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An Elevated Vision
With experience in architecture and interior decor, Laura U is centered in design and project management for multi-million dollar residences domestically as well as internationally. An elevated vision and exquisite taste level are the hallmarks of our design sensibility. At Laura U we offer painstaking attention to detail and excellence in client management. With a background in large-scale commercial interiors, model home design and architectural & furnishing selections for fabulous residences, we have proven experience in project management, coming in on schedule and under-budget.
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meet the design team
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Laura Umansky / Assoc. AIA & Allied ASID / Principal
Laura Umansky brings her spirited design sensibility not only to her boutique in Houston, but also into her clients’ interiors. Her classic architectural education and international design experience are channeled into each and every design decision! Laura is a native Texan who studied at the University of Texas receiving her bachelor's degree in studio art. After her undergraduate studies, she attended the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture where she received her Master's degree in Architecture. Laura lives and works in the same neighborhood in central Houston but she loves to discover new and exciting places and objects throughout her hometown, and all over the world. A study-abroad program in Italy and design experience in Los Cabos, Mexico instilled a passion for worldly, collected looks for the home. Community involvement is key to what Laura believes in as a business owner, participating with local non-profits including The Houston Area Women’s Center and the Furniture Bank of Houston. She is a member of the Texas Society of Architects and American Society of Interior Designers and in her spare time she loves to be behind the lens. Her photographic art merits include a juried exhibition at Lawndale Art Center's Big Show and published work in Sallyport, a Rice University publication.
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Kate Duckworth / Designer
When it comes to design, Kate is enthusiastic and thoroughly creative—she loves incorporating the color green, using unique retro patterns and filling apothecary jars with something a little unexpected. She joined Laura U after completing her B.S. in Interior Design at the University of Central Arkansas and building a background in model home design. And, while Kate has been known to “let her hair down” (enough said) her most exciting adventure thus far was getting engaged to the man of her dreams. “I am going to marry the most amazing man on the planet,” she gushes. In fact, the one thing for her home she is coveting most of all is a painting of the Rolling Stones that served as the backdrop for her fiancée’s proposal. Kate loves Hawaii and has traveled through most of Italy, and she and her fiancée plan to honeymoon in Mexico. When Kate’s not traveling or designing, she is content at home with her husband-to-be and their Chihuahua/Yorkie mix, Reyna.
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Brooke Nesbit / Design Coordinator/Project Manager
Brooke wears many operational and design hats at Laura U. Her unending patience is valued by manufacturers, artisans and clients alike. Brooke knows every bright design idea starts with lighting. “When it’s done correctly, everything and everyone looks better,” she says. Her background in commercial lighting prepared her for the task of managing each client’s individual project. She’s not afraid to use bright colors, either—in fact, orange is her favorite hue to add some splash to a home. When it comes to her own pad, she is coveting a king size pillow top bed (that she will no doubt drape in crisp, tailored bedding) for her master retreat. Seguin-born and Sugarland-raised, Brooke decided to take some time away from her Texas roots to study at the University of Washington in Seattle. Now, when she’s not traveling to hot spots like Jamaica and Africa, the IDS and ALA member is back in Houston living in the Montrose/River Oaks area with her cat Neo and her stepdog, Sasha.
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Carrie Pool / Boutique Manager/Buyer
Carrie is the first smiling face you will see when you visit our boutique and studio. A designer with a background in fashion and a slight case of OCD (which, in the world of design is actually a good thing), Carrie likes for things to be in order. In fact, her dream is to own a closet that fits everything perfectly—with cubbies and cabinets and gobs of storage. “Right now I am spread out between three all over the house and I feel completely unorganized when getting dressed for work in the morning!” she says. She is fascinated with how a room can take new shape just by changing the paint color and loves working with clients who are willing to take risks with paint. The self-proclaimed tomboy can throw a baseball better than most boys and probably watches just as much ESPN. Although she left her hometown of Houston to obtain a fashion degree at LSU, Carrie is still a Houston girl through and through. But, if she had to build a second home, it would be on Lake McQueeney with a giant yard for her “better-half”, George—a fluffy and adorable Maltese.
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