Sharing how LM Interiors came to be and my journey along the way!
Hi! I'm Laura Moser, owner, decorator & designer behind LM Interiors!
My love of interiors started at a young age. I remember rearranging my room multiple times a year and every time I was about to rearrange, I would create a floor plan and show my mom. She would proceed to tell me to not rearrange anything and to keep it as is because my dad wasnt going to want to move a bed when he came home from work. I would always find ways of moving my bed without needing their help and they were always just as surprised as I was!
When it was time to start applying to post-secondary schools, I had a dream of working in sports medicine. I was always very athletic, I figure skated 3 to 5 days a week for 13 years, I ran track every spring for my high school and in the summer, I played soccer. The only thing I wasn't so great at was chemistry... I loved to learn about the body and how the body moved, so biology was a breeze! However, chemistry I couldn't wrap my head around. Time was ticking, and my guidance counsellor Mr. Forler (shoutout to you sir because you were my saving grace!) brought me aside and asked me if I found another program, I was interested in. My response was 'no'. He handed me a book full of every program at Conestoga College. I went home and found out Interior Decorating was an option, and people actually got jobs after graduating! Well, I applied to 5 different colleges for Interior Decorating and was accepted into every one. I did, however, accept my offer to Conestoga College and I couldn't of been happier with my decision.
Fast forward to my second year into the program (Interior Decorating is a 2-year Diploma program at Conestoga College) and we were learning AutoCAD. If you ask anyone in my class, they knew how much I hated this class. I was a type of person that didn't want to sit still let alone for 3 hours drawing lines on a computer every Wednesday afternoon from 3-5pm. I passed the class with a good grade, and I have to say, this class was a gateway into my future.
After graduating, I worked a couple retail jobs in the home & garden industry, but I wanted more. I wanted a 'big girl job' if you will. I was pretty hesitant as I had no previous experience but I applied to Barzotti Woodworking in Guelph, ON to a Designer & Sales position. Luckily for me, I was the chosen candidate! Oh, I was thrilled! Over the next year Barzotti Woodworking thought me the ins and out of the industry. I learned everything from how cabinetry/furniture is assembled, what the standards are for kitchen & bathroom design, and how to design custom items like fireplace surrounds, entertainment built ins & so much more! (I am truly thankful for this opportunity to learn so much in a short period of time).
During my time at Barzotti, I had the itch for wanting more. As a young professional I felt as though I didn't allow myself to set myself free after college. So, I applied to jobs in Alberta. I was applying to everything and anything within the region of Banff & Calgary. Well, I got an interview at a hotel in Banff. I never told my parents I was applying because if I'm being honest, I wasn't even sure if I could make the commitment to move. Shoutout to Miranda, my old manager, as she gave me the opportunity of moving to Alberta and I started as a front desk agent in Banff. I ended up moving 10 days later and making the trek across Canada. When I told my parents about my decision there was a lot of chaos (as I should have expected but didn't). My mother was in tears and my dad didn't say anything. Their first born was on the move and soon.
June 7th, 2019, I arrived in Banff, Alberta after travelling across Canada by myself for 5 days. A fresh start!
I was getting bored in Banff, so I moved again in September and I planted roots in Calgary and was ready to travel the province and British Columbia. I worked part time at Roots and flew home in December to see family for Christmas & our family holiday to the sunny south.
Soon enough, Covid-19 hit, and everything closed. Downtown Calgary was a ghost town. I had never seen a bustling city so quiet and empty. I was laid off from Roots in March and a month later the world was still the same way it was a month prior. I decided I was going to fly home mid-April. I packed a suitcase & my puppy Millie, and we flew from Calgary to Kitchener. there was only 10 people on my flight, 5 flight attendants and 5 passengers (and then the pilots of course).
For the first few months being back in Ontario, I was enjoying the freedom. I wasn't worrying about finding a job as my whole plan was to go back to Calgary and continue my life there. However, things changed very quickly, and I met Andrew (my now husband and better half). Honestly, that's when everything changed. I had decided in August I was going to go back to Calgary and pack up my apartment and make the drive back to Ontario. So, I started applying to jobs and in the middle of it, I had an old friend ask if I still designed cabinetry as she was looking to create a walk-in closet in her bedroom. I used AutoCAD to create my drawings just like I had in college & at Barzotti and designed her a walk-in closet. But I needed a name... so Laura Mantler Designs was the first thing that came to mind, and it stuck for a while. I loved the sense of designing again, I loved the feeling of creating something beautiful for someone else to enjoy.
A short time prior to me leaving to head back to Alberta, I saw Barzotti was hiring again so I decided to reach out. Well, I went in for a meeting and came out with my old job!
During my time at Barzotti (this time), I had a big urge to continue Laura Mantler Designs. I loved doing in-home consultations and seeing the whole process of all the moving part come together. But I didn't have enough projects to keep me afloat. A few side projects, here & there but then I had a family friend reach out to me to complete a kitchenette/mudroom and I was so excited. With this, I was able to start my portfolio for Laura Mantler Designs.
In December 2021, I decided to take the leap. I took on a part time design job and focused on LM Interiors (rebranded from Laura Mantler Designs as Andrew proposed and we were getting married in 2022). After a year and 4 months of being back working at the company that started my career, it was time to say goodbye.
During 2022 I design my first bathroom which can be shown here, and this was a huge stepping stone in my career. There is a big different in just designing cabinetry than creating and executing a whole bathroom! I then completed my first full house renovation between April - August, designed multiple custom closets and had them installed at the end of August. With now, having multiple small to medium scale projects in the works for 2023 and a full house renovation starting this spring. Slowly but surely, I am creating a name for myself.
Being a business owner is not at all easy. Taking a leap of faith is not easy and even where I am now is not easy. I am still learning, and I have changed my processes many times. There has been multiple times where I have almost quit, but Andrew is there to remind me I've come too far to quit. Every year I am growing as a person, a business owner and throughout the community. I have learned in many lessons of my life that I often encounter the 'two steps forward, one step back' methodology quite often. I look at this chapter of my life and notice how much it has impacted my life for the better. Without Covid, I would have never moved back home to meet the love of my life. Without the support of my family, friends & my amazing husband I would not have been able to push through the ups & downs of my business. Every day, I am thankful for doing a job I love, but everyday there is always a fear of not making it.
For anyone looking to start a business, there is a few things I would recommend to you.
Ensure you have a support system. By this I mean, someone who won't let you quit and people who will be constantly referring you to get your name out there
Take the risk. I know the risk is high because heck, I'm still living in the risk zone. Definitely the biggest risk was quitting my full-time job, but it is so rewarding.
Don't be scared to ask questions. I still find myself scared but I am getting better but ask other people who are doing the same job as you, questions. Whether that be where they sourced the sofa from, how their business is going, or if they can look over a kitchen layout because you want a second opinion. We are here to help each other, not tear them down. They know exactly what you’re going through as a beginner business owner.
That was a long post, but I hope it put into perspective for many how LM Interiors came to be. If anyone would like further insights or has any questions, feel free to email me at
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