Profiles

Meet Leah Peterson, Architect at Prairie Design Studio

Leah Peterson

Horace, ND native Leah Petersen is a licensed architect at Prairie Design Studio

About

Horace, ND native Leah Petersen is a licensed architect at Prairie Design Studio. She graduated from NDSU in 2017 with her Master’s Degree in Architecture. She has always had a passion for art and the design industry allows Leah to use her creativity in realistic and constructive ways.

The interesting thing about Prairie Design Studio is that they have done many different types of projects ranging from industrial and hazardous commercial buildings to multi-million dollar nursing homes. Their scope is not limited, despite being a small firm of four individuals.

The outcome you receive when working with an experienced design professional like Leah versus a typical home builder may cost more upfront but will end with a more efficient design. This can save clients money in the long term in terms of enjoying their space longer, more energy-efficient layout and less wasted space. She and her team can work with all budgets and there is no minimum square footage required to hire an architect.

Prairie Design Studio’s services widely vary depending on the client’s needs. Architecture is their main focus but interior design is a passion of theirs as well. Some clients like to take initiative when it comes to picking finishes and some rely on the architect solely. Either way, Leah and her team can help you feel comfortable with final selections through renderings, samples and interior elevations

“I think there can be a lot of beauty found in old pieces”

Inspiration, Colors & Trends

Leah remembers watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition growing up and thinking it was the coolest thing in how those teams were able to transform homes. Today, Leah enjoys taking old furniture and decor and creating something new out of it. “I think there can be a lot of beauty found in old pieces—which takes a creative mind to see,” said Leah.

When it comes to inspiration for Leah, historic brick buildings with ornate wall details catch her eye. “I would love to be a part of designing those detailed exteriors,” said Leah. “You don’t see that much detail put into buildings anymore as designs seem to be more streamlined and modern with budget as the driving factor.”

Color-wise, Leah likes to step away from vibrancy and saturation, giving more attention to bold, neutral aesthetics. “I think color blocking is a fun design trend,” said Leah. “Creating monochromatic spaces as an accent can make such an impact and can be incorporated into both commercial and residential designs.”

At the end of the day, for Leah, aesthetics are subjective, so the most important thing to her is that clients have a successful experience with her; they should feel comfortable knowing she and her team designed for their desires and goals over their own.

 

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