The studio
Nine people, one long table
We are at 312 Alexander Street. We take on eleven projects a year, and either Elise or Noah leads each one.
Founder
Elise Carter
Elise trained as an architect in Montréal, then spent eight years designing hotel interiors in Copenhagen. She moved to Vancouver in 2013 and started Lusenne a year later at her kitchen table in Mount Pleasant. Her first client was a neighbour whose bathroom leaked.
There are nine of us now. We still draw everything before it is built, and someone senior is on site often enough that the plumbers know their name.
“Most of the job is deciding where the switches go before anyone has chosen a sofa.”
How we work
A few ruleswe keep
Judge a room in November
We look at every design on the greyest afternoon we can find. If it works then, it will work in July.
Use fewer materials
No project uses more than six. Repeating a few good surfaces does more for a room than a dozen clever ones.
Draw everything
Every joint, shelf and switch is drawn before it is built. A surprise on site costs money and trust.
Leave space for the people
A finished house needs room for the owners’ own things. We style lightly, and we leave a shelf empty on purpose.
History
Since 2013
- 2013
Elise moves from Copenhagen to Vancouver.
- 2014
First client, a neighbour with a leaking bathroom. The studio is Elise’s kitchen table.
- 2016
Noah joins. The first of two joinery partnerships begins.
- 2017
Priya joins, and kitchens and joinery become a practice of their own.
- 2020
The studio moves to Alexander Street. It gets a long table, which turns out to be the best thing about the building.
- 2022
Jun joins, and sourcing and styling come in-house.
- 2023
Fernway Pantry and Railtown Studio, our first hospitality and workplace projects.
- 2025
Hollyburn House, a 386 m² whole-home project in West Vancouver.
People
The nine of us
- Elise CarterFounderSince 2014
- Noah LindqvistAssociate, residentialSince 2016
- Priya AnandKitchens & joinerySince 2017
- Theo MarchandWorkplace & hospitalitySince 2019
- Mira CastellanosStudio managerSince 2020
- Hana OkaforVisualisationSince 2021
- Jun ParkSourcing & stylingSince 2022
- Two makersIn the workshop, behind the table
Come and visit
Visits are by appointment, so someone is free to show you the samples and the models. The street door is unmarked. Ring the top bell.
- Studio
- 312 Alexander Street
Vancouver, BC - Hours
- Monday to Friday
9 am to 5 pm
Now bookingfor March 2027
Tell us about the room that isn’t working.
Book a first visit