Bringing Sanctuary Into the Studio

As of May 21st, my team and I are officially settled into our new design studio at 1022 6th Ave. N, right in the heart of the Design District in Naples, Florida. After some unboxing, organizing, as well as a whole lot of teamwork, the new space is finally feeling like our own sanctuary.

SUCCESS!

While I’m thrilled with how it’s coming together, it’s been A LOT. As a natural time and space optimist (much to the chagrin of my family and my team), I underestimated how much stuff we had to sort through and then try to fit into a smaller space. (If you are a member of my team or family and reading this, I can hear your guffaw).

I also might have underestimated how long it would take. So after finishing up around midnight on Friday night, I crawled home for an exhausted but celebratory cocktail with Philip and vowed to be more realistic next time.

I also thought I had died when I woke up to every muscle in my body aching on Saturday morning.

BUT. I am writing this to you now, so the good news is I survived. We all survived.

I’ll be honest, leaving our former studio wasn’t easy. We had poured so much intention into personalizing it over the years: private offices for each team member, a sun-drenched design library, a fully equipped kitchen, hand-finished wood floors and even a meditation room. It felt like home.

But our new space is 100% different. It presents as more of a blank slate- a former woodworking studio with polished concrete floors and an industrial vibe.

Industrial? Yes, you heard me right. But it’s also amazing and I am a space whisperer, after all.

When I first stepped inside, what I saw was potential. The openness, the light, and the possibilities that were just waiting for me to transform it into something sophisticated and beautiful. The stark contrast of adding soft touches, beautiful art and my abundance of plants to a space that is filled with hard surfaces and masculine finishes is really dynamic. The overall effect as it came together is nothing short of sublime.

Designing a sanctuary at home is something I speak about often, but creating one in a shared work environment is an entirely different challenge. Sanctuary is so personal. How do you craft a space that nurtures multiple individuals with different needs, responsibilities and perspectives?

I will tell you that this CAN be done.

In fact, I believe bringing sanctuary into the workplace is just as essential, if not more so, than at home. Our office is where we navigate deadlines, solve problems, and handle the unexpected. Having a calming, supportive environment doesn’t eliminate stress, but it helps to manage it. It offers structure, harmony and balance. It helps us to be resilient and to utilize our best creative thinking, whether it be for creating designs or for solving sticky issues.

As a side note: through practice and experience I have found that it also increases team job satisfaction, individual productivity and employee retention. And of course this trickles down to profitability in a positive way.

This is why we are launching our new branch of business called Finding Sanctuary Consulting – I really want to share our expertise and zone of genius with businesses. Sanctuary at work addresses so many issues that businesses face today and can help team members everywhere find more happiness and job satisfaction.

This type of consulting works hand-in-hand with our interior design services and helps us round out how we offer services of sanctuary to the world.

In our new studio, we’ve been intentional about weaving in the details that make a space feel nurturing. Every corner now holds a little something special for our team. Personal mementos and family photos bring warmth and meaning. Lush plants reconnect us with nature.

(Admittedly, there are a lot more plants than people – oh, and books. There are a lot of books as well).

But also crystals, salt lamps, and carefully chosen, artisan pieces invite calm and provide a grounded sense of presence and energy. We’ve carved out thoughtful zones offering both privacy and connection- from a cozy kitchen for coffee and conversation to offices with doors that can close when quiet is needed. The result is a space crafted intentionally for sanctuary and success.

While saying goodbye to our last office brought a swell of emotion, this new chapter fills me with excitement and hope. We’re growing, evolving, and embracing the transformation with open hearts.

I can’t wait to show you more of what we’ve created. Stay tuned!

With love and gratitude,
Lisa