IN STUDIO W/ LAUREN O'NEILL OF SCOUT INTERIORS

Lauren O’Neill, founder of Scout Interiors, brings a soulful, story-driven approach to design: one that’s rooted in connection, curiosity, and a deep respect for how people truly live in their spaces. Based in Denver, O’Neill is known for crafting interiors that feel layered and personal, where bold choices meet thoughtful restraint. Whether working on a residential remodel or a commercial concept, her work invites a sense of belonging. Most recently, she led the design vision for the remodel of The Retreat at Carriage Brook in Cherry Hills Village, a project that seamlessly blends Spanish revival charm with modern warmth. In this conversation, O’Neill shares the path that led her to interior design, her philosophy on creating emotional spaces, and the ethos behind Scout.

Let’s begin with your roots; where did you grow up, and how did that environment influence your perspective on interior design?
I grew up on The Hill in Boulder into a family that loved travel, art, music, dancing, creativity, humor, and entertaining. Our house was never fancy, but it had soul. It was Boulder-funky and had a welcoming vibe that everyone could feel when they walked in the door. It was always clear to me that furniture, lighting, materiality can be beautiful, but soul and authentic connection is what makes a space truly stunning. As a designer that’s always the goal: to create the stage and spaces that resonate on a deeper level, where beauty and meaning live side by side.

What led you to pursue a career in interior design, and how did your educational journey at New York University shape your approach?
It’s funny when people used to ask me when I knew I wanted to be a designer, I’d say it started during my time as a student in New York. But over the years, I have realized that it started much earlier, probably around 8 or 9 years old, rearranging the furniture in my bedroom, playing with lighting and music, and forcing my parents to come in for the big reveal. I guess I always loved the feeling of beautiful and moody spaces, and bringing art, color, memory and music together.

During my time studying at New York University, everything I have always loved to explore and connect with was at my fingertips… I did glassblowing in Brooklyn, silkscreening in the East Village, painting in my professor’s SoHo loft, learning set design for theater and film on Broadway, and how to hand-draft blueprints on The Bowery. I studied all the greats in art, literature, architecture, design within the walls of my classroom and in the art galleries, museums, and streets of the city. It was a pretty special time, and I still go to NYC every year for Design Week to study, observe, and be surrounded by color and creativity. The awe I have for artists and makers, of their process, tells a story that we bring to all of our projects. We hope that story gets repeated by our clients at dinner parties in their new homes and by patrons of our commercial design projects.

Scout Interiors has become a notable presence in Denver’s design scene. How would you describe your design philosophy, and what sets your work apart?
There are plenty of designers making insanely beautiful spaces who get hired to bring their distinct style to every single project they touch. And, of course, we always applaud really good style and design. When clients ask what Scout’s style is, we always say: It’s your style only better. While I am sure our style comes through in our designs, I think every one of our projects has its own distinct style because we design around the client and the soul of each project.

If a client has always wanted blue shag carpet in your house, Scout will find the dopest blue shag carpet out there. If they have always loved their grandmothers painting but isn’t sure if it’s “cool enough” or “fits the design” of the house, but it makes them happy every time they see it, we will put that painting in the dining room, front and center, and design the whole room around it, so it fits just perfectly.
That is the reason we design. To evoke and provoke emotion through intentional functionality and personal connection. We thrive in the connection and through the storytelling within each project-residential or commercial.

Beyond aesthetics, how do you approach designing spaces that evoke a particular atmosphere or emotional response?
We always strive to create thoughtful, functional, and design-forward spaces. I love graphic and textural tile, unique lighting, and shapely furniture, as all good designers should. But at Scout, it is about connection, connectivity, and the journey. We want an authentic connection with our clients, contractors, and the independent artists and makers whose work we try to bring into every project. Design is super personal and you spend a lot of time together throughout the lifespan of a project, sometimes for more than a year. We love what we do and we want our clients to love the end result that they hire us to dream up, but also enjoy the journey to get there. We try to bring a little fun and humor to the job site.

Is there a particular book, space, or designer that has had a lasting impact on your design philosophy?
The name Scout Interiors is inspired by the character Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird; one of my Mom’s favorite books. She’s feisty, honest, and an authentic tomboy, stirring up a little dust wherever she goes in an otherwise fanciful and polite world. I have always related to Scout’s character, and like to mix it up with a similar approach to Interior Design. While I appreciate the tailored and the sophisticated, I would like to think we bring a little of Scout’s spunk into the Denver design scene.

You recently completed the remodel at 3 Carriage Brook in Cherry Hills Village: a home that beautifully reflects your design ethos. Can you share your vision for the project and what made this one particularly meaningful or memorable?
Carriage Brook was a dream project. It had great bones from the start, but also a lot of brightly colored and patterned tile, and various tones of skin-colored bath tubs. Right away, with the blessing of our trusting clients, we sought after a more elevated and soulful style: where Spanish hacienda meets desert spa retreat. Every inch of yellow/orange stained wood was hand-sanded down and revitalized with a deeper and richer espresso tone. All tiles were updated to hand-made and hand-glazed selections in a natural palette inspired by fields, deserts, and graphic south-western patterns. We treated the plumbing fixtures like jewelry. We brought in lighting from makers who we admire: hand-painted in Brooklyn or hand-woven in Ghana using local dyes and Elephant grass. The Scout team gathered dried flowers and grasses to make the dining room light fixture with love as a wedding gift to the homeowners. We used local fabricators for much of the furniture, bringing the clients along to choose our favorite vintage wood beams to have scraped and refinished to make their living room coffee table. The end result makes all of us proud, and I think that anyone who visits feels its soul, intention, and connection.

Describe your ideal creative day outside of the studio; what activities or environments recharge your inspiration?
I find inspiration traveling and exploring. Life with my husband and two boys keeps me busy and laughing often. I love surrounding myself with inspired and authentic people, friends and strangers alike. I love visiting art galleries and museums when I can, pursuing vintage stores, eating delicious food in beautiful spaces, and walking in the woods, which I would like to do more of.

What’s next for Scout Interiors? Are there new directions, collaborations, or concepts you’re eager to explore?
We welcome any and all adventures ahead, and hope to do more projects like Carriage Brook that allow us to combine our love of good design, good people, and good connections to create magical and soulful spaces.

Discover more of Scout Interiors
Discover The Retreat at Carriage Brook
Photos by Luke Gottlieb