An Interview With Ben Ari
Space without Boundaries: Open office spaces that ebb and flow are ideal. Fewer walls and restricted cubicles that are isolating and restrict collaboration and communication between co-workers. Our office at House of L is set up in one big space and really invites teamwork.
As a part of our series called “How To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Libby Palmieri.
Founder, Libby Palmieri is the founder and lead designer of House of L, a women-run interior design firm, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her greatest inspiration comes from her clients; helping create bespoken and functional spaces that embody their vision and dream living space.
Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
My career spun out of pure happenstance. While finalizing design work for my residence, I was asked to assist with the design of a new home in my neighborhood. They loved what I did so much, they hired me and innately trusted me to design their home; a 12,000 square foot space that became the place where I tested some of my first applications. T
The completion of this home opened doors to other projects and twenty-eight years later, House of L has blossomed into an all-inclusive design studio that facilitates spatial and architectural based interior design that focuses on beauty, function, and practical spaces.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
The most exciting part of my career was watching myself grow from a single entity to a small boutique firm. I started out with just myself and within a span of five years added a dozen to the team. It was nerve-racking but rewarding all at the same time. The joy was knowing I had built something so much bigger than I dreamed of, but I was also stressed trying to keep my work family together through the different phases of growth.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting and a lesson you learned from that?
Ha! Well, there could be an entire book on this! I try to not look at errors as mishaps but as learning tools. We all carry that satchel of “stuff”; good, bad, and perhaps not anything more than just something to remember. My motto is if you end your day without learning something new, you really haven’t had a productive day. Mistakes are essentially how we grow and become better, so they really are positives. I am a way better designer and business owner because of the “oopsies” I’ve made along the way.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Maya Angelou
I believe that personal and professional growth comes when you learn. The more you learn the better you are in every aspect of life. I wish there were 48 hours in each day so I could do more, be more and live more.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
One of my most noted mentors was a builder I worked with early on in my career. He left an indelible mark on my brain. What he taught me has become invaluable and I think one of my strongest skills today.
He was extremely stubborn, methodical, and made sure whatever was being put in a home worked, whether it was technically sound or simply functional. He and I had a lot of sit downs, and he encouraged me to take time to truly understand how something would be designed, applied, built, and ultimately function. He would always say that an inexperienced and poorly equipped designer would show up with a picture and say, “make it look like this”, without having any concept of what was involved. He would patiently sit with me; explain technical terms, draw side sections, and make sure I understood what I wanted. Because of him, I am extremely thorough when designing. I think about how things will be executed and really try to envision how the client will be using their space or furniture in everyday life.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I walked through one of our homes yesterday that is currently under construction. I had not been to the site since the foundational walls were built. Walking through the space brought the greater vision to life! It really is the best part of my job; watching things evolve from ideas, to models, to reality.
What I am most excited about currently is our newest venture into hospitality — a new restaurant opening this Fall in Miami. The entire concept of designing a space, yet telling a story, remains true to our design philosophy, but through a lens of pure hedonism. In this case, we want guests to feel immersed in the environment we’ve created and leave reality at the door.
I have been fortunate to have worked on some incredible residences that have allowed me to express my creativity. But in the end, part of my gift is being able to unpack my clients’ vision. I look at myself like a guide; I take clients on an exploratory adventure where they can uncover things about themselves, they never knew. I’ve helped people tap into their family’s lineage so that their roots are represented in their home. Our homes are an intimate space and should be personal, not just styled. My job is design but my role in life is to help people better connect with themselves and identify who they are so their home becomes a three-dimensional journal.
Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “Five Things You Should Do To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In” and why.
1 . Lighting: Lighting is top on the list of must-haves in any office space. A combination of natural daylight paired with well-placed overall lighting from other sources is critical for a workspace to be comfortable. Nothing is worse than the hum of fluorescent tubes blinking overhead!
2 . Space without Boundaries: Open office spaces that ebb and flow are ideal. Fewer walls and restricted cubicles that are isolating and restrict collaboration and communication between co-workers. Our office at House of L is set up in one big space and really invites teamwork.
3 . Designing a “Think Tank”: Having some area to retreat to when needed is also an important element in an office space. As much as I emphasized the importance of an open floor plan overall, having a space to regroup, reset, and pause privately is equally important.
4 . Touch of Nature: Organic elements are grounding and soothing. These can be implemented with plants, a green wall or within the office color scheme. Earthiness is a comfortable way to disarm and lend an air of tranquility to any space.
5 . Homey: The after-effects of the pandemic left us with the desire to create cozy and inviting offices that emulate home. Soft, lounge spots for a bit of a repose are a great way to bring the feeling of home into the office arena.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Mobilizing women to support other women! I really am passionate about women’s power as a whole and how women of the world can make a difference. I feel the representation of women and how they interact can be skewed as catty and divisive, which is unfair. Women are so strong, always multitasking, frenzied but effective! Who else can juggle so many parts in each day and keep going? Our women-led team assists our local women’s shelters in making their spaces as comfortable and as aesthetically pleasing as possible. We’ve come together to donate furniture and accessories to make common spaces more comfortable. We have had drives to collect toys for children and food during critical times. I would love to be able to give back more. But I am so grateful for my strong team of females who are always ready to work smart!
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂
Kelly Wearstler! I have long admired her pioneer design work and have followed her evolution through the years. Her maximalism created an entire movement in the design world. She has an innate ability to tap into a genre that is timeless and makes it her own in such a unique and unconventional way. She has a Madonnaesque quality; she seems to continuously reinvent herself with an element of cheekiness and grandeur — between scale, texture, and color play. I had the opportunity to meet her at High Point at the launch of one of her lighting collections and I was just giddy. She is just a powerhouse. I would love to have lunch with her!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
https://www.houseofldesigns.com or Instagram: @houseofldesigns
Thank you so much for joining us.
Libby Palmieri Of House of L Designs On How To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.