New Westheimer Store

New interior design store changes the Westheimer scene: Step inside Studio U

Whether it's an entire house makeover with construction and decor additions/alterations or a few custom-made throw pillows covered in an updated fabric to brighten a single room, a local — and acclaimed — luxury interior design firm is now offering it all.

Studio U — Laura U Interior Design's latest venture — extends beyond its established interior design offerings to fill a void for small-scale projects. Laura U continues to accept requests for large-scale, turn-key services.

Call Studio U interior design "a la carte," as Laura Umansky's husband Michael describes the unique concept.

"We realized that we weren't able to help everyone that came to us," Laura says. "Not everyone is wanting to do-over an entire home. There was a gap, with no options to address one room at a time."

Welcome to Studio U
Studio U is housed in an open floor-plan design, flowing over from the seven-year-old interior design firm's cozy brick-walled office at 1840 Westheimer Road and replacing Laura U Interior Design's former retail space. Laura U's extensive shopping experience is also now online at shopLauraU.com.

Clients can walk in to Studio U with design questions for simple interior solutions, for free, or establish appointments for more extensive consultations.

"Everyone is greeted by a design 'guru' from our design team, which includes professional interior designers, degreed personnel and LEED-certified staff members," Laura says. "The entire Studio U staff is a group of extremely talented designers."

A Bit about Laura
Laura leads that Studio U team and Laura U with expertise. In addition to holding a master's degree in architecture, she is an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and an associate member of AISD. Laura U was recently awarded Best of Houzz and a space on the prestigious National Gold List by Luxe Magazine.

The firm holds more than 19 ASID awards for outstanding interiors including Best of Show 2012. Laura has been recognized as both a Leader in Design by the Houston Design Center and Star on the Rise by the Decorative Center Houston.

Back to the Studio
The space at Studio U, from floor to ceiling, is filled with samples: Hunter Douglas shade and blind options hang from the front windows, for example. The design bar is neatly organized with kitchen and bath hardware and plumbing pieces, wall covering and paint selections, tile and carpet and color-coded fabric swatches from top manufacturers and to-the-trade distributors for clients' perusal and idea-building use. Think Kravet textile, Ann Sacks and Walker-Zanger tile and stone, Elegant Additions, Sherwin-Williams for stains and a rainbow of paint colors and many more.

Clients are welcome to visit and revisit the design bar and library resource room and are designated personal storage trays to keep all samples in place. They may help themselves to a cup of coffee or espresso while pondering end results in a quiet and comfortable environment.

Design packages
Studio U has access to purchase all elements and fulfill services for their clients based on four different packages: “Remodel/Construct,” “Furnish,” “Detail” and “Paint.” The “Detail” plan can be as easy as adding art or other decorative accessories to a room, while “Paint” is handled by the firm's trusted painting and wall treatment experts after clients are happy with their choice.

"Just go to the spa, and we'll take over," Michael says of the "Furnish" option. "Come home, and it's all done, ready for you."

For the “Remodel/Construct” and “Furnish” clients, Laura and Studio U representatives conduct site visits and then prepare, after consultation, professional presentations illustrating two design ideas per room that can be viewed on a large-screen TV in the design bar or conference room. Clients pick their favorite options, and Studio U prepares a final proposal.

Following a flat-fee pricing structure, “Remodel/Construct” and “Furnish” packages are based on room and room type available from “Petite” to “Grand.” Price points range from $1,800 on the lowest end to $6,800 for the largest project.

“We’re happy to work with our contractors and builders or yours,” Laura says.

The turn-key operations continue, she adds. “We’ve now set parameters for those we have time to focus on, which is about 18 per year.”

Laura and Michael recently returned from Aspen, where Laura U completed several large-scale re-dos, and are soon off to Riyad, Saudi Arabia, for another luxe job. In fact, CultureMap featured Laura U’s re-furbishing of a Hollywood Hills mansion just a few years ago.

“So in addition to these large turn-key projects, we’re now available for smaller-scale jobs,” Laura says, with Michael adding, “A lot of people have a simple problem, and we're happy to help.”

The design bar at Studio U, where clients can seek free advise for small-scale projects or schedule appointments with experts for larger jobs.

Photo by © Julie Soefer

The design bar at Studio U, where clients can seek free advise for small-scale projects or schedule appointments with experts for larger jobs.

unspecified

sleep like an olympian

Houston Olympians share sleep tips at luxury mattress maker's posh store

Luxury sleep brand Saatva’s Houston showroom (1703 Post Oak Blvd.), referred to as a “Viewing Room” by the company, is one of only three in Texas, and 17 in the country. Its steadfast stance to exclusively manufacture all of their products — from mattresses to furniture collections— in the US, has contributed to the 15-year-old, eco-friendly company’s success.

Courtesy of Saatva

Saatva has joined Team USA as the official mattress for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Saatva is known for its made-to-order luxury mattresses that are always delivered white glove — never rolled and shipped. Designed in collaboration by Hines Collective and award-winning multidisciplinary architecture and design firm Ware Malcomb, the 4,000-square-foot viewing room integrates modern touches and emphasizes the new interpretation of Smarter Luxury Sleep.

From the moment a visitor enters through the foyer, the viewing room aims to redefine the customer experience. With its aromatic fragrance, subtle color palette, warm lighting, and sustainable flooring and wall treatments, Saatva Houston offers an inviting respite from the city’s bustle.

Further into the space, silvery trees form a canopy under the ceiling’s gentle curves. Soft fabrics and floor-to-ceiling mirrors punctuate the walls throughout, creating a unified environment from start to finish. In keeping with Saatva’s “made in America” philosophy, interior materials and finishes, including the architectural lighting, were manufactured in the U.S.

The Houston store also features a collaboration with Samsung, allowing customers the option to choose a self-guided tour of Saatva’s products. Customers can also test pillows, sateen sheets, and beautifully-upholstered furniture collections in store. Saatva even thought of the four-legged family members with a posh dog bed.

Supporting Team U.S.A.

Saatva’s commitment to all things American now reaches beyond the realm of manufacturing. The brand recently partnered with Team U.S.A. to provide mattresses during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. To celebrate their 15 year anniversary and new partnership, Saatva Houston recently invited two highly-decorated, Houston-native Olympic athletes to an intimate gathering to share the importance of restorative sleep.

Three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Manuel — who also happens to be the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming — was joined by two-time Olympian and four-time Olympic medalist Bryce Deadmon (Track & Field) for the celebratory breakfast. Both athletes dished on their favorite Houston cheat meal spots and the restorative sleep routines they live by.

Pre-sleep routine of Olympian Simone Manuel (two Gold, four Silver, one Bronze)

“I think the biggest thing is definitely putting my phone away as early as possible,” she says. “It’s hard, you know? There are so many distractions, but I try to at least limit them if I can’t completely eliminate them.” Manual gets in bed around 9 pm, with her phone off limits. “I like to watch TV before I go to sleep, but I at least try to turn down the brightness and put on blue light glasses, and that helps a lot. Sometimes I’ll put the TV on mute and then I’ll turn on some white noise.” Manuel’s go-to sleepy time extras? Lavender linen spray and eucalyptus incense.

Favorite Houston healthy spots: Local Table and JLB Eatery
Favorite Houston cheat meal spots: On The Kirb, The Rouxpour, and Pappadeaux.

Pre-sleep routine of Olympian Bryce Deadmon (two Gold, one Silver, one Bronze)

Deadmon relies on 20 minutes of meditation to get ready to go to bed. “I try to make sure I do that just to make sure I’m not really thinking when I get into bed. So, I kind of regulate my breathing before getting into bed — that’s really my main thing. It can be dangerous,” Deadmon adds with a laugh. “I have fallen asleep while meditating. I’ll wake up like ‘What’s going on?!’ That’s not supposed to happen. But it really calms me down before I actually go to sleep.”

Favorite Houston healthy spot: Pre-made meals from H-E-B
Favorite Houston cheat meal spots: Doña Leti’s and Burger Bodega.

home-design furniture