Born in London to a British mother and a Jamaican father, Laura Hodges brings a global perspective to her work. Though her family eventually moved to Maryland, a lifetime of travel has honed her eye.

After a start in marketing, a passion for design inspired Hodges to earn a degree at the New York School of Interior Design. Soon after, she landed stints with acclaimed designers Jamie Drake and Thomas Jayne.

Now principal of her own firm, Hodges traded New York City for the charming Baltimore suburb of Catonsville, where she and her husband are raising two sons. It’s also where she recently opened Domain, a shop showcasing original art and sustainable, handcrafted furnishings made locally and abroad.

The designer takes a holistic approach to her work, focusing not only on aesthetics but also on how clients feel in their homes. “The biggest compliment I was ever paid,” she recalls, “was when a client said her home felt calm—and she felt calm in it.”

Interior Design: Laura Hodges, Laura Hodges Studio, Catonsville, Maryland.