The Team

LAUREN WARNOCK
Principal Designer

Lauren’s vision and style are the bedrock of NAVYBLACK studio. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, she is the conductor setting the tone and keeping the studio in harmony.

  • An adaptive, creative chameleon, Lauren pounces on the perfect spark of inspiration and marries her artistic vision with functionality delivering interiors that elevate her clients’ daily lives.

    Lauren has an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree from The Harrington Institute of Interior Design. She’s been working in the Design industry for 22 years and most recently, spent 14 years working for Chicago-based firm, Project Interiors as the Director of Design. There she established a loyal following among clients that appreciate her ability to listen and articulate beautiful, unique stories in their personal spaces.

    Lauren’s ultimate superpower is her ability to nurture relationships with clients, longtime partners, artists, and artisans. She is as inspired by people as she is by architecture, materials, and travel. Lauren’s ultimate ambition is for her clients to enjoy effortless beauty and spontaneous joy in their homes, designed to build memories and celebrate life.

SANJA KERR
Lead Designer

Lead designer, fierce humorist, and soft soul, Sanja is an unstoppable force that tackles problems and conjures solutions. She leaves her mark on everything at NAVYBLACK: keeping clients happy, projects flowing, and the team inspired.

  • Sanja is a Swiss-army savant. Flexible for maximum impact. Dripping with experience. Brimming with talent. With a long work history that includes a toe in just about every design pool, she delivers exceptional results and inspired designs that satisfy clients’ appetites for spaces that perfectly meld beauty with functionality. Like Sanja herself, her work experience is worldly; she’s left her mark everywhere from China to New York, Paris to Miami and beyond. From 5-star hotels to award-winning, high-end residential projects, her drive knows no bounds. With deep empathy and unmatched perception, she observes, absorbs, and comprehends to produce authentic design solutions while her lightning-fast wit captivates clients’ hearts.

ALEX BIRD
Designer

No day is ever the same for Alex, and that’s just how she likes it. Her eclectic background has made her versatile and nimble—she can jump from project to project lending her support with the grace of a dancer. Always listening and learning, Alex identifies needs and fulfills them with her unique creativity and style.

  • From designing custom cabinetry to leading the creative charge, Alex has built her expertise through varied experiences. Her apt eye has lent itself to a range of aesthetics from historical splendor to modern luxury, rustic retreats to mountaintop manors. With her award-winning talent and nimble creative muscle, she’s touched projects all over the country with her innovative ideas, only stopping to take in splendid sunsets and embark on majestic hikes in the wide-open spaces that fuel her wonder.

    Born a small-town girl with the soul of a big city boss babe, her humble origins inspired her love for sprawling spaces and scenic outlooks, but her chic, cosmopolitan essence has always been innate.

RACHEL KUNZ
Operations Manager

Rachel is our stealthy secret weapon. Her passion for organization paired with her analytical mind enable her to create impeccable and streamlined processes—perfect fuel to bolster NAVYBLACK’s creative mojo. Her infectious laugh and wicked humor are magnetic and keep the office buzzing.

  • With a B.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management from U of I at Urbana-Champaign, Rachel’s left brain guides her, but she thrives off the creative flow she absorbs day-to-day; her respect for her right brain comrades keeps her heart pumping and her mind racing. An expert at process and a guru for guidance, she’s worked on countless teams across a range of fields bringing her magical touch. Her operational contributions enable teams to thrive and create well-oiled powerhouses. Rachel’s precision keeps the NAVYBLACK engine purring; the beauty flows freely on her watch.

    Our design team’s machinations fuel Rachel’s creative urges and spark her passion; composing soundscapes on her piano is her personal creative expression. An avid sports fan, cheering for her favorite team is her primal outlet; time with family and friends invigorates her soul.