About LARK
At LARK Drafting + Design, we believe great design is about more than creating beautiful spaces - it's about creating homes that support the way you live. Every project begins with careful planning, balancing creativity with technical expertise to create spaces that are both functional and uniquely personal.
We specialize in residential renovations, additions, and new homes, offering thoughtfully tailored design services - from initial concepts and construction documentation to ongoing project support and the finishing touches. Whether you're reimagining a single room or building your forever home, our goal is to make the design process feel clear, approachable, and manageable.
We believe beautiful, well-designed homes shouldn't be reserved for a select few. Good design should be tailored to your lifestyle and budget. Whenever possible, we prioritize sourcing from local vendors, artisans, and makers, believing that thoughtful design extends beyond the home itself to the community around it.
Whether you're balancing a demanding career, raising a family, or simply want the confidence of having an experienced professional guide the process, LARK is here to make creating your home feel more supported and far less overwhelming.
Meet Lainie
LARK was founded by Lainie Rutland Kelly, an Architectural Technician and BCIN-qualified designer with a passion for helping homeowners bring their vision to life. Combining technical training with years of hands-on renovation experience, she approaches every project with both a designer's eye and a builder's mindset. This balance gives her the ability to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but practical, buildable, and designed to stand the test of time.
While renovating her own home, Lainie experienced firsthand how overwhelming the renovation process can feel. She also discovered how careful planning can transform not only the finished space, but the entire journey. That insight became the foundation of LARK - a studio dedicated to helping homeowners navigate renovations and new builds with confidence, clarity, and a design that inherently reflects the way they live.
Lainie’s approach is rooted in creating homes that are functional and timeless, yet uniquely crafted. She is particularly inspired by the honesty and simplicity of authentic mid-century modern architecture, where thoughtful planning, natural materials, and beautifully proportioned spaces come together to create homes that feel effortless to live in.
Before entering the design industry, Lainie spent many years working as a critical care nurse. It was a career built on listening, problem-solving, and navigating complex situations - skills that continue to shape the way she works with clients today. She believes the best projects begin by listening and looking beyond the request to understand how her clients live, then translating those insights into spaces that solve problems they may not realize exist.
Outside of work, Lainie enjoys renovating her own home with her husband, spending time outdoors with her dogs, and training to become an exceptionally average athlete.
