Lauren Levant encourages those in the industry to find their “why.” By Loren Kessell
There’s no shortage of beautiful designs in the kitchen and bath industry, so it’s important to perfect a passion and the craft. NKBA member and NKBA Design Competition Winner Lauren Levant, owner of Lauren Levant Interior, shared how to increase originality during a recent NKBA webinar entitled, “Breakthrough Kitchens and Baths — Setting Your Projects Apart.”
“I think we are dream-builders,” Levant said. “We tell a story to our clients as we are developing a project…we’re trying to get to know who they are.”
Levant incorporates unique, hand-crafted pieces in her designs. And, since this is her chosen niche, she employs help from other craftspeople to execute her ideas. The end result is a one-of-a-kind space with an artisan focal point that, as Levant said, also serves as the best advertising: word-of-mouth. Clients directly promote someone’s business by showing off these special pieces to guests.
NKBA offers free webinars each month on themed topics. Levant participated in the August series under the theme of Construction/Building.
Here are Levant’s top tips for standing out from the crowd:
- Find the “Why” Leading to the “What.”
Designers should audit their project goal and how they intend to achieve it. Levant takes time to fully understand her project’s destination, and this helps guide her process. As a creative, understanding the “why” for the client helps to drive the project.
- Creativity Eliminates Competition.
Being open-minded to creative solutions means no one else has exactly what you have. Levant says that as a business person, creativity becomes a savvy business move. Designers offer custom looks that can’t always be found at the local store.
- Collaboration Beats Isolation.
Collaborating with other creatives is important, because this offers a pool of ideas. Levant recommends collaborating, because this is how she finds artisans and builders that have produced noteworthy projects with her. For instance, on one project, she needed to create a custom ventilation hood that incorporated steel “ribs” and protruding wooden planks. She worked with a specialist to create this unique piece.
- Craftsmanship Is Key — and You’re Supporting Craftspeople.
The craftsmanship and artisan industries are booming. Levant shared that Etsy, an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and supplies, as well as unique factory-manufactured items,is projected to exceed $1 billion in sales. Utilizing artisan expertise creates a space unlike any other, and it is profitable. Levant uses local craftspeople for her projects to achieve the best results.
- Play is Important for Creatives.
During her Voices from the Industry session at KBIS 2018, Levant hosted a creative lab that urged a group of designers create freely. She believes it’s important to draw by hand and be tactile. Playfulness in a weekly process allows the creativity to flow when the administrative tasks drain the energy, she said.
- Incorporate Unique Objects.
According to Levant, this can be a simple task. Identifying the right person to help build a unique piece and utilizing found material, such as bespoke hardware, allows craft elements without hassle. The most important part is sourcing local experts to allow for maximum efficiency. Creating unique elements ties into the client’s dream and how to bring it to life. For example, she had a custom glass tree sculpture created for a dining room. The homeowners loved it, so they decided to have a set of wine glasses created as well.
- Get Inspired by Unexpected Sources and Limitations.
Designing a breakout project means gaining inspiration from uncommon places. Levant worked on a project inspired by a couple’s nature-loving, organic lifestyle, which meant incorporating fallen wood into the kitchen design. Another project’s inspiration came from a cabinetry company’s shipping crates. Levant also recommends finding unique solutions when faced with limitations. Another project involved utilizing old, brick Victorian fireplaces, and she created a custom range and storage areas in them.
- “With Great Risk Comes Great Reward.”
Levant applies this motto to every project, and she said it inspires her to create unique spaces. Sometimes executing a different idea seems impossible, but with patience, the right tools and experts, it comes to life. Be unafraid to fail.
“You can collaborate with your clients in ways that you can’t even imagine if you establish an energy dynamic that says, ‘Hey, we’re on an adventure together,’” Levant said. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up, you don’t know where we’re going to end up, nobody does — but that’s the best part!”
For more information on NKBA’s webinar series, click here, or visit nkba.org.
