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By Contributor
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LAUREN ASHLEY ALLAN is an architect and founder of the eponymous Lauren Ashley Allan LLC. With more than two decades of experience, she is an alumna of both Kelly Wearstler and Nate Berkus’s firms. Her diverse portfolio spans residential, hotels, yachts, and commercial works. In 2020, she launched her own Illinois-based interior design firm, where she and her team create high-end residential spaces for discerning clients around the country. In just five years, her firm has earned significant recognition, including being named a top Chicago design firm by Architectural Digest.
What excites you most about the future of your industry? The merging of intuition and innovation. I’m inspired by the integration of emerging technologies to elevate our creative process. At the same time, there’s a return to craftsmanship and to soul, such as hand-forged hardware. That duality, the future meeting the handmade, is where I feel the most creatively alive. This is a time to be authentic, bold, and multi-faceted.
How do you give back to your community or industry? I’m grateful to my mentors who shaped my path, and I make it a priority to mentor emerging talent within my firm and the wider design community. This year, I’m honored to speak on panels at Chicago Build Expo, High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina, and universities across the country from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to Hawaii—platforms where we can share insights and stories with the next generation of creators.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? Confidence is built over time through experience, mentorship, and embracing vulnerability. It’s the quiet, grounded assurance that comes from knowing your vision and trusting your process, even when the path isn’t clear. It’s not about perfection or loud declarations; it’s about resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to take bold risks while staying true to your creative values. Working alongside visionaries like Kelly Wearstler early in my career taught me the power of authenticity and fearlessness in design. Launching my own firm during a global pandemic was a defining moment that required deep trust in my instincts and the courage to push forward despite uncertainty.
For more information, visit laurenashleyallan.com and follow @lauren.ashley.allan on Instagram.
