Today we’d like to introduce you to Lea Schein
Hi Lea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I attended The University of Miami, which was one of the last “traditional” architecture programs in the US. We were taught the old ways of hand drawing and the classical orders. After graduating I went to work for Ferguson and Shamamian Architects in NYC where I designed classical projects at the highest caliber for over 8 years.
My husband and I decided to move to Los Angeles, where I started to work for Studio William Hefner, another prominent residential firm. About 5 months after moving to LA, Covid hit and the landscape of work and life changed forever. I decided to start Lea Schein Studio in 2020 and specialize in high end residential design. Our projects are guided by traditional design practices, but with a modern day California spirit. Our principle focus is to develop designs that are timeless, and will age gracefully. I pride myself on being a listener, a problem solver and a realist, which are the skills needed for working with homeowners to build their dream homes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Transitioning to business owner was a learning experience, and still is. I truly believe we only grow when we are pushing ourselves and learning new things. With that being said, I think the biggest challenge was learning how things are done in California vs New York.
The newest struggle is navigating the latest fires in both Palisades and Altadena. As a Palisades resident, this is a heartbreaking time. Seeing neighbors lose their homes, schools, businesses has been devastating. The meaning of home is so much more powerful and clear to me now. Its not just where we sleep, its where we go grocery shopping, run to the dry cleaners, say hi to the mailman and enjoy dining at our favorite restaurants. Everyday mundane tasks. The next steps to clean up and rebuild are emotional and also confusing with rules changing daily. As an architect, I want to show up for my community and help guide homeowners to the right information on rebuilding efforts so they can make the best decisions for their families. I believe Palisades will come back stronger and I am sure the same will be true in Altadena.
As you know, we’re big fans of Lea Schein Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lea Schein Studio is an architecture and design firm specializing in high end residential design. Our projects are guided by traditional design practices, but with a modern day California spirit. Our principle focus is to develop designs that are timeless, that will age gracefully and that will make your house your home.
We offer full design and construction services for residential projects. We pride ourselves on our attention to details and clear communication with our clients. We like to have collaborative experiences with the homeowners and involve them in all aspects of the project. Building or renovating a home is such a personal undertaking and often a new experience for most clients. We advocate for our clients in all ways, from guiding design decisions, to hiring contractors and consultants and reviewing construction during regular site visits.
Lea Schein Studio is licensed in New York and California, a member of AIA and ICAA.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is making clients happy with their dream spaces. We love the term under promise and overdeliver. Success is beating a deadline, finding the right floorplan layout, picking out the perfect plumbing fixture. Its also watching your client and their family use the space that you spent so long designing on paper and having them love it more than they envisioned.
Success is also finding the right people to work with and having good business relationships. Having the right team makes such a big difference, especially since most projects are longer term, usually 6 months- 2 years+.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leascheinstudio.com
- Instagram: @leascheinstudio
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/LeaScheinStudio/
Image Credits
Shelby Cooper
Erik Benjamins
