REDEFINING LUXURY: A GUIDE TO INTENTIONAL LIVING
There is a misconception when it comes to luxury. People often think that to live a luxurious life you have lived in a large estate, with designer labels, and exclusive materials. At Studio Thomas we believe that luxury isn’t about the size of your home or expensive price tags. It’s about intention. As our founder and principal designer, Kristen Thomas likes to say,
“Living a life of luxury is living a life of intention.”
Real luxury isn’t massive or excessive, it's deeply personal. It’s the quiet confidence of knowing your environment reflects your values and supports a life you want to live.
THE ART OF MEANINGFUL LIVING
For Kristen, meaningful living is luxury. Her home isn’t enormous or flashy - it’s simply intentional. Every drawer is organized with care (thanks to NEAT Method), every object chosen with purpose. She surrounds herself with things she loves - like the silver salt and pepper shakers her mom gave her - and keeps beauty in plain sight. Fresh flowers, an organized fridge, natural light, and enduring materials: these are the quiet luxuries that shape her everyday life.
At Studio Thomas, we believe designing a luxurious life starts by asking:
Where do I spend the most time?
What matters most to me?
What helps me feel grounded, at ease, or inspired?
True luxury design doesn’t follow fleeting trends. It begins with knowing yourself. We call it designing from the inside out.
THE HAND, THE EYE, AND THE HEART
Design at its best, is about more than how a space looks, it’s also about how it works, how it feels, and how it lives in harmony with you. After years of working in luxury design and crafting deeply personal spaces for her clients, Kristen Thomas began to notice a pattern within the process. Not so much a formula, but rather a rhythm: an intentional way of approaching each project with clarity and care. Built around three guiding pillars: The Hand speaks to thoughtful craftsmanship and classic design principles. The Eye brings in visual layers and an artistic perspective. And The Heart - possibly most important - is where feeling and depth enter. When all three are working together, the result isn’t just beautiful, it’s meaningful. And that’s what makes timeless design last.
THE CORNERSTONES OF LUXURY DESIGN
For us, luxury isn't loud. It’s not about square footage or status, it’s about how an environment makes you feel, and that starts with intention. The most meaningful homes are guided by what matters most to the people who live in them. From there, organization plays a quiet, but essential role. When your home is in order, your mind will often follow. We also believe in investing in fewer, better things - pieces that are made well, that last, and that don’t chase trends. That’s material integrity. And perhaps equally important, is what you choose to keep close: the salt and pepper shaker your mom gave you, the linen napkins you actually use, a shadowbox of your baby’s first swimsuit - these personal layers are what bring soul into a space. Finally, we believe in everyday beauty. Light your favorite candle. Set the table with your favorite dishes. Pick up fresh flowers for your counter. Luxury, when it’s genuine, is found in the quiet details, the ones that make your life feel like your own.
We help clients design more than just homes - we help them design their lives. Our “less, but better,” philosophy isn’t about deprivation or minimalism. It’s about choosing with care. Revising with intention. And ultimately, creating a home for the life you actually want to live.
No. 026 Custom Shadowboxed Swimsuits
So ask yourself: What does luxury mean to you? Let that be your starting point. And let every decision from there be one that brings you closer with living intention.