Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Bell.
Hi Lauren , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
A little over a decade ago, I took a leap into something I never could have imagined would grow into such an important part of my life. At the time, my then spouse and I decided to start a small residential remodeling company. We began with a simple goal: do excellent work, treat people honestly, and build something we could be proud of. What started as a small family-owned business quickly gained momentum.
Word spread, our client base grew, and before long, the little company started to thrive. We built our reputation one project and one relationship at a time, learning along the way what it really takes to run a successful business. I learned the importance of managing projects and solving problems in order to earn the trust of homeowners who were placing their beloved homes in our careful hands.
Building that company from the ground up gave me a hands-on education in every side of the business. I learned construction from the field up, but I also learned about design, project management, budgets, problem-solving, client relationships, and—perhaps most importantly—the importance of creating spaces that truly work for the people who live in them. My goal has always been to turn houses into homes.
That experience shaped the way I see homes and the way I approach every project today.
Eventually, it led me to create HEWL Design Co., a design + construction company where I get to bring all of that experience together. Today, I’m able to use the knowledge I’ve gained over the years every day….from that first design idea to the final details of construction.
For me, HEWL Design Co. is the natural evolution of everything I’ve learned along the way. It’s a chance to combine my love of design with my understanding of construction and create thoughtful, beautiful spaces that feel personal, intentional, and built to last.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been anything but smooth. There have been mistakes—plenty of them. A divorce, financial hardship, uncertainty, and the very humbling experience of having to start over from scratch. There were moments when I questioned what came next and wondered if I had the strength to rebuild everything I had worked so hard for.
But I did.
Starting over taught me things success never could. It taught me resilience, patience, humility, and the value of trusting myself. It taught me how to learn from mistakes rather than be defined by them. And it gave me an even deeper appreciation for building something of my own.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
HEWL Design Co. is a residential design + construction company built around a pretty simple idea: turning houses into homes.
I have spent more than a decade in the residential construction and design industry, and my background is a little different from the traditional designer. I didn’t start in a design studio—I started in construction. I’ve run a busy remodeling company, managed projects, designed everything from small rooms to entire homes and new builds, worked with contractors and trades, and even flipped homes. I know what it takes to make a beautiful idea actually work in the real world.
That experience is at the heart of HEWL Design Co..
I help homeowners navigate the entire process, whether they need help choosing a paint color, designing a bathroom or kitchen, creating a complete design package, renovating their entire home, or simply figuring out where to begin. I can work alongside an existing contractor, help manage a project, or step in and handle the construction side as well.
What sets HEWL Design Co. apart is that I don’t design in a vacuum. I’m always thinking about the big picture—how something will look, how it will function, what it will cost, how it will actually be built, and whether it makes sense for the person living there. I understand the contractor’s perspective because I’ve been on that side of the table, and I understand the homeowner’s perspective because I’ve spent years helping families navigate the often overwhelming process of renovating their homes.
I don’t believe good design has to mean starting over or spending a fortune. I love working with what people already have, incorporating existing furniture and pieces that have meaning, and helping clients make smart decisions about where to spend their money. My goal isn’t to put my personality into someone’s home. My goal is to make their personality show.
I’m probably most proud of the fact that HEWL Design Co. feels personal. This business is a reflection of my own journey—more than a decade of experience, plenty of mistakes, some really hard seasons, starting over, and ultimately building something that feels authentically mine.
I’ve learned a lot along the way, and I bring all of that knowledge to my clients. I know where projects can go sideways. I know which decisions matter and which ones don’t. I know how overwhelming renovation can feel, and I know how to make the process easier.
At the end of the day, HEWL Design Co. isn’t about creating a house that looks like it came out of a magazine. It’s about creating a home that feels like you—thoughtful, functional, beautiful, and yours.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think that resilience shapes the way I work with my clients. Renovations are rarely a perfectly straight line. There are surprises, decisions, challenges, and moments when you have to rethink the entire plan. I’m comfortable with that. I know how to stay calm, find a solution, and keep moving forward. I’ve made mistakes, experienced failure, gone through divorce and financial hardship, and had to start over from scratch. But I’ve learned that success isn’t really about avoiding hard things; it’s about how you respond when they happen.
So while creativity, experience, and a strong work ethic are all important to what I do, resilience is probably the quality that has made the biggest difference. It’s what has allowed me to turn setbacks into lessons and every new beginning into an opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HEWLDESIGN.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewldesignco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hewldesignco
