ABOUT

A woman with dark hair in a white outfit stands indoors near a rustic wooden door, with a cowhide chair beside her, in a warmly lit room.

INTERIOR DECORATING
INTERIOR STYLING
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SERVICES

ACCOLADES & PRESS

ABOUT LAWREN

Lawren Howell Studio synthesizes Howell’s years as a magazine editor at Vogue, Teen Vogue, and Architectural Digest, into a multi-disciplinary practice of designing and styling spaces for both residential and commercial clients.  In addition to an interior styling practice, the studio shows art, antiques and special exhibitions in a charmingly historic gallery in downtown Santa Barbara.  

After studying Art History at Vassar College, Howell worked in the Creative Department at Kate Spade, where she witnessed the creation of iconic visuals, both grand and granular, from the rollout of advertising campaigns to the design of packaging tape for outgoing parcels. Thereafter, she began her fifteen-year career in the magazine industry, first as Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and then as Sittings Assistant to Executive Fashion Editor Phyllis Posnick. Howell was later promoted to Vogue’s West Coast Fashion Editor and relocated to her home state of California, where she styled celebrity portraits and fashion stories for the magazine. 

Her years of fashion styling laid the foundation for her approach to interior styling. Lawren began styling many of the cover stories and celebrity features in the early tenure of Amy Astley when she took the helm of Architectural Digest in 2015. 

Similar to fashion, interior styling is concerned with the presentation of tastes, values, and histories, in a composition that is balanced and dynamic. A similar process of discovery and assemblage sits at the core of both disciplines. A native of San Francisco, Howell has lived in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Aix-en-Provence, Ojai, and now Santa Barbara, which has shaped her taste and, most importantly, her understanding that design must honor the innate uniqueness of place. We all have stories to tell and to live out; curation comes in when choosing which stories to enlist at any given moment.

DESIGN VALUES & BELIEFS

The studio is deeply committed to craft; handmade works that demonstrate mastery of material. In a modern world shaped by globalization and fragmented supply chains, we believe in the value of communicating directly with the maker of a material or an object. The magic happens through an exchange of ideas, sometimes even on a subconscious level. The process of creation, as a demonstration of technique and skill, is a central fascination of our’s, and our mission is to seek out and support makers whenever possible. Above all, we try our best to reduce waste whenever possible, which often means restoring and refurbishing over creating something new.

INTERIOR STYLING SERVICES

As an interior stylist, Lawren’s approach prioritizes the overall look and feel of a space, with a firm belief that spaces must be both comforting yet surprising. The studio tells stories through color, texture, and scale, carefully arranging and juxtaposing elements like fabrics, rugs, paint colors and shapes to create a desired feeling or sensation within a space. 

The studio has overseen full-scale remodels and is not opposed to small projects, such as room refreshes, often incorporating new pieces alongside a client’s existing collection. Our strength lies in material and decor selection, and the studio regularly works with subcontractors, architects, and contractors to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.

THE PROCESS

Every project begins with a client meeting, preferably in person and on site. During this meeting, clients are encouraged to list anything and everything they wish for, regardless of budget, timeline, or other constraints, as well as any issues or inefficiencies in the current space. This initial meeting serves as both a brainstorming session and an opportunity to get to know one another. 

Following the site visit, the studio presents a proposal that defines the initial scope of work and outlines billing and fees. Once the proposal is approved, work begins with mood board presentations designed to establish a directional vision. These boards serve as a guide rather than a fixed plan and provide a helpful reference point throughout the project. 

After the mood boards are discussed and finalized, the studio presents design concept boards and begins ordering and acquiring materials, while continuing to track timelines and budgets. The studio oversees installation and remains involved even after completion, recognizing that design is a living, evolving process.

FASHION STYLING

A woman in a white and navy striped sweater and rust-colored wide-leg pants sitting on a large piece of driftwood by the water with clouds in the sky.
Magazine cover featuring a person with wet skin lying in a swimming pool with sunlight reflections. The title reads 'Interview,' and the cover features Hilary Swank.
A woman with wavy brown hair and light skin standing outdoors against a white wooden wall, wearing a white and blue striped button-up shirt with a small dark embroidered moose on the chest and gold necklaces.
A woman sitting on an old metal outdoor chair in a garden, surrounded by trees and shadows, wearing a striped shirt and black lingerie, with one arm resting on her head and legs crossed.
Woman in a red dress sitting on a wooden chair on rocky shore, facing the ocean with her hand on her head, ocean waves in the background.
A young woman sitting by a window, wearing a sleeveless blue dress, with a serious expression, and jewelry on her wrist.
Portrait of a young woman outdoors wearing a tiara and a white dress with a bow, in a natural setting with trees.
A woman with red hair wearing a blue collared shirt with black buttons stands next to a brown horse with a braided mane, outdoor setting with trees and a building in the background.
A young woman with short brown hair, wearing a plaid dress with blue, red, yellow, and green colors, poses next to a peacock perched on a fallen log in front of a rocky background and some grass. The woman is sitting with one leg crossed over the other and is wearing high-heeled sandals.
A portrait of a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a white dress with sequins, holding her hands near her collar.
VIEW MORE WORK

Ready to start a project? Feel free to contact me for more information.

OTHER INQUIRIES:
LAWREN@LAWRENHOWELL.COM