TRUSTING THE PROCESS Transform your space step by step with Studio Savone. By Jen Brignall-Strong Project photos by Lisa Savone
From designing sprawling department stores and retail spaces to squeezing 24 inches of additional cupboard space into a home kitchen renovation, interior designer Lisa Savone has done it all. “I’ve worked on projects anywhere from 80 square foot kiosks to 250,000 square foot buildings, so my planning skills are second to none,” laughs Savone. “I’m very confident when it comes to design.” After spending the past two decades working on large scale, international projects, the Windsor-native is excited to now share her expertise with local homeowners through her own design firm, Studio Savone. “What’s interesting is that I’m new to the area, even though I’m born and raised here,” she says. “I’ve always lived here, but this is really the first time in my career where I’ve been able to take on local clients.” During the height of the pandemic, Savone says she had a few requests from friends to assist them with some home renovation work. It was then she discovered how much she enjoyed the residential side of interior architecture. “I really enjoy doing residential work; I’ve found I bring a lot of value from my experience in large-scale retail,” says Lisa. “It’s about guiding people through the process. A lot of homeowners get overwhelmed because they don’t know where to start.” ‘The process’ Savone speaks of is one she’s honed after managing the many moving parts of those commercial jobs: coordinating with other designers, working with construction crews, and choosing materials and fixtures to best fit the aesthetic and the functionality of a space. Because she’s designed for large corporate brands, she understands the steps required to create a distinct environment and an overall “feel” for a room; no matter how big or small. Savone notes that while she is not a decorator, her drawings and her architectural palette are what set the stage for everything else in a renovation or new build. “My forte is really creating a vision for a client and sticking to it,” she explains. “My strategic vision starts to develop what the design story is for the client. It helps avoid any anxiety along the way or any rash decisions.” Savone’s five step process begins with the strategic vision and concept design; the foundation for every design decision. This is the planning phase where she works with the client to create the design narrative and provides visual imagery. The second step is schematic design; getting the ideas on paper including floor and ceiling plans, creating a preliminary material palette, and choosing preliminary furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
Photo by Heike Delmore
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The strategic vision and schematic designs should be established long before any construction work begins. If you’re building a new home, that means calling Savone
