ABOUT THE STUDIO
CRAFTING TIMELESS SPACES WITH ELEGANCE AND VISION
Lisa Ellis is a designer whose work is informed by a lifetime of diverse experiences, an enduring passion for history, and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. Her journey has taken her across disciplines, countries, and creative industries, all of which shape her ability to craft spaces that are as timeless as they are personal. Her interiors are elegant, functional, and layered with meaning, reflecting both her clients’ stories and her lifelong pursuit of beauty.
In 2003, Lisa founded Hawthorne House, a furnishings showroom that initially specialized in importing 18th and 19th century English and French antiques, discovered through her extensive travels in England and France. Now Hawthorne House is a To-The-Trade and Concierge showroom for homeowners representing such lines as Hickory Chair, Highland House, LEE Industries, Century and Visual Comfort. Lisa is also the founder of SCOPE Lighting, a lighting design firm and showroom.
Lisa’s love of design was shaped by her early years growing up in the historic town of Americus, Georgia where she lived in a mid-1800s home that her parents lovingly restored. Her parents purchased and renovated many homes in their historic neighborhood as investment properties, instilling in Lisa an early appreciation for restoration, craftsmanship, and the interplay of real estate and design—a foundation that is now reflected in her three businesses.
Lisa’s travels and experiences have taken her on a journey that expanded her perspective and honed her craft. While studying history at the University of Georgia, her education was enriched by a short time at Oxford University, where she focused on the history of ecclesiastical architecture and furnishings. From there, she moved to New York City, where she worked for an architect of tall buildings and studied at Parsons School of Design, refining her understanding of space, materials, and form. Her path led her to reside in numerous places Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; London; and ultimately Athens, Georgia, and Atlanta, Georgia, where she is now based. Along the way, she cofounded a production company, working in set design, production, and post-production, sharpening her skills as a visual storyteller and mastering the transformative power of light and design.