TRANSFORMATIVE POWER DESIGN

Leslie Bowman is the founder and Design Director of Leslie Bowman Design and The Design Bar, an award-winning interior design studio and retail showroom in Burr Ridge. Known for her streamlined approach, Bowman simplifies the design process at any stage, bringing each home’s story to life. With 15 years of experience and an M.A. in Interior Design, Bowman’s effortlessly stylish blend of classic and modern design has earned national recognition in ELLE Decor, House Beautiful, and Good Housekeeping. In addition to her work as a designer, Bowman is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology—a journey sparked by a life-changing health crisis and her desire to explore a deeper, more holistic healing. This pursuit not only shapes her future design work but also profoundly influences her approach to client relationships and the transformative power of design. Leslie Bowman Design has earned recognition as one of the top three interior design studios in the nation and has been featured on HGTV’s Windy City Rehab.

What trends are you currently seeing in the home design industry, and how do you anticipate these trends evolving over the next year? What innovations are you particularly excited about?
In the home design industry, there is a growing emphasis on health and wellness. As people become more mindful of their physical and mental wellbeing, I believe that the spaces they inhabit should be designed differently to support those needs. This shift, as well as my recent personal experience, has lead me to pivot my design process to incorporate a more holistic approach that focuses on how a space can make a person feel—both physically and emotionally. In the future, I anticipate that the blending of design and wellness will only deepen, with more clients seeking spaces that foster mental clarity, relaxation, and a sense of balance. Design will be less about aesthetics alone and more about creating environments that nurture the mind, body, and spirit.

How do you ensure your designs or products are both functional and aesthetically pleasing?
I feel that, as a designer, I can make anything aesthetically pleasing but if it’s not functional, then it is not worth the time or effort. When a client hires me, I go through an extensive process of getting to understand how they inhabit their space and what they dislike most about how their current spaces operate so that I can reimagine their environment.

The Design Bar is located in the Burr Ridge Village Center, 880 Village Center Drive, in Burr Ridge. For more information, call 630-734-0000 or visit the thedesignbars.com. You may also follow Leslie Bowman and The Design Bar on Instagram @lesliebowmandesign and @thedesignbars.