Business: Lauren Collander Interiors
Address: 221 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville
Phone/website: 630-848-9660; www.laurencollanderinteriors.com
Owner, founder and creative director: Lauren Collander, 42, of Naperville
Years in business: 11
What does your business do? “We’re an interior design firm that wants to align with clients’ dreams and then make them happen,” Collander said.
Is that challenging? “I think it’s really fun. I like to get to know people. I feel passionately about people living in their homes in a way that brings them joy. … Having spaces that are perfect for family togetherness or alone time. … I want to set up a house to be successful.”
What happens when someone comes in? “They come in for an inquiry conversation. We give them a tour of this fantastic studio. … We’ll prioritize what they care about the most and we’ll come up with a proposal. Then we do our ‘dream kickoff meeting.’ We go to someone’s home, we learn how they live. We come back with a solution that’s customized for them.
“Where are all the toys? Where do I play with my children? Where do I escape from my children? Where do we have friends over? … When my kids were 4 and 5, I took back part of the basement. We built a basement bar and lounge. We dedicated 75% to adults, 25% to kid space.”
How old is this house where you have your office? “I was built in 1865. I pull up every day and think, ‘I get to go in here? Awesome.’”
What’s your business philosophy? “We care a lot about intelligent investment strategies. You can summarize that as bang for your buck, but to me it means listening to what someone cares about and designing through what they care about.
“Sometimes, we create a long-term plan for their home, a vision. We’ll say, ‘Here’s step one, step two, step three.’ Maybe over a span of eight years, 10 years. There’s always the must-have list and the wish list. We prioritize the must-have. First floor. Kitchen. Great room. Home office.”
What do you design? “All sorts of residential projects. We’ll do new construction of homes, renovations of homes. Furnishings.”
What do you like best about the job? “I love all design but I love the challenge of a renovation. … The wheels are always turning. But it’s fun. I’m grateful for my job and grateful I get to do something I love all day. I’m really grateful when clients trust us. … My goal is for people to cry (from happiness) when they walk in.”
Do you have any dislikes? “I want to help everybody and I can’t.”
What about competition? “We do something really unique.”
And pricing? “We do projects from $50,000 to $1 million.”
What’s new? “We’ve done a ‘lady den.’ It’s like a man cave. A lady den is a space to be happy, a space to read books, a space to close the door and be quiet. Maybe a space to work or do e-mails. … We’ll do a wine tasting room, a champagne lounge, a whiskey lounge.”
Why did you open this business? “I always knew I wanted to do it. As a small child, I was doing floor plans. When I was 8, my first bedroom design was on a poster board. It had a carpet sample and Sesame Street wallpaper.
“My parents facilitated my career. On Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, I’d go not with my parents. They knew I wanted to be a designer. I’d go with my parents’ friends who were architects in the industry.”
What’s your background? “I went to school at Madison, University of Wisconsin, and got a degree in interior design. After Madison, I designed hotels all over the world for a large company, HBA. I lived in Atlanta. … Then I started dating my husband, Matt, who I went to high school at Naperville North. I moved back to Chicago. We have two boys. Brayden, 11, and Logan, 10.”
Are there other studios? “Chicago, Lake Forest and Denver.”
Why Denver? “I care a lot about our clients’ dreams and our team members’ dreams. One team member said, ‘I’m in love, I’m moving to Denver.’ I said, ‘Awesome, let’s start a Denver studio.’ And my dad lives in Arizona so I use Denver as an excuse to fly out and visit him.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Have a great support group. Could be friends, family. Be nice to other people, other business owners in your industry. There are so many designers I’m friends with. We support one another. Your competition can be your friend.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
