How It Began...
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connected them and little did they know that two bubbly teenagers decorating the school hallways would later manifest in a lifelong bond and a penchant for craft of interior design.
Design wasn't something that LK & V just woke up one morning and decided to do. It was always in their blood.
LK & V High School 2000
Believe it or not, in order to begin this story with a visual aid, we had to revert to old technology and scan this photo.
And so we share, just how 'LK & V' came to be, the extended version.
Vanessa and Lauren have known each other since 7th Grade Middle School, where they became instant friends by ways of their similar, happy-go-lucky nature, and constant positive energy. It wasn't until spending more time together that they realized there was more than scratched the surface. Lauren and Vanessa often found themselves planning costumes for the school Pep Rallies, sporting events and holidays. Their creative passions always connected them and little did they know that two bubbly teenagers decorating the school halls would later manifest in a penchant and lifelong bond over the craft of interior design.
Design wasn't something that LK & V just woke up one morning and decided to do. It was always in their blood.
Vanessa's family immigrated from Uruguay where, once settled in in New Jersey, the Romero's established a presence in the restaurant spaces. Vanessa's mother was the consummate Jack-of-trades and entertainer for a big Latin extended-family, and her father was a talented Chef, his best meals of course, prepared at home for his girls. Much of V's core upbringing was centered around food, family, the comfort of the home, and restaurants that surrounded her. Vanessa's roots exposed her to working with her hands at a young age. As the oldest child, Vanessa always lent a hand to her hardworking parents, and as a big sister to Jennifer. Vanessa enjoyed exploring her creative talents in art, building, painting and even some occasional sewing on her mom's machine.
Vanessa worked in restaurants her whole life, all the while observing everything from their designs to operations. Vanessa being a dreamer-- knew she'd one day own or design a restaurant. (We will touch on this later!) Vanessa began Architecture studies at Mercer in Princeton and was later presented an opportunity to join a local business that would afford her the opportunities to learn the architecture and design-build industry hands-on, that could far greater prepare her than anything she found in text book form. It was not in Vanessa's nature to put a pause on education, but she did, and became part of a team and a key player on a predominantly male team. Vanessa was the lead visual designer and learned to 3D sketch and became keen on everything from building the foundation of a home, to learning electric and plumbing norms for blueprints. Vanessa sketched commercial and residential spaces, and had her first free standing structure built in 2010. (poolhouse). After working and learning for a talented crew-- Vanessa decided to form Design by V.
Lauren's family, like Vanessa's, also immigrated to this country by ways of Italy and the Czech Republic. Both sides of her family were also people of the trade in textiles, music and woodworking. Lauren's father was an entrepreneur in computers and her mother worked in business for AT&T. Since the early 1980s Lauren was immersed in a tech-heavy household watching her dad work on computers constantly, and make international calls. She picked up on everything that was going on around her, also the eldest child, she later tutored her brothers Paul and Philip on the ways of the computer and other cool gadgets. Nestled in a home of machine and gadgets, Lauren looked for a way to express her creativity and although she was a terrible artist, found her way on early computer applications in the 80s and 90s like KidPix and PrintShop. Lauren loved print design, early-typography, graphics, layouts, and photography. If you were invited to her 5th grade birthday party, she made that invite; and every year to follow. A passion for print design later took on a greater role when she started rearranging her room, the basement and the toyroom. If you were to ask Mrs. Kauders how many room changes Lauren went through, she couldn't keep track. Lauren loved evolving with the times and coming up with new ideas. After graduating from UMass-Amherst and entering the working world, Lauren knew it wouldn't be permanent as she had all the tools and confidence needed to become an entrepreneur like her father. Lauren formed Elle Kay Interiors, LLC in 2010. Her strengths for interior design are conceptually driven and creatively executed. Lauren prides herself on her resourcefulness, constantly staying abreast of the trends, by blog, magazine subscription, trade show and design centers. By keeping all of these pieces organized, Lauren finds ways to present timeless designs that are eye catching. Her last noteworthy project was a commercial office space.
Lauren and Vanessa's designs efforts began coming together in in 2010, as they often reached out to bounce ideas off of each other. They valued the other's strengths as they both possessed different, but complimentary talents. Both were respectively building Elle Kay Interiors, LLC and Design by V. They knew that while they loved working independently somewhere down the line it would hit, and they would be working together as an established design-build firm.
So where do we get to the Showhouse?
Lauren met Denise Frederickson from the Junior League of Greater Princeton, NJ in 2007. Denise was on the JLGP Showhouse and Gardens committee 2010, and after touring the Spring 2010 Showhouse, Lauren was inspired. The show ran every two years and Lauren had a vision; she wanted in. Denise encouraged Lauren to "try-out" for Showhouse 2012. In order to get into Showhouse, you must get invited, attend the open house tour, fill out paperwork for top three room choices, submit a sketch and full presentation on top choice room, with written concept, textiles, paint swatches, furniture ideas and the like. Should you potentially get accepted as a designer and beat out competitors from NY/NJ/PA, AND get one of your top thee choices, or even any room at all, you must get insurance on the room, hire builders, manage the project etc. and fund it on your own dime. In 2010, I told Vanessa I wanted to get in the Showhouse in two years--2012; and there was no way I was doing it without her. I asked if she wanted to do it. She agreed enthusiastically. We decided if we got in the house together that would be our first public collaboration together as Elle Kay Interiors and Design by V. We waited two years. The stars aligned; we got in, we got our second pick and the rest-------well, the rest is outlined for you in our interactive newsletter!