Designer Friday: Laetitia Laurent

Laetitia Laurent, the principal designer at European-inspired design firm Laure Nell Interiors, is a Parisian born and educated visionary and philanthropist. Among her projects in Miami, Paris and New York, the Florida-based designer has lent her mastery of scale and form to The Moore Building in Miami’s Design District to support Design on a Dime. As one of the thirty hand-selected designers asked to create the showhouse, Laurent brought rich color and Katy Hirschfeld painted surfboards to her space in the building. The initiative raised over $275k towards its mission of ending AIDS through Housing Works. Take a peek at Laurent’s Parisian vignette below and get to know her in this week’s Designer Friday.

Local Miami mixed media artist Katy Hirschfeld turns collage into contemporary installations. Here, two surfboards become the focal point in Laurent’s room of the Moore Building.

A bust and beaded tsotchkes stand out against Phillip Jeffries’ Jade wallpaper.


Andrew Joseph – What’s one ingredient you put in everything?
Laetitia Laurent – Turmeric. My dad grew up in Morocco and taught me about spices at a young age. He makes his own zaatar and uses saffron in so many dishes. Turmeric smells amazing, gives a rich yellow tint and carries all sorts of health benefits.

Andrew – Most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?
Laetitia – 
Jumped out of a plane. I went skydiving for my birthday last year. Bucket list, check.

Andrew – Must have clothing item everyone should have?
Laetitia – 
A good leather jacket. I love the classics by All Saints.

Andrew – What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?
Laetitia – 

Business of Home is my favorite. It’s so interesting to hear how many journeys a designer can take. From small studios to large firms, the creative path is unique to each vision and designer.

Andrew – How do you define beauty?
Laetitia – 
Balance. Scale. An environment that invites the eye to quietly explore.

Andrew – Favorite city to recharge?
Laetitia – 

Paris. To some people, the city can be overwhelming, but to me, the bustle, the cafes, the chatter, the cultural happenings have a soothing effect. I don’t have to make things happen, they are all already in motion. I just get to sit with a cup of coffee in hand on a terrace and gaze away. I feel at home there.

Andrew – Favorite place to view art?
Laetitia – 

Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. Nestled in the Jardin des Tuileries, the museum has some of the best-kept exhibit secrets. I saw a Monet installation in my teens that I remember to this day. They had hung all of his water lilies and, upon entering the space, you just felt like you were floating on an aquatic cloud of blues.A monolithic-paneled media console is the center of focus in this monochromatic TV room.


About Laetitia Laurent | Leonardo Da Vinci. Georges-Eugène Haussmann. Le Corbusier. Designer Laetitia Laurent grew up in Paris surrounded by the works of these masters. So it’s only natural that when she’d establish her own interiors firm years later, she’d look to European principles that place form and proportion above all else. She travels back to Paris as often as she can to discover special furnishings and accessories and attends industry shows like Maison & Objet and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in order to keep apprised of the latest collections, brands and under-the-radar artisans. Often leaning toward a minimalist aesthetic mixed with a relaxed coastal vibe, Laetitia is drawn to clean lines, organic materials, and thoughtful palettes even when they’re monochromatic. Picture Coco Chanel removing one accessory before leaving the house, and you have Laetitia’s very tailored and deliberate approach. She studied design, art and history in Paris, earned her master’s degree in history and international relations from the Sorbonne, speaks fluent French, and spends her summers in the south of France with her two children gleaning inspiration for her projects.


About Andrew Joseph | Andrew Joseph’s passion for design and rich journalistic history led to the launch of his boutique PR firm in 2012. Prior to enjoying the successes of Andrew Joseph PR, Andrew honed his editorial skills at Vanity Fair and Allure. This experience, as well as the strong network of contacts developed over the years in public relations, brings a valuable edge to his new role as contributing editor. Let the musing begin.

Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME magazine.

No Comments Yet

Leave a Reply

aspire design and home is seeker and storyteller of the sublime in living. It is a global guide to in-depth and varied views of beauty and shelter that stirs imagination; that delights and inspires homeowners as well as art and design doyens. Collaborating with emergent and eminent architects, artisans, designers, developers and tastemakers, aspire creates captivating content that savors the subjects and transports with stunning imagery and clever, thought-provoking writing. Through lush and unique visuals and a fresh editorial lens, aspire explores what is new and undiscovered in art, interiors, design, culture, real estate, travel and more. aspire design and home is an international narrative and resource for all seeking the sublime.