Meet Liz Dutton | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liz Dutton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liz, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My path to LDI was a little bit by accident. I was in a 9-5 job that was very difficult, spiritually speaking, and I was feeling lost and creatively starved. Greg (my husband and owner/architect of Greg Dutton Studio) had just launched his architecture business, and needed help finishing out projects for his portfolio. At the time, I was motivated to do it to see him become successful. I genuinely viewed these projects as his work, and it never occurred to me that I was also building a portfolio. We worked five years together this way. Eventually, people started reaching out to Greg wanting their spaces to look like the ones we did together, specifically asking for that style. I can honestly say it took me longer than you would think to put two and two together! But that moment arrived in late Fall of 2021, and we came up with a plan to leave my corporate job and start my own thing, which I did in April 2022.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
LDI is all about spaces that live in the body, not the other way around. My work feels very lived-in, calming, and intimate. The goal from the start is to articulate, very specifically, how I want a room to make me feel. Because we live through our senses. It has to look right, but it also has to feel/smell/sound right too. I did not go to school for design, so I’ve had to come up with my own techniques to get the job done, and I use a lot of intuition. I’m looking for things with good energy, usually vintage or made with natural materials like wood or stone. I get a lot of inspiration from nature. Nature is the epitome of good design. I also pull lots of inspo from food, fashion, cars, magazines, music videos…whatever! Nothing is off the table. I’m just looking for the things that give me this feeling I’m pursuing. I’m most proud of the commercial projects, like Gene’s (Dublin, OH), Goldies (Grandview, OH), and the Buck Mason stores. I want to live in a world where everyday places – i.e., banks, pharmacies, shops – are beautiful. So whenever I get to do a place on main street, it lights me up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to be outside and walk or bike, so if you are visiting me, you know to bring your sneakers. A perfect night out usually involves some culture, so I’m going to scan what’s on offer at CMOA, 934 Gallery, Sarah Gormley Gallery, the Columbus Symphony, Kemba Live, or at the Attic Comedy Club. Columbus also has really good independent movie theaters, the Drexel, Studio 35 and Gateway are my top 3. The Book Loft in German Village is open until 11pm, so after some dinner at Chapman’s or Comune, we’d walk there to get some new books, grab an espresso at Stauf’s and read to each other on their patio. We’d end the night with a nightcap at LawBird or the Top in Bexley.

During the day, we’ll spring for a massage or facial at Paloma in Grandview. They have a really unique wellness experience that I think is uncommon in this part of the country.

There will be at least one game night (Scrabble or Cards) and one night cooking a big meal, using the menu to show off some Columbus favorites like Dan the Baker bread and Jeni’s Ice Cream. The reality is, there will also be a day where you are tagging along with me to visit a project site, source furniture, or collect samples. These are everyday agenda items for me and they are easy (and fun!) to be social through.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Annie Brown at Goldie’s Hair Co. Annie was my first commercial client in Columbus, helping me break into the small business space for interior design. Annie is an intuitive, generous soul who gave me the reigns to turn that spot over from a blue, broken down shoebox to a relaxing, spa-like experience. When I reflect on those months, testing samples on the walls, revealing the incredible (hidden) concrete floors, pulling late nights to get it finished out, they were such a happy time for me. Also her color work is incredible! Like next level.

Website: https://www.lizduttoninteriors.com

Instagram: @lizdutton.interiors

Image Credits
Nicole Davis, Erin Kelly, Natalie Folchi, Lily Glass, Reid Rolls