Life & Work with Zilia Zhou of sierra madre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zilia Zhou.

Hi Zilia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Chanova Design didn’t start as a perfectly mapped-out business plan. It started with a moment that shook everything loose. When the Eaton Fire nearly burned down my family’s home, it forced me to look at what actually matters in a space: safety, resilience, intention, and how a home holds the people inside it.

Before that, I’d already been orbiting the design world for years. I studied graphic design for my undergrad at Boston University, then moved into interior architecture at Cal Poly Pomona/UCLA Extension. I spent time at larger firms, including Gensler and Compass, watching how the building and design industry worked and, honestly, how little true listening happened between professionals and homeowners. It felt like everyone was designing for portfolios rather than for people.

So I came back to Sierra Madre, the foothills, the place that shaped me. I turned my burned-out “almost” into the reason I build now. Chanova Design grew from that mix of technical training, community roots, and the belief that a home should support you in becoming your best self.

I started small: one garage conversion that became my ADU showroom and studio, a hands-on project that let me rebuild something from the ground up. That space became both a portfolio and a symbol of what I stand for: mindful, resilient, community-centered design.

From there, the work grew. Full-home renovations, ADUs, hillside rebuilds, investment properties, and families trying to create a home that actually reflects how they live. Along the way, I built a local ecosystem of architects, contractors, realtors, and makers. Sierra Madre, Pasadena, and the Foothills became my core focus because these neighborhoods deserve design rooted in context, not copied from Pinterest.

Chanova Design today is still evolving, but the root is the same:
Design that listens.
Design that supports well-being.
Design that feels intentional, rooted, and real.

I’m building spaces for people who want their home to work as hard as they do and give back twice as much. And honestly, I’m just getting started.

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?
Smooth road? Absolutely not. Does that even exist in any entrepreneurial journey?

When the Eaton Fire hit and I had to evacuate for seven days, it shook me in ways I didn’t expect. It made me rethink what “home” even means and pushed me toward design with more intention and clarity.

The early months of starting my business were anything but graceful. There was burnout, impostor syndrome, and plenty of “why don’t I just go back to a regular 9–5?” moments. I still have them sometimes. It definitely made me question my life choices.

And then there’s the industry itself. Interior design in LA is a strange mix of high expectations, low patience, and people thinking they can DIY because they watched HGTV or two TikTok videos. I had to learn how to educate clients, protect my value, and not let anyone steamroll timelines or budgets just because they were busy.

Building a local network from scratch was another major hurdle. No one hands you trust in the foothills; you earn it by showing up repeatedly, even when you’re exhausted and your renderings are still exporting at 2 a.m.

Money challenges were real too. Starting a boutique studio means juggling projects, cash flow, investments, bookkeeping, taxes… all while pretending your left eye isn’t twitching.

And contractors. Some are incredible. Others… I hope I never cross paths with again. Learning who’s reliable and who only pretends to be was an expensive lesson that I could only learn by falling on my face a few times.

The biggest challenge, though, was internal: figuring out how to run a real business while staying true to my design philosophy. Mindful design takes time and emotional energy. Balancing that with being a founder means constantly managing your bandwidth so you don’t drain the creativity you rely on.

But every obstacle pushed me to build Chanova Design with sharper boundaries, tighter systems, clearer values, and a refusal to settle for mediocrity. The road is only getting smoother from here, and that’s because I’ve learned how to pave most of it myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Chanova Design is a boutique interior design studio based in Sierra Madre, focused on creating mindful, intentional, and deeply livable spaces for homeowners in the foothills communities. I work at the intersection of interior architecture, residential design, and holistic well-being, with an emphasis on clarity, functionality, and emotional impact.

My specialty is helping clients translate the life they want to live into a home that actively supports that vision. This ranges from full-scale renovations and kitchen/bath transformations to ADUs, additions, and highly functional living spaces for modern families. Many of my projects involve complex conditions: hillside properties, older homes that need thoughtful updates, multi-generational living, or clients who want a clean design process but don’t know where to start.

I’m known for creating spaces that feel calm, warm, and grounded. My design philosophy blends interior architecture with elements of mindful living and Feng Shui principles, without being overly thematic or literal. Clients come to me because they want their home to feel intentional and deeply personal, not trend-driven.

I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built in the Sierra Madre and Pasadena area. Over time, I’ve grown a strong network of architects, contractors, trades, realtors, and local creatives. My own ADU showroom — a garage conversion turned design studio — has become both a portfolio piece and a community space where people can experience my design approach in person.

What sets me apart is the way I combine storytelling, technical rigor, and human-centered design. Every project begins with a deep listening process. I take the time to understand how a family moves, feels, and functions at home, because design only works when it reflects real life, not assumptions.

From there, clarity-driven project management becomes the backbone of the experience. Clients rely on my structured workflow, transparent communication, and my ability to simplify the often overwhelming renovation process. The goal is always to create confidence, not confusion.

Aesthetically, my work stays mindful and grounded. I don’t chase trends or fast-fashion interiors; I focus on creating spaces that support well-being, calm, and long-term living. Each decision is intentional, tied to how a space should make someone feel years from now.

My design approach is also rooted deeply in the Foothills. I draw from the climate, community, and the presence of the San Gabriel Mountains, creating homes that feel connected to where they are. Context matters, and it shapes every project.

At the core, every project is an opportunity to help people live better, not just live prettier. That principle is the foundation of Chanova Design and the reason I do this work.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that clarity is everything. Clarity in boundaries, clarity in communication, clarity in what I stand for as a designer. When I first started, I tried to be everything for everyone, and it only led to burnout and diluted work. The moment I got clear about my values, my process, and the kind of clients I serve best, the entire studio shifted.
I also learned that resilience isn’t about staying perfectly regulated; it’s about getting thrown off and finding your way back. Between evacuating during the Eaton Fire, starting a business from scratch, and juggling all the moving parts of design and construction, I had to get comfortable with uncertainty. Instead of fighting it, I learned to work with it.
And finally, the lesson I return to most: people don’t hire interior designers for pretty things. They hire us for transformation, for clarity, for support, and for the peace that comes from having a home that truly works for them. The more I honor that, the more meaningful the work becomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chanovadesign.com
• Instagram: chanovadesign

Image Credits
Chanova Design LLC