Community Highlights: Meet Larissa Anderson of Haven Design Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Anderson.

Hi Larissa; we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I went to school for business, taking design classes on the side because I loved them. I worked in communications and marketing until I was 38 and started to feel super burned out in my job as a Director of Communications for a non-profit. I knew something needed to change. My husband encouraged me to create an LLC and start my business, which I did alongside my full-time job for 6 months. Haven Design Studio took off! Within that time, my business, only using word of mouth for advertising, grew from nothing to double what I made at my previous job, allowing me to quit working there. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I was able to continue working, and despite being terrified about my new baby business, it only continued to grow, with more people wanting to love the spaces they were in, as well as adding things like offices, school spaces for kids and gyms. Because of this job’s flexibility, I could virtual school my three kids while taking on around 25-30 projects a year. In 2021, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and kept working through chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation. I’m currently free of disease and learning to live with the changes that cancer at a young age created in my and our family’s life. Last year, I worked on my first AirBnB in Scottsdale and fell in love. I adore the unique spaces I got to create and have since worked on more BnBs. It was an unexpected growth area for Haven Design Studio, and I’m not looking back!

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Covid was incredibly tough, especially with three elementary and middle school-aged kids. They were all virtual, and my husband and I began working from home. I could keep working, and it provided a much-needed distraction from everything going on at home. In 2021, breast cancer changed everything. I was diagnosed a couple weeks after my 40th birthday and was stunned. I was in the best shape of my life and was on a roll in my work life. Owning a design firm allowed me to keep working and provided a lifeline during treatment. It made me feel a bit like myself, even as I lost my hair, was incredibly sick with chemo, and had multiple surgeries.

As you know, we’re big fans of Haven Design Studio. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Haven is a full-service design firm offering start-to-finish design for residential and commercial projects. I specialize in warm, modern spaces with intentional functionality and curated design. I love helping clients enjoy the design process and eliminate overwhelm in everything from new builds to full remodels to short-term rental spaces. I’ve never paid for advertising. However, I have been featured in various magazines and news programs and won awards in the Parade of Homes for kitchen design, curb appeal, and audience favorites.

Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
I pay little attention to luck. Life is about dealing with whatever comes your way, good or bad. You can take any situation to your advantage by looking for growth areas. Cancer felt like terrible luck, but it changed my perspective for the better in many areas of life. I’ll never live another day without knowing how many things I must be grateful for.

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Website: www.havendesignmsn.com
• Instagram: @HavenDesignMSN
• Facebook: Haven Design Studio

Image Credits
@ep.studio_ @dodge_creative