--- title: "Four Square Design Studio — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/four-square-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~662762424 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~662762424.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Four Square Design Studio" category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/ca13cb210f90857c_0373-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "1810 Summer Street, Houston, Texas 77007, United States" latitude: 29.7736 longitude: -95.4034 phone: "(713) 802-1699" website: http://www.foursquaredesignstudio.com rating: 4.7 review_count: 15 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 308 last_updated: 2026-09-22 --- # Four Square Design Studio Original Houzz profile: [Four Square Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/four-square-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~662762424) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators - **Location:** Houston, TX - **Serves:** Houston, North Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Hunters Creek Village, Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, Hedwig Village, Southside Place, Hilshire Village - **Houzz rating:** 4.7 out of 5 (15 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2015–2018), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Four Square Design Studio LLC is a full-service design firm specializing in residential and small commercial design projects. A significant amount of our practice consists of renovations of or additions to older buildings. We find that owners, builders, and even other design professionals often overlook the adaptive potential in well-designed older structures. Where others see a tear-down, we often see opportunities for adaptive re-use – a chance to enhance or re-purpose an old building to serve a contemporary need, while respecting its original spirit and design. Yet, although we have extensive knowledge of and education in historic architectural styles and art history, we are not strict traditionalists. We enjoy the juxtaposition of old and new, and our love and appreciation for modern design often leads us to adopt a contemporary interior treatment in our renovation projects. More than anything else, we love working with clients who value good design, who share our aesthetic sense, and with whom we can forge an effective collaboration. We are known for our cooperative working style as well as our skill in the following areas: •Historically-sensitive additions •Knowledge of historic (19th to mid-20th century) architectural styles and detailing •Kitchen and bath design •Finding creative solutions where available space is limited •Design of custom cabinetry and furniture •Use of color •Production of construction and permitting drawings Our outstanding educational and technical qualifications enable us to deliver superior designs to our clients. Both of our lead designers completed undergraduate degrees in Art History before obtaining their professional degrees. Our Principal Designer has passed the national NCIDQ certification exam, is registered with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, and is a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). ### Services Provided - Interior Design - Kitchen Design - Bathroom Design - Living Room Design - Bedroom Design - Space Planning - Furniture Selection - Dining Room Design - Lighting Design - Custom Built-ins - Floor Plans - Custom Furniture - House Plans - Universal Design - Custom Walk-in Closets - Sunroom Design & Construction - Historic Building Conservation - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Additions - Home Remodeling - Additions - Historic Preservation - Renovation - Restoration ### Areas Served - Houston - North Houston - Bellaire - West University Place - Hunters Creek Village - Bunker Hill Village - Piney Point Village - Hedwig Village - Southside Place - Hilshire Village ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Four Square Design Studio | | Address | 1810 Summer Street, Houston, Texas 77007, United States | | Phone | (713) 802-1699 | | Website | http://www.foursquaredesignstudio.com | | License Number | 10776 | | Followers on Houzz | 308 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Four Square Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/four-square-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~662762424) - **Website:** http://www.foursquaredesignstudio.com - **Phone:** (713) 802-1699 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - ASID Award for best residential space under 3500 Square feet 2012Preservation Houston Good Brick Award 2013PaperCity Design Excellence Award, Best Residential Project over 3500 Square Feet 2010PaperCity Design Excellence Award for a Residential Kitchen, 2010 - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2015–2018), for Service. **Affiliations** - [American Society of Interior Designers](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/american-society-of-interior-designers-pfvwus-pf~1510192642) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 — 15 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 20.0 - Communication: 10.0 - Value: 20.0 ### Reviews **★ — HU-11940847, Nov. 2024** > We hired this company to provide architectural services, to coordinate engineering services, and for hourly services on interior design. The architectural ideas were good but the drawings had a couple of mistakes in them. The engineering services had an error and their recommended engineer recently and randomly sent me a bill for $1,000 a number of months after the work was done. More upsetting, it turned out the interior design services were not reasonably appropriate for the job but we didn’t know that when the services were rendered since we were relying on their guidance. We paid in full but had to redo a major portions of the selections originally made under their guidance. They billed me some additional fees for minor things and, after thinking about it a while, I paid that, too, just to get it over with. I explained this to them. They just took the money and ran: no feedback at all, except why didn’t you tell us sooner. In that regard, they were very difficult to communicate with, when we and our vendor and our builders tried to get responses. We checked around to see if it was something we did. We got feedback from someone else with a great reputation in the industry and that was exactly the same. Very unfortunate experience. We felt completely unimportant on a project they should have brought us joy. Would not hire again. **★★★★★ — Kimberly Meyer, Dec. 2017** > Four Square Design Studio listened carefully to what we wanted and needed and helped realize our vision while also offering ideas that we could never have imagined for ourselves. Their careful attention to detail and to preserving the historic character of our house while also updating it was the perfect combination. **★★★★★ — Suzanne Haines, April 2017** > Laura M of Four Square Design Studio redesigned our dark, storage-challenged, & space-wasting master bathroom & small closet to create a beautiful light-filled bathroom w/ tons of storage as well as a huge clothes closet with great built-ins. Since our house is in a historic district in Houston, & we were making changes to the exterior by adding clerestory windows, she and her staff helped us immensely with the daunting approval process for our Certificate of Appropriateness. Their expertise really took a weight off our shoulders. She is a great collaborator with creative ideas and impressive attention to design details. She really listens and offers thoughtful suggestions & valuable advice about materials, colors, styles, layouts, etc. Laura offered us as much time and as many consultations as we needed at our home, in her office, on the phone, and at vendor locations during the selection process, plus she met with our builder onsite at key points during the construction process. We knew we were in good hands every step of the project, & we love our new bathroom! **★★★★★ — lachjr, March 2016** > We hired Four Square Design Studio to do our design and drawings for a complete remodeling of our 1940 built house. They also assisted with the vetting, bidding, and contractor selection for the work. Four Square is a small company with a personal touch, and they are particularly skilled with the remodeling of older houses. Laura has an artist-like eye for the details that add to the quality of the design and finished product. But this doesn't mean that she's not pragmatic about scope, cost, and your budget. Sarah, as co-designer, did much of our work and was fantastic to work with. Both Laura and Sarah are very knowledgeable in options for building materials and finished fitting. Their work comes with not only drawings but a complete listing of the door, window, finish, lighting schedules and allowances with contractors so that the expect work cost is very transparent. And the building contractors appreciate their detailed input in ensuring that the full scope is understood. I would recommend their services!! **★★★★★ — fabaker1, Feb. 2016** > Our project is not yet finished, but I am happy to give Four Square Design a five star review on everything that the design team has done for us to date. We are remodeling our master bath and bedroom. Four Square Design took a challenging space and problem solved to create the perfect layout for the area, presenting new and fresh ideas. Their knowledge of visual design is excellent and they are extremely pleasant to work with! They also worked to meet our budget and we are very pleased. I highly recommend Four Square Design! **★★★★★ — archycarol, Dec. 2014** > Laura Michaelides did the design work for a major house renovation project we did 12 years ago, and have done many smaller jobs for us since then. Although she was involved in work over the entire house (including finding a way to create a walk-in closet where none had previously existed), a major component of her work was to design an open-plan kitchen. It turned out beautifully, and her subs were great (the cabinet maker in particular). There was a magazine article about it after the work was done, with good before/after photos, and she still has copies on file I'm sure. She worked with the architect beautifully (no "dramas" about territory!), always met deadlines and budgets, and helped my husband and I agree on several things in a happy and peaceful way (my suspicion is that most home design professionals have to be part counselor in order to get their jobs done!). Her advice was always sound -- from color to lighting to furniture -- and every day I am reminded of some input she had into what we still enjoy now. **★★★★★ — nfwhouston, Dec. 2014** > I have had the pleasure of working with Laura Michaelides of Four Square Design Studio for five years (2010-2014). She oversaw the interior and exterior finishes of our newly constructed home, devised the furniture plans for all rooms, created the designs for custom furniture, presented us with selections for furniture and fixtures, advised us on art selection and so much more. I had a demanding full-time job during this project, and Laura was so helpful in streamlining the decision-making process for me. She brought a range of creative ideas for us to explore. Laura is an absolute delight to work with and is a collaborative partner with clients, other design professionals and vendors. She was very fair in her fees and had wonderful working relationships with others involved in the project. We are thrilled with our home and give much of the credit to Laura and her team. I would highly recommend Laura and would love the chance to work with her again. **★★★★★ — nancbutler, Dec. 2014** > Four Square has been our design firm for two residential and two commercial projects. Project styles have ranged from modern, mid-century modern, and the current renovation of our 1930s home. Laura's design sense, attention to detail, genius with color, and background in history and architecture invariably meld together for great results. **★★★★★ — Laura Nagel, Jan. 2014** > Laura Michaelides is helping us with the design of our retirement house in Monterey, California. I have known her for the past 10 years as a friend and am so pleased that are now her clients. She brings great intelligence, sensitivity and skill to her job. **★★★★★ — Katie Beirne, June 2013** > Laura and her staff at Four Square Design Studio were a dream to work with. Our project was a complete restoration/renovation and add on in the Heights. Laura is extremely precise and detailed which enabled the finished product (our home) to stand out amongst other renovations I've seen. Laura helped bring all of my ideas for my home to life and offered suggestions and changes to help me stay on budget. She was on the job several times a week (sometimes daily) to double and triple check the work being done at my home. Her attention to detail really made all the difference. She thought of things I would have never thought of regarding space and storage for our growing family. Four Square would be our first choice for any future projects. From the beginning of the project to the end of the project, the services we got from her and her staff were the best money we spent!:) **★★★★★ — afinney23, June 2013** > Laura and her team did a great job designing the renovation of our 1964 ranch style home. She helped us show our unique style beautifully while making sure everything was functional, from the kitchen drawers to the positioning of the light switches. We completely gutted and rebuilt our kitchen and master bath, installed new hardwoods and tile throughout the house, redid a fireplace and painted the entire interior. We could not be happier with the results and now live in our dream home! I would definitely work with Laura again and recommend her to a friend. **★★★★★ — userinhouston, June 2013** > This firm did the interior design work for a major renovation some years ago, which included a major kitchen/bathroom/add-on, and has provided several consultations since then for other projects. The work is always of very high quality. All team members work very well with other members of the team -- architects, contractors, etc. -- leaving egos at the door to truly understand each client's individual needs. They bring both exemplary taste and practical, good-sense ideas to any project they work with. ## Selected projects - [1950's Ranch Renewal](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/1950-s-ranch-renewal-pj-vj~425671) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 9 - [Woodland Heights Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodland-heights-cottage-pj-vj~239588) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 3 - Description: Our client owned a charming bungalow. Though she loved her original kitchen with all its quirky details, she found it completely dysfunctional. She also wanted to bring her washer and dryer into the house, but to retain as much of the original feel as possible. The first thing we did was to template the original classic 20’s trim in the kitchen, setting it aside for future use. We removed a wall that separated the available space into three smaller spaces and opened up the kitchen to make it fee… - [Modern Craftsman House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-craftsman-house-pj-vj~829613) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 13 - [Houston Contemporary House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/houston-contemporary-house-pj-vj~47500) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 13 - Description: This 7,000 square foot Houston home was constructed for a family with four children. Working closely from the project’s inception with architect Mark Oberholzer, Four Square Design Studio LLC designed and detailed the interiors, including the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as the lighting, furniture floor plans and decoration. Among the highlights of the project is the extensive cabinetry constructed to Four Square’s design. Several key pieces of custom furniture, including the dining table, par… - [Houston Heights House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/houston-heights-house-pj-vj~256712) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 12 - Description: A young couple with a small child were looking for an old home to make their own. They asked us to look at an available property on a beautiful tree-lined street in the Heights. The house had good bones, but was in disrepair and was small for our clients’ purposes. In addition, while its charming original exterior was largely intact, the interior had been changed beyond recognition. To their credit, and with our encouragement, our clients decided to move forward with the project. They asked us t… - [Woodland Heights House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodland-heights-house-pj-vj~256768) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 4 - [Southampton House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/southampton-house-pj-vj~46224) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 9 - Description: This jewel box of a house, built in the 1930’s, is located in one of Houston's lovely, tree lined neighborhoods. When our client purchased it, she wanted to make some sensitive updates to the house, and worked with Houston architect Gary Chandler. They updated the kitchen and added a sunroom on the first floor, and enlarged the master bedroom and bath on the second. We were brought in after the architectural phase of the project had been completed, but the decoration of the house had yet to be u… - [Four Square Design Studio LLC](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/four-square-design-studio-llc-pj-vj~256795) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 11 - Description: In 2009, we purchased this late 19th century Queen Anne cottage in Houston’s First Ward. Although it required extensive restoration, it was clear that the structure had good bones and would make an excellent space for our design studio. The house was taken down to the studs, and was given all new mechanical systems. New two over two windows were installed to replace inappropriate aluminum ones, and new trim was milled to replicate what would have existed in a house of this type. The beautiful 5”… - [Ripple Creek House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ripple-creek-house-pj-vj~256757) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 7 - [Four Square Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/four-square-residence-pj-vj~55081) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 8 - Description: Our own home, a two-story Heights house built in 1912, was badly in need of updating when we found it. We demolished the original kitchen, which had been built onto a rear porch, replacing it with a larger kitchen, mud room, and bathroom, with a master suite above. Particular care was taken to maintain the spirit of the original house, a simple cottage-like home with a Victorian-style floor plan. All the new areas were designed with the original feeling and proportions of the house in mind, and… - [Four Square residence - Dentler Building](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/four-square-residence-dentler-building-pj-vj~2194292) - Location: Houston, TX - Photos: 23 - [Woodlands House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodlands-house-pj-vj~1569429) - Location: The Woodlands, TX - Photos: 4 [See all 12 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/four-square-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~662762424) ## Community Q&A **Q: what paint is used** *(in Photo Questions)* Color and company name of the paint. A: Benjamin Moore, White dove and Sherwin Williams Light French Gray. **Q: Love the chairs! Where are they from?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Jennifer! They are from Bernhardt Interiors. You can see them online. We covered them in a white leather. **Q: cabinets** *(in Photo Questions)* were the cabinets refaced or new? A: These are new site-built cabinets. **Q: Could you tell me who manufactures these cabinets?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Eric, I see that you had ased me about the cabinets from another of our projects. Here, the answer is the same: "These cabinets are site built cabinets. This is a type of cabinet that is made by a cabinetmaker on site rather than in a shop. Here in Houston, this is a quite prevalent practice, and with a good cabinetmaker, it is possible to get wonderful, custom built cabinets for significantly less expense than the shop built custom type. These cabinets were designed by us and were then built by a local cabinetmaker we work with." Not sure where you are located, but you may be able to find a good local crafts person to make cabinets for you such as these. You'll need to find a designer to prepare drawings to build from. Good luck! **Q: What kind of cabinets ? They are beautiful -** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Eric, these cabinets are site built cabinets. This is a type of cabinet that is made by a cabinetmaker on site rather than in a shop. Here in Houston, this is a quite prevalent practice, and with a good cabinetmaker, it is possible to get wonderful, custom built cabinets for significantly less expense than the shop built custom type. These cabinets were designed by us and were then built by a local cabinetmaker we work with. **Q: where did you purchase this ceiling fan?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Jennifer, this fan is a Hunter original fan, with their schoolhouse style fitter shade. It is the 52" size, and you can find this easily online. This is one of their original designs. It can be installed with either four or five blades- the four blade look is more authentic; the five blade will move more air. Hope that helps! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-22.*