We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Gill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting Studio Mood was a natural progression. I have always been a driven individual, and want to develop and learn in whatever path I chose to take in life. Design is my passion. I have worked in the industry, and with high-profile clients for over 20 years and feel I still have a long way to go in my journey. Starting my own business was the next chapter in developing my passion.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Having had the amazing opportunity to work on projects across the globe, it gives you a unique position to also engulf yourself in the culture and lifestyle. Every project creates unforgettable memories. But when you take away knowledge beyond the design world, it is especially significant. From projects with Chef Marimoto in Mexico City, Stone Brewing Company in Berlin, and a private residence in New Delhi, just to name a few; have all had impactful influences that I carry with me throughout my life and career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love hosting visitors to LA- we are so lucky to have a diverse food scene, excellent museums, and rich culture. To make the most of a day in LA, I would start with a visit to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. With 16 gardens and various art museums, you could easily spend an entire day exploring. Be sure to check out the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden, and keep an eye out for any movie shoots happening on site.

After the gardens we could head to the elegant Peninsula Beverly Hills for Afternoon Tea or the Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch for a more casual outdoor lunch.

No trip to LA is complete without a shopping excursion, and Berbere World Imports is a must stop! This vintage furniture and décor showroom is a treasure trove of unique pieces, and I always leave feeling inspired by the carefully curated selection.

Finally, for dinner, I recommend a visit to Ile, a dining experience that celebrates West African food and culture. Chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo creates an intimate dinner party experience that tells a story with each dish. The food is not only delicious, but a truly unique dining experience you can’t find anywhere else.

What’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
I feel symmetry is overplayed when it comes to looking at space and how it should be defined. You are often told a well-balanced design is equated to symmetry, but if you look beyond this and embrace other approaches such as asymmetry, or radical balance, you can create an unexpected space that benefits from the visual weight.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?
I am not naturally drawn to risk taking, but feel it has in important role to play if you want to develop as a person. I like to look at myself as a calculated risk taker. I still like to be aware of potential outcomes to a certain extent. I feel one of my biggest leaps of faith that has defined my adult life was when I made the decision to move from my home town in England, to Los Angeles; alone, at the age of 23. This helped develop my career and understanding of how I wanted to grow.

What habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I focus on providing the best version of myself in all projects. Not being afraid to ask questions, gaining knowledge, and learn whatever it is you don’t know; along with translating that knowledge with accuracy and authenticity.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?
Loving what you do! Listening to the client and being able to take their needs into account; but also blending in my unique vision creatively. To develop spaces that are not only functional, but also provide a story for the concept to live in.

What’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Integrity is so important. It helps develop trusting relationships with clients and fellow design professionals, which often turns into long lasting collaborations. Forging these stable relationships is key to any successful business. As well as finding harmony in many different influences, and points of view is key to a successful project.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?
Work life has definitely been at the forefront of who I have been, and currently am. For anyone starting out in a career that they are passionate about, I believe it is important to fully immerse yourself. With that comes knowledge and confidence, which then allows you to adjust your work life balance as you progress in your career. The adjustments never stop, but I feel I am in the position now where I can take time for myself, and understand how that effects my work development; and can even help my productivity.

What are you inspired by?
Being able to pull from various inspirations keeps your creativity on it toes. I tend to lean heavily on nature, travel, and history. Getting out of the studio and seeing what is happening in the world provides unlimited avenues for inspiration. I find beauty in vintage used furniture, and historical architecture, combining these elements with contemporary influences, to create a timeless juxtaposition between old and new.

What are some of your most memorable projects?
Having had the amazing opportunity to work on projects across the globe, it gives you a unique position to also engulf yourself in the culture and lifestyle. Every project creates unforgettable memories. But when you take away knowledge beyond the design world, it is especially significant. From projects with Chef Marimoto in Mexico City, Stone Brewing Company in Berlin, and a private residence in New Delhi, just to name a few; have all had impactful influences that I carry with me throughout my life and career

Website: https://www.thestudiomood.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestudiomood/

Image Credits
Images of Copra, San Francisco by Chad Santos Tomas (@chad_the_filipino)
Images of Urban LA Loft- Studio Mood

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.