Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2023 - 80

L A S T W ORD
PRAGMATIC VISIONARY
Balancing business acumen with creativity is key to this designer's practice
CO-FOUNDER OF O'BRIEN HARRIS, Laura O'Brien made the transition to
kitchen design early in her career when she was recruited to open a fl agship
cabinetry showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart. In 2009, O'Brien,
along with her European counterpart Peter Harris, founded the company
that bears their names. Th e studio has three showrooms in Chicago and
Grand Rapids and Petoskey, Mich.
How does your background infl uence the way you approach the design business?
Well, the way I approach the business of design is with a strong fi nancial
mindset. My dad was an accountant/CPA, and I was taught early on to
be fi scally responsible. It is often the case that creative people focus their
energy there, but I knew to be successful, you really need to make sure you
are also running a strong business, or you will not have longevity.
My early career was spent in traditional environments, so my true aesthetic
is still pretty traditional. I do get excited creating more modern rooms
for clients, but my soul still gravitates toward traditional details and spaces
that feel " collected. "
What has been your biggest business challenge and how did you resolve it?
When I started out in 2009, I was very focused on having my own cabinet
manufacturing facility. I wanted to make sure we could control the entire
process of not only designing beautiful cabinetry but ensuring that the fi t
and fi nish at the end were exactly what we wanted. A design business is
one thing, but the manufacturing business has been SOOO challenging.
What we do is 100% custom made to order, yet we are doing it at a scale and
with a production mindset. Creating standards in all our internal processes
and having strong leadership in place are key. Th ere have been bumps in
the road, especially in the past couple of years with supply chain issues and
increasing costs everywhere we turn. I do however love to see the fi nished
80
/ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023
ABOVE In her work, Laura
O'Brien focuses on both
effi ciency and aesthetics.
Her design fi rm operates its
own cabinet shop, producing
bespoke products for its
kitchen and bath projects.
Kitchen photo: Nathan
Kirkman; Headshot: Katrina
Wittkamp
product in the room with all the fi nishing touches
- it makes all the daily challenges worth it.
What is the most important career lesson you've
learned?
Honestly, I think it is learning to have patience
through times of adversity. Look at your challenges
and decide what lesson you are supposed to learn.
Strive to seek out solutions and overcome the obstacles.
With patience there always seems to be an
answer, as long as you are actively looking for it.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking
about entering the design business?
You have to be good and really good at selling
yourself. Consumers and clients are very educated
these days. Whatever aspect of design you are in,
you need to be the expert, the trusted advisor. I'd
also tell them that it takes time. Learn and work
for the best people in your industry to gain as much
practical experience as possible. Get the skills, build
the team, and really strive for excellence!
Who are your design inspirations - and why?
I honestly love looking at what is going on in Europe
and England in particular. I love the edited
English aesthetic of DeVOL Kitchens. I could
move into any of those rooms! Th ey have a sense
of calm that I just love.

Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2023

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