Via Rutkowski 
No matter which corner of the world you live in, it’s a fact that our home environments shape the way we think and feel. With so much of our time spent within the walls of tiny North Jersey apartments that double as home offices, loving where you live, work, and play is more important than ever. Hoboken interior designer Laura Ramirez understands the deep connection between our environments and the importance of creating a space that reflects our personalities. Keep reading to learn more about CASALAU Design and the Hoboken local behind it.
How it Started
Laura at a private residence in New York City, photo provided by Pelle Waldron
Team HG met interior designer Laura Ramirez earlier this summer while capturing content for local jewelry brand Alessea by Mara (who is her neighbor and friend). Our backdrop for the shoot was Laura’s pristinely designed Hoboken apartment, where we were captivated by her clear talent and loving “live-in assistant”, Hank, her English bulldog. Laura’s space speaks clearly to who she is: elegant, warm, and welcoming with touches of personality everywhere – so naturally, we had to learn more.
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Laura’s journey into interior design was kismet and, like most business owners, far from linear. Laura was born in Colombia but spent her childhood in Northern New Jersey, surrounded by inspiring locals and in proximity to the arts. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she majored in Fashion Business Management and went on to spend the next decade working in fashion merchandising and management, telling HG, “it was very business and people-focused, so my creative outlet became reimagining every apartment I lived in”. Laura humorously added that “many landlords can attest to the number of swapped fixtures and freshly painted walls we left behind (thankfully, they always kept them!).”
After living in New York City for a couple of years, she reconnected with her now-husband, who was living in Hoboken at the time. Laura started spending weekends here and quickly fell in love with the neighborhood charm and sense of community. Now, 11 years later, Laura, her husband, and Hank the English Bulldog still feel beyond lucky to call Hoboken home.
It wasn’t until the pandemic that the spark of becoming a business owner entered Laura’s mind. She was traveling through her home country of Colombia and spent time connecting with artisans and underserved communities. This sparked the fascination with sourcing handcrafted pieces and the stories behind them. As Laura shopped, something began to light up inside of her mind, telling HG, “What I thought would be a curated shop of collected goods evolved into interior design: a way to connect personal narratives with the work of artists and makers around the world.” Upon her return, Laura decided to enroll at The New York School of Interior Design and officially shift her career.
Behind the Business
During Laura’s continued studies, she was able to dive even deeper into the art form she already knew and loved. Her understanding of how spaces shape our mood and daily rituals became a driving force behind her love for interior design. Laura shared that “In our own home, my husband and I have experienced the calm of a decluttered space, the gentle prompts to uphold habits through intentional layouts, and the emotional safety and joy we feel walking through the door.”
This ultimately led to the realization that she and her husband couldn’t be the only ones craving that from their environments, and soon CASALAU Design came to be in October of 2023. CASALAU Design is a studio built to guide clients toward their own versions of intentional living, beginning with the home. The name CASALAU is rooted in heritage and personal history. Casa (Spanish for “house”) honors Laura’s South American roots and nods to her fashion background, where ‘House of’ has long symbolized legacy and craftsmanship. Lau, her mother’s nickname for her, adds an intimate layer that grounds the brand in her personal story.
Over the years, Laura has been continuously inspired by cultures, people, and travels, adding “Whenever I have the opportunity to learn about traditions, what shapes the way people live, generational stories, or explore a new city’s architecture and regional craft, I try to absorb as much as I can and bring that influence into my work.” Much of these learnings are infused into CASALAU’s design ethos.
Pandora Jewelry’s PR Salon, photo provided by Pelle Waldron
These deeply inspired experiences have landed CASALAU in the hands of happy clients throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She even had the opportunity to design Pandora Jewelry’s PR Salon in SoHo. Whether the project is residential or commercial, Laura’s vision knows no bounds. Laura describes her style as “personal” as it shifts depending on the client or brand to create something authentic for each client with one common thread: an artisan touch. Whether it’s “bespoke millwork crafted locally, a handblown glass fixture, or studio pottery- each project carries a human element that infuses warmth and character”. She said, “Interior design is so much more than a beautiful space for show; it’s about shaping environments that positively impact how we feel, think, and experience daily life. It’s creating spaces that foster rest, joy, and ease, support our intentions, and hold our most cherished moments.”
The CASALAU Process
Laura in her apartment, photo provided by Pelle Waldron
Laura and her team at CASALAU begin every project with an in-depth consultation, where they discuss clients’ goals, walk through the space, and start shaping design solutions together. From there, they refine the vision, make selections, and guide the process through to completion. CASALAU covers services including full service design, furnishing + styling, and design direction.
One of Laura’s favorite parts of interior design is the sourcing process. She told HG, “I’m truly never not sourcing. As a designer, I want to bring unique pieces to each project, and that means I’m always on the lookout for makers with a point of view, tiny hole-in-the-wall shops, or artists I stumble upon online.” Adding how trade shows and antique stores play a big role in her process. There, Laura discovers incredible lighting fixtures, futnitues, and produce designers who “push boundaries”. Some of her local favorites include the Grand Bazaar, Chelsea Flea, and Red Bank Antiques, noting towns like Lambertville, New Jersey and Hudson, New York as “playgrounds for designers” thanks to their plethora of shops and markets. When Laura travels, she always packs an extra checked bag so she has room to bring home special pieces.
All of these efforts contribute to the special CASALAU touch that comes from Laura’s hard work sourcing items. Sharing, “We love a space that feels collected rather than purchased in one click, so we almost always blend crafted pieces with vintage finds. Secondhand lighting, mirrors, furniture, art, and accessories are often more compelling than buying something mass-produced. They bring patina and personality- those small imperfections that make a room feel alive.”
Laura shares a common sentiment among thrifters and appreciators of secondhand. Saying that sourcing for her clients isnt just sustainable but also emotional. Adding “ Older pieces carry history, nostalgia, and a certain resonance you just can’t mass produce. They help ground our projects and give them that lived-in warmth clients always respond to.”
Locals can connect with CASALAU on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes looks or on the CASALAU website for more about services, inquiries, and future projects.
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