RAISING THE BAR 

LESLIE BOWMAN is the founder and Design Director of the award-winning interior design studio and retail showroom, The Design Bar, in Burr Ridge. With an approach that streamlines and simplifies the design process at any stage, The Design Bar serves as a lifestyle brand, bringing each home’s story to life. With 15 years of experience and an M.A. in Interior Design, Bowman’s effortless style is just the right mix of classic and modern—garnering national recognition in such publications as ELLE Decor, House Beautiful, and Good Housekeeping. Leslie Bowman Design, named one of the top three interior design studios in the nation, has also been featured on HGTV’s Windy City Rehab.

Most rewarding part of what you do? I get to make people’s dreams come true. I don’t take that task lightly. I am grateful people trust me with this process.

How should women support other women? It feels counterproductive to not support others. I learned early on that if I didn’t train someone to take my current position, I would never move up or grow myself. It may be that I train people away from me sometimes, but I know that the women I have trained have all gone on to be successful in their own careers. That is more satisfying to me than anything else.

How do you inspire others? As the quote I chose states, I have been through fire in my life—fire that most people don’t survive. However, instead of being a victim, I choose to show up every day as an example of how not to let the things that have happened define me. If I inspire just one person by being like this, then I’ve done my job.

Best piece of advice for anyone starting out? Don’t ever stop. Ever.

For more information, visit thedesignbars.com and follow @lesliebowmandesign and @thedesignbars on Instagram.