Honoring the History of Design with Lauren Caron

Lauren Caron’s passion for designing layered, eclectic spaces with a sense of history can be seen in her warm, inviting designs. Lauren Caron is a New England native who grew up in a beautiful 1801 colonial decorated by her mother. From a very early age Caron always led a creative path, first by studying fine arts and illustration before refocusing her efforts on home and interior design. Caron lives in Seattle with her husband and two dogs while continuing her passion for creating sustainable designs with ethically sourced materials.

About Lauren Caron

Caron is the founder and principal designer of Studio Laloc, focusing on high-end, full-service interior and architectural design and furnishings. Their range of projects includes renovations and new builds alike. Check out all their finished projects by following them on Instagram @studiolaloc.

Caron’s Signature Style

Caron’s designs focus on creating spaces that strike a balance between function and comfort. She loves to include a bit of modern formality to a space. No matter what room she’s working on, “they’re always colorful, full of pattern and texture, and eclectically layered with antique and vintage items.”

The Dream Project

Every designer has that one project they dream about. For Caron, it’s to build a new, old home. She wants to take a historic home, preferably a Georgian or federal style, disassemble it, and then rebuild it with all the original timber, millwork, and architectural details while adding in details that bring it functionally up to date with modern life.

The Project at Hand

Caron produced a bathroom refresh rooted in vintage design but featuring products that provide modern convenience. Discover how she honored the history of the space using modern materials that will hold up to the rigors of daily use. If you feel inspired by this design, Caron’s crafted a list of a few of her favorite items to make the look your own. Check out the Shop by Look page for inspiring products.

The Finished Design

Bold black and white floor tiles set the stage for this eye-catching design and mirror the two-toned design of the toilet. By simply changing out the included seat of the Kohler Kathryn one-piece elongated toilet with a black model, she added a custom touch to the finished design.

Getting ready for your day is easy at this romantic vanity. Caron chose to pair the Miseno San 60-inch single-basin vanity with a tall, arched mirror. A pair of bronze wall sconces with floral shades flank the mirror, casting a warm glow on the space and mirroring the floral design of the fabric shower curtain.

Inset marble shelves in the shower provide a thoughtful place to store everyday essentials while repeating the design element from the baseboards. The shower’s vintage-inspired design pays tribute to the age of the home, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t modern details. An indulgent shower and hand shower provide the power, versatility, and modern technologies necessary to transform the daily routine.

The warm wood tones root the space in tradition while a combination of floral wallpaper and gray marble provide a sophistication that is as relevant today as the year the home was built.

The Process of Design

Caron spends her free time studying old homes and interiors and hunting for antique and vintage items at local estate sales. The efforts of those hunts and research projects are easy to see in her work, which beautifully combines new and old items in a way that’s warm, inviting, and personalized for every client. She is deeply passionate about travel and makes a point of visiting historic properties and house museums, bringing inspiration from those visits home to use in her work.

The Aesthetic

Caron’s design aesthetic is rooted in a classic design. Many of her projects lean toward a traditionally English look, with layers of pattern, texture, and color intertwined into the design.

Where to Start

Research is the first phase of every project Caron works on. Not only does she consider the needs and lifestyle of the client, but she also researches the original intent of the architectural design of the home. “Whether it’s a historic property with elements of its original vernacular or a new home that was designed to reflect a specific style, we need to uncover that intention,” she explains.

When to Break the Rules

Creating symmetry is a common design rule, but Caron explains, “As much as I love the feeling that symmetry can provide, I think it’s always more interesting to avoid perfect symmetry and to focus on balance. It’s more fun to create an asymmetrical space that feels balanced or informally symmetrical.”

Save vs. Splurge

While the actual items Caron saves on and splurges on vary from one project to the next, she does have a general rule of thumb for how to prioritize funds. “I always want to invest in the pieces that you’re touching or sitting on every day. Think sink faucets, cabinets, countertops, kitchen appliances, sofas, bed frames, and dining chairs. In general, artwork, accessories, accent furniture and rugs are places where you can save.”

5 Must-Have Items in Every Studio Laloc Design

1. At least one antique or vintage item per room
2. Floral patterns
3. Hardwood floors
4. Window treatments
5. Gathered lampshades

Working with Ferguson Home

Caron has worked with Ferguson Home several times, both on client projects and personal projects. The “sales teams have always been extremely helpful with their main mission in supporting us finding the best products.” She continues to explain, “Ferguson Home has an excellent selection of products at a range of price points so we can select products across a range of prices in order to stay within budget but also suit the proposed design.”

Contact our knowledgeable experts today to get the same level of support for your next project. If you love the look of this bathroom design as much as we do, check out the Shop by Look page Caron created and shop her favorite products.