Team
Owner / Certified Interior Designer
Hi there! I’m Leah, the face behind the designs at Studio Connolly. Colorful, comfortable, sustainable homes are my jam. As an extrovert, getting to know my clients and figuring out what makes them tick is one of the best parts of my job. I entered the Sacramento interior design world as a student of schematics, color theory, and pattern, but I stayed because of the people. My absolute FAVORITE thing to hear from my clients? “This feels like ME.”
After earning my BA in Design (and minor in Spanish) at UC Davis, I worked for several Sacramento designers. That’s where I got a first-hand look at the lack of sustainability practices in the design and construction industry. I founded Studio Connolly in 2020 as a step in a new direction. I love partnering with eco-friendly brands and high-performance builders, reducing waste and toxic materials within the home, and recycling as many products as possible. I’m also big on client education, so even if you’re not all-in on “going green,” I’ll always let you know if there’s a healthier or more efficient option available!
When I’m not designing (a rare occasion), I’m probably in one of four places. 1) Cuddling my baby, Maeve. 2) Watering and re-potting my large collection of houseplants. I became a self-taught plant expert during the COVID lockdown, and now I get to incorporate that knowledge into my projects! 3) Weightlifting or doing yoga at the gym. 4) Exploring a different country with my other half, Devin. We’ve been lucky enough to see well over a dozen countries together so far!
As an award-winning designer, a Certified Interior Designer in the State of California, and a LEED Green Associate, I’m constantly searching for new ways to solve design problems. I can’t wait to help you solve yours, too. Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.
Devin Connolly
Co-Founder / Systems & Administration
I believe that opposites attract and that Leah is the yin to my yang. Leah is the extroverted, right-brained designer who can see the full potential of a home before the drywall is up. I’m your introverted, analytical planner who studied Managerial and Agricultural Economics while Leah was studying Design.
While Leah’s passion is design, mine has always been coffee. I spent a decade wearing many hats at an Austrian startup that develops software for the coffee industry. (You might be thinking, “That’s a thing?!” and I wouldn’t blame you.) That job took me all around the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Colombia for business meetings, seminars and trade shows, which sparked our love for travel. We’ve been lucky enough to make friends around the world, and collect enough airline miles to fund our own travel when we have the time.
I’m not a designer, but I am excited about the role I play here, and the mission we’ve set out to accomplish. I get to use my strengths, and put my degree to good use to support my very talented partner and build a family business together. After all, it’s important to have a solid structure in place in order to let the magic happen!
Devin Connolly
Co-Founder / Systems & Administration
I believe that opposites attract and that Leah is the yin to my yang. Leah is the extroverted, right-brained designer who can see the full potential of a home before the drywall is up. I’m your introverted, analytical planner who studied Managerial and Agricultural Economics while Leah was studying Design.
While Leah’s passion is design, mine has always been coffee. I spent a decade wearing many hats at an Austrian startup that develops software for the coffee industry. (You might be thinking, “That’s a thing?!” and I wouldn’t blame you.) That job took me all around the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Colombia for business meetings, seminars and trade shows, which sparked our love for travel. We’ve been lucky enough to make friends around the world, and collect enough airline miles to fund our own travel when we have the time.
I’m not a designer, but I am excited about the role I play here, and the mission we’ve set out to accomplish. I get to use my strengths, and put my degree to good use to support my very talented partner and build a family business together. After all, it’s important to have a solid structure in place in order to let the magic happen!