An Interview with Lara and Quinten from Studio Ture
Plus a mention of our upcoming workshop on designing your dream living room ๐
A Note From The Editor
How do you see the world around you? When you walk the streets of your city or drive between your home and your office, do you pay attention to whatโs around you? Do you pay attention to the craft that went behind the shaping and molding of our environment?
Our environment largely shapes our worldview, and its influence runs deeper than most of us realize. I read a story a long time ago about how skateboarders see the world differently than others.
Where most of us see a handrail, they see a 50-50. A set of stairs turns into a 12-set kickflip.
Their craft shapes their worldview.
In my conversation with Lara and Quinten of Studio Ture, I noticed a similar worldview. They may not be skaters (as far as I know), but itโs evident how much their craft shapes their worldview.
They both studied in the School of Architecture at Pratt. Their taste has been honed over the yearsโbecoming knowledgeable about the vast eras and aesthetics of architecture and interior design.
Itโs almost an alchemyโtheir ability to translate references and intentions to physical manifestation.
Their creations can be chairs, shelving units, or even a set for theater.
This skill, this artโwhere a doorknob becomes a sculptural statement and a shadow line whispers of intentional designโis not unique to architects. It's the hallmark of anyone who has allowed their passion to recalibrate their senses.
In their hands, the quotidian becomes profound, and the overlooked reveals its hidden complexity.
We spoke about their journey to developing and honing their craft, what they dedicate most of their time to today, and the workshop weโre co-creating for you and others.
Studio: Living Room
Before we get into the interview, I wanted to speak a little bit about the workshop weโre putting together.
If youโre like me, youโve developed a discerning eye. Your wardrobe reflects your personality, your shelves display curated art pieces, and you can identify designer furniture from across the room. Yet, translating this refined taste into your living space remains a challenge.
Living Room NYC and Studio Ture have the solution: an exclusive workshop designed for those who appreciate quality design and want to take the first steps toward creating their dream living room.
This isn't just another interior design seminar. It's a tailored experience to transform the heart of your homeโyour living roomโinto a space that truly reflects and enhances your sophisticated taste.
In this intimate workshop, the Studio Ture duo will distill their years of architectural expertise into practical design wisdom.
You'll:
Uncover your living room 'personality' through our quiz
Explore design movements from Scandinavian to Farmhouse, 70s Revival to Mid-Century Modern, and Maximalism
Develop a concrete plan and vision board for your dream living room
Learn how to source each carefully curated piece, whether vintage or contemporary
By the end, you'll have both the knowledge and the tools to create a living room that's not just aesthetically pleasing, but a true reflection of your personal style.
This workshop is more than an educational experienceโit's your gateway to living in a space that embodies the best version of you.
This is our first workshop, so weโre limiting seats to twelve (12) people.
Reserve your spot via the button below:
And now for the interviewโฆ
On Developing Their Passion for Design
Lara and Quinten's journey into the world of design and architecture is deeply rooted in their individual backgrounds and experiences. Their paths, though different, converged at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture, where they discovered their shared passion for design.
Leann: What was your start in design and architecture?
Quinten: I've always been a huge fan of art, especially illustration. As a kid, I collected tons of comic books. Illustrators like Jim Lee and Frank Miller taught me the basics of drawing just by copying their work. As I got into the art and design scene, I discovered drafting, which architects use for detailed views of their designs. My stepdad, a landscape architect, exposed me to that world.
I'd visit his office, where they had these awesome models and architectural plans. That's how I got into architecture, and I was pretty young then. I've known I wanted to do this for ages. I'd design houses just for fun, constantly redrawing my room and dreaming about furniture I couldn't afford.
Lara: I grew up in Romania with doctor parents, so I come from a very scientific background. They wanted all of us to be doctors in their ideal world. So I was raised thinking I'd be a doctor, but I always loved drawing. I'd beg my parents for pencils, watercolors, and paper. I really wanted to pursue art, but school took up most of my time.
I've had this artistic side forever. To balance it, I thought I'd become an esthetician or plastic surgeon. That way, I could do art on people but still be a doctor and make my parents happy. But when I started studying sciences in high school, I realized I couldn't do it. I couldn't spend my life on something I wasn't passionate about. So I started pitching the idea of becoming an architect, presenting it as something "serious" in the design world. But in the back of my mind, I thought, "This way, I can be an artist and do whatever I want."
Leann: How did your paths cross, and how did that turn into what you're working on now with Studio Ture and Funtastic Supply?
Lara: We met at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture. We ended up in the same design studio for three semesters straight. The first two times were by chance, but the third time we chose the same studio. I started thinking, "Is this guy following me?"
Quinten: We just had similar taste in professors, I guess. We started dating in our third year, right when the pandemic hit in 2020.
Lara: Everything changed. Suddenly we had a lot of free time, which was weird because architecture school is usually so demanding - all-nighters in the studio, that kind of thing. When the pandemic hit, I couldn't go home because flights were canceled and everyone was panicking in New York. We ended up at Quinten's family place in Massachusetts.
Quinten: For three months, we had tons of time. We got back into painting and started exploring antique shops and thrift stores.
Lara: We found our first set of chairs - these cool Steen Ostergaard 291 chairs. We cleaned them up, posted them on Instagram, and realized we might be onto something. During COVID, everyone was at home redecorating, needing new furniture. We figured we had an eye for this stuff.
Quinten: It was a perfect opportunity. We loved doing it and had the time, so we started collecting more. When we came back to New York, we brought some pieces from Massachusetts. We sold our first chair within a couple of weeks of posting.
On the Craft of Design
Lara and Quinten's approach to design emphasizes continuous learning, exploration, and adaptation. They believe in constantly pushing their boundaries and evolving their taste.
Leann: How are you guys consistently developing your taste now that you're not in this rigorous design studio environment?
Quinten: I'm always exploring, always driven to learn more. It's easy to get stagnant, but I have this problem where I can't just enjoy something as it is. That's partly why I can sell furniture easily - I'll like something, but after a while, I'll see how it could be improved. I think that's what makes a good designer. It might sound negative, always pointing out flaws, but it helps you define your taste and understand what forms you're drawn to.
Lara: As you mature, you learn not to stick to just one style. A good designer needs to adapt to their clients, understanding and providing what they're looking for. It's not always about my personal taste. We will push for our vision, but I also try to find a balance between what we think looks good and what the client will love. The real challenge is finding something everyone appreciates.
Leann: What are some of your sources of inspiration?
Quinten: I love Domus magazines for inspiration. They're mostly in Italian, especially the older ones from the 60s and 70s, so I use them more like picture books. They're full of amazing architectural drawings, full projects, and furniture catalogs from that time. It's a great way to discover new designs and designers. People are scanning these and sharing them online, but there's something special about accessing the original source.
There are also great documentaries about design philosophy or a day in a designer's life. The one about Yohji Yamamoto is fascinating. "My Architect," about Louis Kahn's son exploring his father's work, is particularly touching.
Lara: If you're new to design, an easy trick is to start with something you like. Say you love a particular shelf. Find out who designed it, then research that person. Who did they work with? What era were they from? This can lead you to more designers from that time.
It only takes one design you love - like a Togo couch or Panton chair - to start your journey. Usually, if one designer did something cool, they had a circle of equally interesting friends. That's how we've built our design collection, just following threads of curiosity.
Quinten: Sometimes we'll find a chair while traveling and wonder who designed it. Then we discover it's by an amazing architect who also wrote books. It's a constant process of exploration. We often don't know what we're getting into - we just like how something looks.
Lara: After a while, you develop an eye for quality design. You can spot something special even if it's tucked away in the corner of a barn. You know someone put time and thought into it.
Quinten: A great trick is to reverse Google search images of stuff you like. You might find out that chair you love was designed by a famous architect from the 60s, and then you can dive into their books and other works.
On Design as a Way of Life
For Lara and Quinten, design is more than just a professionโit's a way of life and a means of expression. They see their work as a way to constantly learn and evolve.
Leann: It sounds like design is more than just a profession for you both. How do you see it as a way of life?
Lara: Because of how we started and what we do, itโs a lot about surrounding ourselves with good design that inspires us every day. We love selling vintage furniture because everything is constantly in rotation. You can love a chair, learn from it, and then find something else, so youโre always learning from the pieces around you.
Thatโs why I think this living room workshop is cool. Your living room is where you spend the most time, so surrounding yourself with objects that inspire and motivate you is something everyone should have access to. No matter your style or design background, your personal taste is good enough to inspire and motivate you.
Surrounding yourself with good things and good people who share their interests and opinions helps you grow a lot. Before we met, we had completely different styles, but as weโve grown together, weโve influenced each otherโs tastes. The people you surround yourself with play a big part in that.
Quinten: Itโs important to team up and collaborate in the design field. Thereโs only so much you can do alone, and you need to rely on other skilled professionals and friends to see a design through, no matter the scale.
Groups of architects, designers, and artists have always collaborated. It wasnโt just architectsโMatisse was friends with Picasso, for example. It wasnโt about competition but about pushing each other forward, inspiring one another, and borrowing ideas.
Lara: Look at the Bauhaus movement in the 1920s with Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer. Their architectural styles, especially their materiality, were similar because they learned from one another. As a designer, itโs important to share your ideas and not be scared of someone stealing them. If itโs a good idea, it should inspire others, so put it out there.
Quinten: Thereโs a saying: โGood designers borrow, great designers copy.โ If you stay in your bubble and try to come up with a unique idea, itโs kind of sad but true that everythingโs been done already.
Lara: Youโre not going to invent a new type of chair that doesnโt have a leg and a seat. Youโre always learning from whatโs been done before, and thatโs great because youโre putting your own twist on it. Even the Bauhaus designers were inspired by bicycles and the evolving industrial world. Before that, designers were inspired by painters or other movements. The first-ever chair was probably inspired by nature. Itโs good to be open to inspiration from everything around you and not be afraid to build on whatโs already been done.
On the Upcoming Living Room Design Workshop
Leann: What are you excited about with the workshop? What do you hope people take away from it?
Quinten: I'm excited to help people see how their passionsโwhether itโs music, food, or filmโcan be tailored to reflect their personal taste in the space around them. Even the organization of your space can influence how you use it. Itโs important to feel at home when youโre at home and ensure everything functions the way you need it to.
A lot of apartments need to be versatile, especially with multiple roommates or a partner. Bringing together different personalities is a skill, and itโs important to understand where each taste comes from and where you stand on certain things.
Lara: We both like the idea of showing people how to express and extend their personal style into their home, creating a living room that reflects themselves rather than being influenced by social media or whatโs easily accessible. Itโs about helping them understand who they are by looking at their style and daily habits, so they can reflect that in their living space. Surround yourself with objects that inspire you, make you feel comfortable, and bring out curiosity and funโyou should enjoy looking at them every day.
Leann: What can people expect when they come to this first workshop?
Lara: Weโre going to create a fun timeline to help place some of these styles because it can get convoluted, especially with all the crossovers and blending of styles these days. Itโs exciting and a great way to bring two personalities together. Weโll start with the basic large movementsโlike Modernism, Art Devo, Scandindavia, Bauhaus, and Mid Century Modernโand make a progression from there.
There are a few styles weโre particularly drawn to, but itโs all about defining your personal style. Weโre going to have a lot of resources, and weโre excited to put together a personality quiz. Weโve identified four or five different styles: Scandinavian, which is clean and minimalist; mid-century modern; farmhouse or cottagecore coastal, which is detailed minimalism with a more feminine touch; 70s revival, with carpets, tiles, and space-age furniture; and finally, maximalism.
Quinten: Yeah, these are the five personas weโre looking into. A fun result of the quiz wonโt just be a 100% match to one style. Instead, itโll show a mix, like 60% minimalist and 40% 70s revival. This will be a great way to start the conversation when people arrive and discuss their quiz results and what theyโre drawn to.
Once they hear more about the styles, they might realize if they really relate to them or if their preferences change after seeing the presentationโmaybe theyโll fall in love with the Memphis style, for example. Itโs about coming in with an idea of your style, learning more about it, and being open to other styles, then mixing and matching through conversation and activities like collaging and exploring materiality and textures.
I think itโs going to be a fun time. It wonโt be a lecture-type workshop; itโll be more about figuring out who you are, what you want your space to look like, and how you want it to reflect you.
Leann: That sounds really exciting! Is there anything else you'd like to add about what people can expect or take away from the workshop?
Quinten: We want people to leave with a clear vision of their ideal living room, a better understanding of their personal style, and practical guidelines for designing and organizing their space. We also hope to provide resources and tips they can use long after the workshop.
Lara: Absolutely, and one of the most valuable aspects will be the opportunity to discuss and share ideas with other participants. Sometimes, hearing about someone elseโs style or challenges can spark new ideas for your own space. Weโre really looking forward to facilitating those conversations and seeing what creative solutions emerge.
I hope you enjoyed this interview, and I hope to see you at our Studio: Living Room workshop on October 3rd!