TIARA THOMAS, SENIOR DESIGNER

Tiara Thomas is kind, clear, smart, and she radiates warmth — exactly the qualities that we and our clients appreciate in a designer, in addition to her high aesthetic and design skills.

The daughter of graphic designers, Tiara grew up in a household that was very art-driven and was clear from a young age that Interior Design would be her metier. Tiara brings her years of experience in all aspects of design, from the creative side to the logistical, including project management, construction oversight, design software skills, and more. Her strong architectural background and brilliant ideas make her an ideal interior designer.

Raised in the South Bay and currently living on the Peninsula, Tiara appreciates the breadth of cultures and styles of the Bay Area. Like all of us at LMBI, she loves to travel and draws inspiration from her journeys, as well as from everyday life.

NICOLE QUITEVIS, DESIGNER

Nicole Quitevis‘ design background includes industrial design, furniture design, and residential and commercial interiors. Like Laura, Nicole’s work background also includes a decade in the restaurant industry (and who better to design for restaurants than designers who have intimate knowledge of how restaurants operate on the daily?).

Nicole came to us from the hospitality world where she had been creating designs for high-end hotels. Custom headboards that had to meet boutique hotel brand specifications and simultaneously function as a lamp, charging station, nightstand, and sofa were fun for a time. Ultimately, she was drawn to the more individualized and personal nature of residential design.

Nicole grew up in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, where the close relationship between oceans and mountains, humans and the biosphere, continues to inspire her to attend to a conscious engagement with the land in her designs, as well as to be mindful of the impact our choices have on the earth and its resources.

JENNY JOHNSON, DESIGN ASSISTANT

Jenny Johnson began her career by spending a decade at Williams Sonoma Inc. as a Furniture & Textiles Buyer. Traveling the world and developing home furnishings was a dream come true. When it became evident that the most passionate part of her job was curating the rooms for the catalog, however, she knew she had a future in interiors. During a break to raise her two young boys, Jenny strategized her return to full-time work. Little did she know, the universe was orchestrating a big opportunity for her. A serendipitous run-in with Laura led to her joining the LMBI team. 

Having lived in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco, Jenny loves a good Spanish style as much as she appreciates a Mid-Century Modern or Victorian. A California girl with a Mediterranean heritage, she combines her loves of the coast and city living to define her fresh, modern California style. Jenny loves being surrounded by all of the incredible women at LMBI, and appreciates the work-life balance that she is afforded in this environment.

KRISTINA (STARLA) ISLAS, MARKETING DIRECTOR

Often referred to by Laura as her Wingwoman, Starla plays a vital role in the studio, bringing expertise in graphic and web design, marketing, social media management, in-house photography, and event planning. With a passion for creating beautiful and impactful designs on the page and on the screen, she enhances the LMBI brand and supports Laura’s endeavors as the Divine Hustler.

Starla—a name adopted from her days as a children’s entertainer—embodies versatility and creativity. In addition to her work at LMBI, she runs Eyecatcher, her own photography and graphic design business, and performs as a harpist and vocalist with the music project Moonlust. Being part of the LMBI team allows Starla to thrive in a collaborative environment, where she delights in facilitating the visions of others and bringing more beauty into the world.

ANGIE PADILLA, STUDIO LIBRARIAN

The path that brought Angie Padilla to LMB Interiors was a winding one, beginning when she nannied for Laura’s sister Rebekah, East Bay restaurateur and co-owner of the Wolf. Laura was blown away by her order-making skills and how well she kept her sister’s home organized… and a few years later, she invited Angie to women of LMB Interiors.

Today, Angie supports the team as an organizer extraordinaire, coordinating our studio library and maintaining an immaculate space for our designers to work their magic. Organizational skills and attention to detail have always come naturally to Angie, and her calm, quiet nature is a soothing force in our often bustling studio. Angie loves a messy challenge and will be sure to whip it back into shape in no time!  

Angie is a Bay Area native, and mother to a wonderful 6-year-old daughter. Her role as a busy mom working with us part-time is a win/win.