5 March 2021|Latest Posts, Meet the Successful Founder
Raven & Lack is a London-based interior design studio that represents the creative partnership between influential award-winning designers Rae Underhill and Adriel Lack.
Having first worked together at a world-renowned architectural practice in Australia both Rae and Adriel relocated to London to pursue their independent careers. Years of hard work and dedication saw them creatively leading teams at two of London’s most highly regarded luxury design studios, Spinnochia Freund and 1508 London. After pursuing these individual endeavours, an ambition to rekindle their shared creative vision brought them together once more, with the pair founding the ultra-boutique studio Raven & Lack.
With over 30 years of combined industry experience creating luxury properties around the world, they have built up an impressive portfolio of projects and developed an innate understanding of client expectations within the luxury sector.
What would you love to share to encourage other women to start their own business?
First and foremost don’t be afraid to START… is takes a lot of courage to take the first steps but you need to trust in yourself, your ideas, and your passion to make your business a success. Just take the plunge!
Nothing feels more empowering and exciting than running your own show, building a great team and calling the shots!
What are your top 5 tips for entrepreneurial success?
Build a team of empowered individuals. We strive to ensure that our team knows that they are a valuable part of the process and a vital part of our business.
Be your authentic self. Different clients are attracted to different personalities. If you are authentic in how you conduct your business, you will attract client that genuinely want to work with you.
Invest time in the process. Be passionate about your product and what your business represents. The key to our success is the time invested in the design process at the start of every project which leads to unique design solutions that are individually tailored to meet our clients’ needs.
Lean-in to the administration. Do not underestimate how long it takes, and don’t be afraid to take advice form people around you.
Surround yourself with people you trust. Get yourself a great accountant, a great contracts lawyer, a great insurance broker and get to work knowing that all your bases are covered.
Who are the 5 women who inspire you the most?
Zaha Hadid – An inspiration on so many levels. Zaha was the first woman to win the esteemed Pritzker Prize and the first woman to receive the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to architecture. She re-defined 21st-century architecture with her incredibly progressive fluid like forms that challenged our concept of architecture and design.
Sheryl Sandberg – Sheryl encouraged a generation of women, including ourselves to reassess the way we look at our careers. Her ‘lean-in’ movement inspires and encourages women to fight for leadership positions and opportunities to advance their careers and not to underestimate their own abilities.
Gwyneth Paltrow – Love her or hate her, she is unapologetically her authentic self. Her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop is multi-million dollar global business that has brought health and wellbeing into the limelight. We love her passion, her determination, her ability to speak openly about the mistakes she has made along the way and how to lean-in to criticism and learn from the experience.
Becky Fatemi – Becky was the highest-ranking individual in Foxton’s history before building her own property and entertainment brand Rokstone in 2012. Her fierce determination and professionalism sets her apart in the property sector. She is an exceptionally strong voice for women in business and female entrepreneurship.
Sophie Ashby – Sophie is the Creative Director of Studio Ashby. Not only is she a powerhouse interior designer with a colourful and unique look. She has started an initiative called ‘United in Design’ which was set up to challenge the lack of diversity within the interior industries.
What is your favourite inspirational quote?
“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury”
Coco Chanel
We wholeheartedly agreed with this quote. We strive to delivery design outcomes within the luxury sector that not only aesthetically beautiful but also highly functional and above all comfortable.
Website & Socials
@ravenandlack
@adriel_lack
@raeunderhill
