Meet Laura Barnett of Laura Barnett Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Barnett.

Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
While completing my design degree, I worked with my husband in his family retail business. Even after graduation, he insisted that I forego design and continue working at the stores, which was very frustrating and not at all fulfilling for me. Finally, in 1981, I left him and his successful business to start my own and moved to Evanston with my three-year old daughter. There I was with no money, no connections, and a baby. What was I thinking?

I had obtained one client before moving to Evanston, which led me to believe that I could really do this! I could barely afford my small apartment, so an office was out of the question! Instead, I dedicated one end of the dining room table to my office and we ate at the other end. Soon I was offered a part-time position as the “in house” designer for a kitchen and bath company out of Kenilworth, which I quickly accepted.

The owner was such a nice guy. He allowed me to bring my daughter with me to work so I wouldn’t have to pay a babysitter in addition to nursery school. I set up a playpen for her in the back office. He made it clear to me that he was only interested in doing kitchens and bathrooms, so that if one of his clients wanted work done in any other part of the house, that work would be all mine. His generosity is what helped me establish my design firm.

Evanston was a perfect location. It was a safe place to raise a child and the L-stop was a block from my apartment. The train ran from there directly to the Merchandise Mart. I commuted to and from to educate myself about product.

Because I didn’t have a full roster of clients, I had time. Several mornings a week I armed myself with a legal pad and camera and boarded the L to the Mart. I started on the top floor and systematically worked my way down, visiting every showroom along the way. I may not have the clients yet, but when I did, I wanted to know where to go to find what.

I scoured each showroom, taking pages and pages of copious notes and photos to document the style, quality, and price points of all the furniture, fabrics, and accessories. I met the showroom managers and sales staff, who were more than happy to help familiarize me with their products. Some of them, Baker, Knapp, and Tubbs for one, assigned me to their most seasoned salesman to help me learn the business.

I was so honored to receive my first “open account”. It was with F.W. Schumacher, a very prestigious fabric and wall-covering manufacturer. Because of their seal of approval, I was able to establish trade accounts throughout the building.

I attended every special program offered by the Mart and before you know it, I was asked to participate on the panels for these special programs. It was an exciting time. Business was growing, so I had hired a secretary/assistant and soon opened an office. One room with a large partners desk shared with my assistant along with a drafting board and stool…progress!

In 1988, I was presented with the Special Design Recognition Award from the Merchandise Mart and Chicago Design Sources. This award honored up-and-coming designers and I was thrilled!

The firm continued to grow. We had several designers on staff, a full-time office manager and interns from the design schools. After several moves to larger quarters in Evanston, I finally decided to move the office to Chicago. More than half our clients were in the Gold Coast or Lincoln Park, plus I was now living there myself. Plus, proximity to the Mart meant that we could have more regular access to the showrooms

Along the way, the firm participated in many Designer Show Houses, in addition to Mart events. While collaborating with their marketing department, I designed the first standalone Dream Room, which led to their very successful Dream Home. A few years later, we were asked to participate again and won a design award for our room in the Dream Home.

I’m proud to say that many of our clients have been with me almost as long as I have been in practice. I treasure these very special relationships and think of them as family and lucky for me, I’m often treated as such. The mutual trust when working with an old friend is the best! You develop a shorthand with one another and don’t even need to speak about certain elements because you just know. I know what they like and need; they know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the project on schedule, in budget, and beautiful.

Has it been a smooth road?
Getting started took forever. I didn’t come from a design firm, but a totally different industry in a different town so I didn’t have a large or strong network to pull from. I had to work smart and hard to figure it all out. It was years before I was making a salary that I wasn’t embarrassed about! Once established, business steadily improved and became everything I wanted it to be.

That is, until the financial collapse in 2009. I was forced to downsize the firm and really wondered if it would survive at all. It required complete restructuring, which worked out to be a good thing as it provided me with much more freedom and flexibility. Plus, I get to spend more time with each individual client–my favorite part.

So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Laura Barnett Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
Interior design is a broad term. It ranges from helping a client choose paint colors or window treatments to helping them choose every detail for their home, from furniture and building materials down to the door hinges. I like the versatility and the challenges that brings on a daily basis.

Helping a client discover their personal style and then manifesting it in their environment requires that you pay close attention to what they tell you and to read between the lines to determine what they don’t. Getting to know the clients as well as their wants and needs is my favorite part of any project. To me, it’s never “about the sofa” it’s about the people who are going to sit on it. I’m honored to become a trusted confidant.

I’m available all hours, all days, and under most circumstances. I wouldn’t dare hold up a project or disappoint a client if it was at all possible.

My style is very clean and tailored, be it traditional or contemporary. I appreciate fine detail, but never confuse it with over-embellishment. I like to provide a place for the eye to rest, discovering various elements as you use the room. It shouldn’t hit you over the head as you enter. I believe your home should be a respite from the chaos out in the world; to be peaceful and calm.

I have written and lectured about design for many years and most recently began writing about personal growth and discovery in my blog: imtoooldforthis.org.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It’s hard to predict. There are such big changes happening in the world and particularly in buying trends. So many interior products are available online that many clients are doing things themselves. While this may result in fewer clients, I think it promotes better ones.

I would rather assist with a project where my specific talents are utilized and appreciated. Anyone can shop online, but knowing what the right thing to look for is, is a different story. I like to focus on the floor plans and relation of each item to one another. Besides, color is virtually impossible to match on a computer or mobile device. You need the real thing.

Contact Info:

• Address: Laura Barnett Designs Inc.
  1000 Lake Shore Plaza #41C
  Chicago, IL 60611
  and
  11212 Elvessa
  Oakland, CA 94605
• Website: laurabarnettdesigns.com; imtoooldforthis.org
• Phone: 312.593-5172
• Email: laura@laurabarnettdesigns.com

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.