Some investments live in portfolios; others live in the rooms where life unfolds. At Design Lab, owner Barbara Neyer believes the best rooms are thoughtfully arranged with pieces that tell a story and stand the test of time.
Step inside the new showroom, now open in O’Bryonville, and it quickly becomes clear that this is not about decorating for the moment. It is about crafting intentional and inviting spaces that grow with the people who live in them, created through investment, not impulse.
“I think people make a house a home,” Barbara says. “And I think what your personal touches are, whether it's the art you collect, the photographs you put up or the books you read, I think they should tell the story about you.”
That philosophy has guided Design Lab since Barbara launched the business nearly ten years ago. Her work has become known among clients who want something more thoughtful than showroom sets or trend-driven decorating. Rather than starting with catalogs, Barbara begins with a conversation.
“We like to get to know our clients and really get an understanding of how they live, what they like and how they work,” she explains. “That’s our starting point—then we figure out how to make it better.”
The result is a style that feels curated instead of prescribed.
Barbara describes Design Lab’s aesthetic as modern with an eclectic point of view.
“We love to mix the old with the new… it helps people look at their own collections and furniture and see how they can mix old and new as well,” she says.
That approach resonates with homeowners who already own meaningful pieces. Barbara helps clients build around what they love, encouraging them to look at design as a long-term investment.
“Here, you're buying things that are good quality, that you're going to want to keep for a long time,” she says. “You would want to get it recovered, maybe hand it down to your children.”
It is this idea of longevity that sets Design Lab apart. The brands they carry are European manufacturers known for traditional craftsmanship, meticulous detail and heritage production methods.
“We go over to Europe and find people still hand sewing and hand tufting leather pieces…they take a lot of pride in their work,” she says. “Their design, quality and craftsmanship are next level.”
Many of the pieces in Design Lab’s showroom remain relevant because they are the kinds of furnishings that anchor a room, the pieces that do not go out of style but instead become part of a home’s story.
Furniture is more than functional—it’s part of a larger artistic process. Barbara’s expertise is invaluable. Her guidance ensures each piece works within the whole. What may appear effortless in a finished room often involves careful editing, mixing periods, balancing colors and understanding how pieces relate to one another.
“I think a lot of people don't understand how design works together,” she says, “Like the layering—of textures, patterns and materials—all the elements that can evolve to define a distinctive space.”
Despite her deep knowledge of design, Barbara keeps her advice refreshingly simple when it comes to personal style.
“I'm not a big person of trends,” she says. “When it comes to your home, I feel like you should do what you love and just go with it. Create your own trend. Be yourself and do what you like.”
It’s a credo that feels particularly fitting in Cincinnati neighborhoods where homes reflect generations of collected art and meaningful memories.
At Design Lab, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s authenticity. And in Barbara’s hands, a room becomes something more than beautiful. It becomes unmistakably yours.
Design Lab | 1985 Madison Road, Cincinnati | 513.620.7299 | Info@design-lab.com | Design-Lab.com
“When it comes to your home, you should do what you love and just go with it. Create your own trend. Be yourself and do what you like.” -Barbara Neyer, Design Lab