Lauren Czarniecki, Czar Interiors Owner and Principal designer, is known for creating spaces that align her background in Interior Design and Art History as well as her extensive world travel and experiences in Los Angeles, New York and South Florida. She was recently awarded with a Stars of Design “Stars on the Rise” award from the Design Center of the Americas. More recently, she was featured in Palm Beach Illustrated’s December issue, had the honor of being invited to be a part of Interior Design Magazine’s “Women in Design” book and was also a guest on Design Biz Survival Guide’s Podcast. Check out Lauren’s story below.
What brought you to Florida?
Actually, I was born and raised in Boca Raton but I’ve always had a desire to travel and see new places. I was fortunate to study abroad and live in Florence, Italy throughout college. I moved out to LA after university and lived there for about 4 years. I moved back home to South Florida to be closer to my family and explore the world of design in South Florida.
Did you always want to work in Interior Design?
When I went to college my first declared major was Fashion Design – I originally wanted to design clothes, but when I realized that I needed to sew them that dream quickly vanished! Sewing was not my forte.
When I decided to switch direction to Interior Design, it ended up all falling into place. Maybe I was fighting the idea of doing interior design because my father is in the world of building and construction and I was around it so much that I didn’t think I wanted to be involved. However, once I got into the program, I knew it was a good fit for me. Ever since then, I have had a strong passion for Interior Design. There are so many different avenues that it can take you and that is one of the things I love most about it.
Do you have anyone you consider as a role model?
Well, while I was at university I did have a mentor, Karen Meyers, she was our History of Interiors professor and really opened my eyes to all the different facets of Interior Design. Before her class, I didn’t realize that Interior Designers were involved in not only the architecture and furniture selections, but that they contributed to the decorative arts like china and flatware selections. It was so interesting to learn that there were certain pieces of furniture or certain styles of teacups that were invented for particular clients during particular times. It’s all fascinating to me!
When I moved to LA, I had the privilege of working with Kelly Wearstler – and I would say that she has been my role model ever since. I love how she has a strong sense of style and that she boldly puts out her designs without hesitation. And in my opinion has changed the face of Interior Design by being a proud woman owned design firm that has not only designed high-end residential homes but also extremely well known commercial and hospitality spaces. I’m very proud to say that I was able to work at her firm for some of the time I was in LA and appreciated everything I learned from Kelly.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Besides being with my family, snuggling with my 2 month old daughter, Sienna, and her “big sister”, our puppy Luna; I am currently working on designing our own home, which has become a labor of love, maybe not a hobby. Other than that I love to do yoga, meditate, take bike rides, dinner with friends, long walks with the babies and have an Aperol Spritz at happy hour in Palm Beach whenever we get a second to relax!
If you couldn’t be an Interior Designer, what other profession would you choose?
I would love to work as an art curator in a museum. I have a second degree in Art History and have never really done anything with it. I think it would be so interesting to live each day surrounded by masterpieces and all that living history.
I would do that or…be a Sommelier…I love wine and wouldn’t mind spending more time in France and Italy!
What makes working in Interior Design special to you?
My absolute favorite part of interior design is when we are able to do our “reveal”. For those of you who don’t know – that is when we essentially stage the house when it is complete with all of the new furniture that has been ordered, we light candles, play music, and have every little thing in its place (even the toilet paper in each bathroom!) and we introduce our clients to their “new” home. I absolutely love our client’s reaction and how appreciative they are – it makes all of the hard work and ups and downs worth every last minute!
