KL Design Studio turns Mediterranean heritage into an interior brand

Studio Lekka is a Toronto-based interior design studio rooted in art, architecture and fashion, creating curated, personal spaces shaped by modern, classic and contemporary influences where each home reflects the taste and lifestyle of its owner. For its identity, founder Noelle Lekkas turned to KL Design Studio, the practice of Creative Director & Brand Designer Karolina Loboda, with a brief to reflect that approach in the brand. Loboda went back to the source – Lekkas’ Greek and Italian heritage – looking at the way those places have shaped her eye over years of family, summers abroad, architecture and landscape. “Although Studio Lekka is based in Canada, her connection to Greece and Italy is personal and ongoing,” Loboda explains, making the direction even more intimate and specific by asking Lekkas to share personal travel photos. That heritage can be seen directly in the new wordmark. Loboda began with Swear Display and reworked it in Illustrator, adjusting the letterforms until they suggested age and erosion – think old stone inscriptions, weathered signage and Mediterranean lettering softened by sun and material. “The goal was never to replicate ancient typography too literally, but to capture the feeling of something carved, found and imperfect,” she explains. “The challenge was knowing when to stop. Too much distressing can quickly become decorative or theatrical,” Loboda notes, so she kept reducing the irregularities until they felt natural, legible and strong.