Dwellzie was born from a deeply personal place. When my own daughter, Ella, started college during the height of the pandemic, she was placed in a singledorm room- isolated, far from home, and in a world that felt uncertain. Creating a sanctuary for her wasn’t just about designing a beautiful dorm room; it was about emotional safety, expression, and grounding. That moment of styling comfort into chaos became the seed for something bigger.

Years later, when I spoke to my niece (a high school senior) and her friends, I saw just how stressed students were about creating their first space, and how overwhelmed parents felt trying to help them with all of the things on their plate.

When I thought about who I wanted to bring this vision to life with, I knew I needed another mama who understood the transition on both sides- and Lori was perfect. She's the mom of two college-aged kids and knows firsthand the emotional weight of a dorm move-in. She also has a background in digital marketing, and she's been through the JWI/Intimate Home process herself as a client. She gets it-on every level.

While I lead the creative direction (sourcing products, creating moodboards, layouts, and conducting emotional intake consults) Lori brings operationalmagic to the backend. She handles the spreadsheets, manages product link lists, oversees our systems, and ensures everything flows smoothly. She's also the heart of our shared voice, joining me on social media to bring Dwellzie to life with warmth, humor, and relatability. Her energy is magnetic, and her insights as both a mom and a super organized human have helped shape what this brand is all about.

I've been designing spaces that reflect the essence of my clients for 25 years. There's no reason why young people- especially in their first home away from home- shouldn’t have the same opportunity to feel seen, supported, and inspired in their space.