Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabelle LaRue.
Isabelle had no idea that leaving her cushy, yet unfulfilling, 6 figure salary corporate job, combined with a move to NYC, would completely change her life. As she transformed her NYC cookie-cutter 450 ft2 rented studio apartment into an elegant custom home she loves, Isabelle rekindled her passion for interior design, small spaces and her love for building things with her hands.
Every new DIY project brought on more challenges and learnings, and it was by sharing her process and clever designs with others that she discovered her true calling: empowering others to pick up some tools and create a home they love, no matter where they live or how small their space or budget.
Her relatable approach to DIY has been the cornerstone of her success with her award winning “Engineer Your Space” YouTube channel, which has reached over 25 million views. She now calls LA home where she continues to “engineer” her home and is developing more content and courses to inspire people to make themselves at home, one DIY project at a time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I started Engineer Your Space, I had no formal training in video production nor did I have any experience with digital marketing, so there was a steep learning curve with lots of trial and error. On the DIY side of things, I didn’t grow up around tools nor did I have anyone in my her family that was good with carpentry or construction. No one had ever taught me her any specific woodworking or construction skills, nor had I she taken any courses. What I did have going for me was my background as a building engineer, which taught me how to solve problems and how to break things down in logical steps. I think a lot about the order of things, what has to come first, second, third. How something will be used and function in relation to everything else. It was by starting with more basic projects, and gradually moving to more complex builds that over time my confidence and skill level grew, and so did Engineer Your Space.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Engineer Your Space is about taking ownership of where you live, no matter if you’re a renter or homeowner. The motto I live by is: “If you call it home, make it your own”.
I coach people how to do this with practical relatable projects anyone can do, even if you live in a tiny studio apartment. Most DIY resources out there are geared towards people that have a garage or workshop, and I show people how they can do it in a tiny apartment. I do this through my YouTube channel, blog, and I also run the EYS Insider Studio, an exclusive membership site that I created to support those that want to DIY and create a beautiful home but want that extra support and motivation to make it happen. I also offer 1:1 virtual coaching for clients wanting more personalized solutions to tackle challenges they are having with their home, like how to set up a home office, or finding better ways to store all of their things.
What were you like growing up?
I was that kid that made forts out of twigs and I’ve always loved small spaces. They feel cozy and comfortable to me. Being the youngest child, I would end up with the smallest room and that was fine with me. I welcomed the challenge of making it work, and I would spend hours trying to figure out how to configure all my furniture to maximize the use of space. As an adult, I love doing the same thing for small apartments or tiny rooms. The more restrictions or limitations there are, the more my creative juices start flowing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.engineeryourspace.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyspace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EngineerYourSpace
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/EngineerurSpace/
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