Juggling 12 Projects, Zero Apologies, and the Trends I Can't Stop Specifying

If you've ever wondered what it looks like behind the scenes at Laidback Lee, let me paint you a picture: three sets of fabric samples on my dining table, a client mood board open on one screen, invoices on the other, and a very cold cup of tea that I keep meaning to reheat. This is the reality of running a design studio that's somehow always at capacity — and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Right now we're across a mix of full residential builds, renovations, and some really exciting hospitality work. Each project is wildly different, which is exactly what keeps things interesting. But it does mean that staying organised, keeping my eye on what's trending (without chasing every shiny thing), and being ruthlessly decisive are non-negotiables for me.

So today I wanted to peel back the curtain a little — both on how we manage the chaos, and on the things I genuinely can't stop putting into my clients' homes right now.

"The laidback part of the name isn't about doing less. It's about making the considered choice look effortless."

Studio Life

How We Keep a Lot of Balls in the Air

Running multiple projects simultaneously is less about multitasking and more about ruthless compartmentalisation. Every project gets its own dedicated block of time each week — no bleeding between clients, no checking another client's drawings while I'm supposed to be sourcing for this one. It sounds simple, but it's the thing that's made the biggest difference to the quality of our work.

I'm also a huge believer in getting the brief really right at the start. The more time I spend upfront understanding exactly what a client wants to feel when they walk through their front door, the less we're doubling back mid-project. That conversation — the one about feeling, not just finishes — is where the real design happens.

And honestly? Having a great team around me. I couldn't do any of this solo.

What I'm Specifying Right Now — My 2025 Must-Haves

1

Wallpaper in unexpected placesNot just feature walls — I'm taking it into hallways, inside wardrobes, on ceilings. The pattern moment is not over, it's just got more interesting. Anything with a hand-painted or watercolour quality is selling me right now.

2

Custom upholstery, alwaysOff-the-shelf seating rarely hits the brief. I'm specifying custom upholstery on almost every project — getting the scale, the arm height, the fabric, the leg detail exactly right. It's where the investment really shows.

3

Art as a foundation, not an afterthoughtI start with the art. Dina Broadhurst is perennially on my list — her work has this beautiful tension between feminine and bold. When you build a room around a piece you love, everything else follows naturally.

4

Sculptural lighting that earns its placeKelly Wearstler lamps. Full stop. Statement lighting is doing a lot of heavy lifting in interiors right now — it's both functional and jewellery for a room. I want every lamp to be something you'd stop and look at.

5

Warm, layered neutrals over stark whitesWe've moved well past the all-white everything era. I'm obsessed with warm putties, aged linens, terracottas that almost read as neutral. Rooms that feel like they've been lived in — even when they're brand new.

6

Bedding as a design momentBedding is having a serious glow-up. Textured, layered, considered — it ties the whole room together in a way that no amount of furniture can if the bed itself is an afterthought. I treat it like a styled flat-lay, every time.

On Trends

The Trend I'm Watching (and the One I'm Ignoring)

The trend I'm genuinely excited about: the return of the considered maximalist. Not cluttered — considered. Rooms with personality, with a point of view, with layers that reward you the longer you spend in them. After years of "quiet luxury" telling us to remove everything, I think people are craving spaces with soul again.

The trend I'm taking with a grain of salt: anything that photographs beautifully but doesn't actually work in a home. There's a whole category of very Instagrammable design choices that look stunning in a styled shoot and are a nightmare to live with. My clients hire me to make their lives better, not just their feeds.

"A room should still look good at 7pm on a Tuesday when you've had a long day and the dog is on the sofa."

That's always been the Laidback Lee philosophy. Beautiful and liveable — never one at the expense of the other.

If you're currently in the process of a renovation or build and want to chat about how we could work together, head to the contact page. We're taking on new clients for late 2025 and I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.

Until next time — keep it considered, keep it real.Stephanie xFounder, Laidback Lee Design Studio