It’s a home, not a house
When designing a home that works for you—not against you—Leslie of Norton Design Studios is a true expert. While she’s known for helping busy families create spaces that support their daily lives, her approach is rooted in functionality for anyone looking to bring more ease and efficiency into their home. Whether you have kids, live solo, or share your space with a partner or pets, her designs prioritize smart solutions, seamless organization, and a sense of calm—so your home truly feels like a place you can live in.
Important Note: Don’t clean up before I come over. Seriously! I want to see how your home functions in real life—not the Pinterest-perfect version of it.
For example…
Do your kids have stuffed animals scattered everywhere?
Is there a pile of shoes by the door or stacks of mail on the counter?
Are you avoiding certain rooms because they don’t work for your family?
These are the clues I need to create solutions that truly work for your family’s lifestyle. By showing me how you’re actually living, we can design a space that’s not only beautiful but also makes your everyday life easier and more functional.
The Expecting Family
Designing for new arrivals.
For families preparing to welcome their first child or expand their family. These homes focus on creating safe, cozy, and functional spaces for new parents and their little ones. Think nursery designs, flexible storage solutions, and layouts that grow with your family.
The Mature Family
Homes that host, gather, and grow.
For families with grown children as well as those with grandchildren. Designs focus on creating spaces for entertaining, multi-generational gatherings, and serene retreats for quiet moments. Expect features like guest suites, hobby spaces, and thoughtful touches that blend elegance with function.
The Young Family
Where play meets practicality.
For families with toddlers and preschoolers, these designs prioritize safety, easy-to-clean materials, and open layouts for keeping an eye on little explorers. Features might include playful storage solutions, family-friendly kitchens, and versatile spaces that adapt as kids grow.
The Newly Launched
Sophisticated simplicity for families on the move.
For homeowners entering a new chapter as their older children leave for college and beyond. Designs focus on redefining spaces to reflect evolving lifestyles—whether transforming bedrooms into guest suites, building out a specialty area like a hobby room, or planning for a second vacation home.
The School-Aged Family
Balancing busy schedules with beautiful spaces.
For families with kids in elementary or middle school, these homes are all about functionality and flow. Storage for sports gear, homework nooks, music practice spaces, and mudrooms that keep chaos at bay. We ensure every corner of your home supports your busy, multifaceted lives.
The Empty Nester
Reimagining your next chapter.
For couples ready to embrace a new phase of life after their children have launched. These homes prioritize downsizing without compromise, featuring low-maintenance materials, energy-efficient systems, and spaces that reflect your lifestyle—whether that’s a home office, art studio, or tranquil patio for sipping your morning coffee.
who we are
Norton Design Studio is a woman-owned, boutique, residential architecture firm specializing in custom homes including new construction, renovations, additions, and interior architecture. Norton Design brings bespoke design solutions to your projects with a skillful repertoire and 3D building information modeling (BIM).
Principal Architect, Leslie Norton, set her eyes on this profession in elementary school. With a love of math and art, her 3rd-grade teacher suggested architecture. Immediately convinced Leslie started drawing floor plans on extra-large pads of graph paper. In 6th-grade, her parents remodeled their house. With the opportunity to look over the drawings and watch the transformation with a front-row seat she was hooked. Leslie has two decades’ industry experience, a Bachelor degree in architecture from Miami University (Ohio) and Master of Architecture degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is also a LEED Accredited Professional. Leslie has been recognized with a national design award, several publications, and featured on HGTV, and the PBS hit show This Old House. With over seven years of experience designing luxury kitchens, Leslie is an expert in intricate interior detail and the functionality of the home.
As both a homebody and a full-time working mom of two young children, she intimately understands the importance of a well-functioning, beautiful home. Your life might be busy, but your home doesn’t need to be!
Norton Design Studio created an addition + renovation design for our home that is absolutely perfect for us. Leslie spent hours talking to us about our vision and our lifestyle, and created something that wildly exceeded our expectations. Her design was both beautiful and practical. Leslie is a brilliant designer with an exceptional understanding of interior spaces. When she showed us our initial design plans, I could not believe how perfect the final product turned out to be. We felt that she took our vision and made it even better.
–W.L.