Lauren Haskett came to Houston nearly 20 years ago with a new college degree, a fiancé and a job she’d gotten while visiting a cousin.
A native of Fort Worth, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma and wanted to return to Texas. On a trip to Houston, she cold-called Kitchen and Bath Concepts, then owned by Peggy McGowen and now owned by her daughter, Micqui McGowen. They hired her immediately and that job set Haskett on her path.
In February, the Houston Design District will honor her as the newest inductee of Leaders In Design.
Located in the Houston Design Center, Kitchen and Bath Concepts works on high-end projects, sometimes as the design consultant directly with a homeowner and sometimes with an interior designer when a project is complicated and needs more attention to detail.
After 5 years with KBC, she launched her own firm, Lauren Haskett Design.
Influenced by shelter magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens, Elle Décor and Metropolitan Home, Haskett leans toward the easy style we call “California casual.” She believes in using a mix of color and pattern with a few upscale and edgy things thrown in.
“I still love that aesthetic. My true style will always be rooted in that philosophy of chic, casual and colorful,” Haskett says.
These days, Haskett works with clients to provide longevity in homes, That means flex rooms that can be play spaces for younger children, but grow into something else when those kids are teenagers. For homeowners, having a bedroom and accessible bathroom on the first floor is key for aging in place.
Aside from that, an overall focus on wellness has her clients installing saunas and gyms in their homes.
“When I travel I like to find the chicest stores and galleries, and that can be on a family road trip or a vacation to London. I love going to art museums – that fills my cup,” Haskett says of her inspiration.