renovations to remain true to the historic look of the home. So, I needed historically accurate windows that […]
From Start to Finish: What it Really Takes to Renovate a Historic Home
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of leading a panel discussion at Access Design, sponsored by Diane Cowan and the Houston Chronicle. Our topic: historic home renovation.