'We’re not the safe designers to call,' say Lia McNairy and Azar Fattahi, which is why – as LALA Reimagined – they create such layered, spirited, and luxe-looking homes

Founded by creative duo Lia McNairy and Azar Fattahi, LALA Reimagined is a Los Angeles–based design studio celebrated for its bold, eclectic and deeply personal interiors. The name itself is layered: a nod to their initials, their home city, and the transformative spirit of 'reimagining' spaces. Together, they have developed a reputation for creating homes that balance richness and warmth with a dash of surprise, always striving to make their clients feel as though they’ve stepped into something magical.

Both with European roots, Lia and Azar bring old-world references – Spanish prints, Provençal textures, jewel-toned palettes – into dialogue with Californian ease, often challenging clients to see their homes in unexpected ways. Their work has become synonymous with fearless mixing, intuitive layering, and a commitment to individuality over trend. In this interview, they share their approach to balance in interior design, the power of instinct, and how they turn cold houses into soulful, luxurious homes.

LALA Reimagined is built around thoughtful, layered interiors – what does 'reimagined' mean to you when it comes to home décor?

Lia McNairy: When we first came up with 'LALA,' it combined our names – Lia and Azar – with Los Angeles. Adding “Reimagined” felt like a natural fit because it captures what we do: we transform a space in a way that completely redefines it visually. Our goal is to create a home where people walk in and think, I can’t believe I get to live here. It’s about making spaces feel magical, layered, and utterly personal.

What are the guiding principles that shape your design decisions?

Azar Fattahi: The moment we walk into a space, we immediately get a feeling. We just know what we want to do. Often, we design the house in our minds before the clients give any feedback – it comes to us instinctively.

Lia McNairy: We also make sure to honor the home’s environment. For instance, in a Malibu project on the water, the beach house naturally drew inspiration from its coastal setting. But then we infuse a bit of LALA – color, layered prints, unexpected combinations. Sometimes it’s an idea a client would never imagine or think they’d want, but it’s exactly what the space needs.

Your spaces are very eclectic. How do you approach mixing materials, textures, and eras in a way that still feels cohesive?

Lia McNairy: We trust our intuition completely. Azar isn’t afraid to pair tones and textures that sometimes make me think, what, really? And then she says, yes, we’re doing it, and the result is always stunning. There are no rules for us – if it delights our eyes, we find a way to make it work.

Of the many tones you might put together, are there certain colors you find yourselves instinctively drawn to?

Azar Fattahi: We love jewel tones – we’re never not drawn to them. Deep reds, rich greens, anything with depth and intensity just speaks to us.

Lia McNairy: Yes, we’re especially into burgundy.

Azar Fattahi: And we’re definitely having a pink moment.

Lia McNairy: Growing up in Europe, we both absorbed a lot of old-world influences – think the south of France or Spain. We love combining traditional prints with luxurious fabrics from Dedar. Those rich, sumptuous tones feel cocooning and comforting – we’re completely obsessed.

What feels more important right now: individuality or timelessness?

Azar Fattahi: You can absolutely have both. We would never ask a client to invest in trendy pieces. On our very first major project, you can walk in today and it still feels freshly designed – everything was chosen for balance, not trendiness.

In that case, how do you help clients define their own style without relying too much on trends? Clients often gravitate toward what they’ve been seeing recently, which is inevitably influenced by trends

Lia McNairy: We start by respecting what the client envisions for their home, but we also assume they’ve chosen to work with us because they want a piece of our vision. We’re not the safe designers to call – we know our clients are drawn to us because they trust us to turn their world upside down.

Azar Fattahi: Even if there’s some pushback along the way, our clients end up amazed that they live there. Many can’t envision things right away, and it’s our job to guide them. Right now, we’re working on a project where the client requested a 'psychedelic farmhouse' vibe. At first, I didn’t even know what that meant, but once we presented it on a moodboard, it was too much. From there, we refined it, translating the idea into something unmistakably LALA.


That’s an intriguing brief! Where do you think it came from? What are people craving more of in their interiors right now?

Azar Fattahi: Warmth – people are craving it. We get hired to design many of the new houses going up in LA, and they often feel a little cold. Our approach makes a space feel like home: warm, inviting, and luxurious.

Lia McNairy: Luxury is important, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right eye, you can select pieces and combine them in a way that feels effortlessly luxurious. If someone challenged us to furnish an apartment using only flea market or thrift store finds, it could still feel like a high-end space.

Azar Fattahi: You just need the eye to spot the diamond among the junk. For us, it’s instinct – we just know what to go after.

Finally, what does a well-designed life look like to you?

Lia McNairy: It’s about walking into a space where every detail delights you – every fabric, pillow, or object feels right and brings you joy.

Azar Fattahi: For me, the word is balance. Loving your surroundings is a crucial part of wellbeing and, ultimately, one of the most important aspects of life.

See more of Lia McNairy and Azar' Fattahi's work at LALA Reimagined