I didn’t grow up in a house.
Raised in New York City, where apartments are the norm and historic brownstones were admired from the sidewalk, my love for homes started from the outside looking in. I was fascinated by the grandeur, the craftsmanship, and the details that spoke to another time. But it wasn’t until my 30s — when I purchased my first actual house — that my fascination turned into a passion.
That first home was a true fixer-upper. The kind of place most people walked into and saw outdated carpet, tacky wallpaper, and finishes long past their prime. What I saw was potential. With a paintbrush in one hand and a pry bar in the other, I dove headfirst into DIY renovations and interior design. As I uncovered 100-year-old hardwoods beneath worn carpet and restored original wainscoting, I realized something important: homes deserve more than quick, trendy flips.
Too often, house flippers strip historic homes of their soul. Too often, designers play it safe with cookie-cutter finishes. I believe in a different approach — one that honors the past while embracing the present.
My philosophy is simple:
✨ Respect the original architecture.
✨ Highlight historic details instead of covering them.
✨ Introduce modern updates that feel seamless, not forced.
Every project is a chance to preserve character while creating spaces that feel fresh, functional, and beautifully livable. Whether it’s restoring vintage fixtures, blending bold design choices with timeless elements, or modernizing layouts without erasing history, I strive to strike the balance between then and now.
At the heart of this work is more than design — it’s storytelling. Each house carries history, and it’s my mission to let that story shine while writing a new chapter for the next generation of homeowners.
– Lauren DeLuca
Lauren DeLuca Design 