Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Borisoff.
Lauren, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got my start in design at Ralph Lauren in New York City, where I began working in furniture and product design and then later on their showrooms and stores. Here is where I fell in love with antiques and mixing classic pieces with modern ones. I also always remember how Ralph loved to tell a detailed story or “movie” about each collection which made everything more special and also really helped me understand branding.
I moved back to Los Angeles to work for Hilton Hotels and made the transition into the hotel design industry. I always have loved traveling so to work on projects that allowed you to do so and also offered travelers experiences they will always remember was and is exciting to me. Working on large scale projects is challenging but also rewarding, and I wanted to be a part of it.
I spent a lot of my career at SBE Entertainment Group’s Development team where I had the opportunity to work on their hotel brands, SLS, Delano, Mondrian, and Redbury. It was here that I got involved in restaurants and worked on Katsuya, Umami Burger, the Bazaar, and launched and designed a playful new Japanese concept, K-Ramen. Going out to eat with friends is one of my favorite things to do, so I think I find passion in designing restaurant spaces the most. In addition to designing for SBE, I also got to work with and manage some big-name designers like Philippe Starck, Rockwell Group, and Lenny Kravitz’s team. I learned a lot from these awesome teams on the project management side too, which I think has helped me be able to manage my own business.
After having some great mentors and experiences, I really felt ready to try to go out on my own so a little over two years ago, I made the leap. I started with a few residential projects as I was referred and realized that I also liked working directly with a client just as well as working for a brand. And I love designing a custom one of a kind pieces for residential homes (brought me back to my Ralph Lauren roots)-things you just can’t use in a commercial space. I also was fortunate enough to meet the Cohn’s of Cohn Restaurant Group a few years ago and have just completed two restaurants for them in San Diego and Maui. I love designing and working with people to create special spaces, whether they be a home, an office, retail space, or a hospitality venue, so I feel lucky that I have been able to do so thus far.
Has it been a smooth road?
Of course, navigating through your career and in any professional world will prove to be arduous at times. I do think proving myself at certain companies early on in the hospitality world was challenging as I come from a more artistic, decorative background, actually first in fashion, and trained myself in AutoCAD and the more technical side of design. Traveling for the job almost every other week and moving around for projects can be fun and exciting but can also take a toll on you as well which is one of the reasons why I wanted to work for myself to finally have more flexibility with that.
I have been fortunate to have made great friendships and working relationships in the industry where we support each other and also refer each other and try to work together as much as possible!
Please tell us about Borisoff Design Studio.
Borisoff Design Studio is a full-service interior design firm that takes on a variety of projects from small residential kitchen & bath renovations and restaurant refreshes to new or gutted homes and new build hospitality venues while partnering with a contractor or architect. We provide complete design drawing packages, beautifully sourced presentations and can include renderings, as well as managing the design, purchasing, and installation process.
We specialize in expert space planning, customization (art & signage) and/or custom furniture design and fabrication, as well as styling. All the details and layers are important to complete the story we want to tell in any space. And finding those unique finishes or items that make you think or laugh and are memorable set us apart. Personality plays a big role in how I approach designing our spaces.
In addition, we are also known for working with tight budgets and timelines. We have amazing resources to pull from and creative ways to mix high and low items to meet a client’s budget without compromising the overall look. And we have managed to complete a successful restaurant renovation in 6 weeks. I am very appreciative of the relationships that we have formed with vendors that help us with our crazy requests.
I also am proud of our ability to connect with our clients and design for their likes and needs while guiding them in the right direction. I don’t really believe in having a signature style. I approach design more from a branding perspective and think we can always leave our mark or do something special inspired by the person or company we are designing for.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Los Angeles is a fantastic city for designers and a design business. Los Angeles is constantly changing and growing and the food and art scenes are great here, some of the best. And I think people are really open to new ideas. In regards to the arts, there is just so much talent. Right now we are collaborating with a talented digital artist to create a custom mural for a retail store. Collaborating with graphic designers, illustrators, or street artists in Los Angeles always adds an unexpected element to a project and makes my job more fun and inspiring too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.borisoffdesignstudio.com
- Phone: 3104998723
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Plantation House Restaurant- overall maui space and light blue booth- Jack Harp, Aloha Pictures
All residential images- Naomi Yamada
Green Booth from the The Victor- me so leave out
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