DIANE CHERIX | PRINCIPAL DESIGNER & FOUNDER 

Diane has always been drawn to the esthetic and visual aspects of her surroundings and mindful of how it impacts her strong intuition and keen sense of observation. She grew up surrounded by beauty on the shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) in Switzerland. Her artistic taste and attraction to colors, patterns, and textures lead her to her first career in fashion, completing an Haute-Couture fashion design school in Europe and then working as a women’s wear clothing designer in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Diane’s extensive travels throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia and over 25 years of California living, contributed to her wealth of design ideas and inspirations. By collecting elements from diverse cultures and integrating them in fresh and unexpected ways, Diane brings a touch of individuality and eclecticism to modern homes. 

After the birth of her two daughters and leading the remodel of her Berkeley home, Diane discovered her calling in home design, realizing that spaces, rather than fashion, provided a more relevant and compelling canvas for her creativity. She founded Bleu Leman Design in 2010. The firm has been thriving and growing since then. Today, Diane is working with a team of three, enjoying the exchange of ideas and collaboration with other skilled women, forming a talented and friendly team to service Bleu Leman’s clientele. In 2022, she earned the Wellness Between Your Walls certification, concerned about her commitment to supporting a healthy environment globally and for her clients at home.   

As a designer, Diane believes that our living spaces should reflect the unique blend of taste, culture, and experiences that define us. Her passion lies in helping clients create not only visually pleasing environments but also spaces that are accessible and resonate with their individual personalities. By skillfully combining colors, materials, textures, furnishings, lighting, and textiles, Diane crafts harmonious arrangements that enrich the mood and ambiance of each space and is dedicated to transforming homes into beloved spaces that are both beautiful and practical and genuinely feel like Home.

Diane loves to engage in this creative work which allows her to forge deep personal connections with clients while indulging her own artistic sensibilities. When she isn’t hard at work, Diane loves to travel, hike the East Bay hills, spend time with her friends and family, and enjoy communal time, often around a great meal! She lives in the Oakland Hills with her partner, their three daughters, and their beloved pup. 

DIANE CHERIX | PRINCIPAL DESIGNER & FOUNDER 

Diane has always been drawn to the esthetic and visual aspects of her surroundings and mindful of how it impacts her strong intuition and keen sense of observation. She grew up surrounded by beauty on the shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) in Switzerland. Her artistic taste and attraction to colors, patterns, and textures lead her to her first career in fashion, completing an Haute-Couture fashion design school in Europe and then working as a women’s wear clothing designer in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Diane’s extensive travels throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia and over 25 years of California living, contributed to her wealth of design ideas and inspirations. By collecting elements from diverse cultures and integrating them in fresh and unexpected ways, Diane brings a touch of individuality and eclecticism to modern homes. 

After the birth of her two daughters and leading the remodel of her Berkeley home, Diane discovered her calling in home design, realizing that spaces, rather than fashion, provided a more relevant and compelling canvas for her creativity. She founded Bleu Leman Design in 2010. The firm has been thriving and growing since then. Today, Diane is working with a team of four, enjoying the exchange of ideas and collaboration with other talented and kind-spirited women, forming a talented and friendly team to service Bleu Leman’s clientele. In 2022, she earned the Wellness Between Your Walls certification, concerned about her commitment to supporting a healthy environment globally and for her clients at home.   

As a designer, Diane believes that our living spaces should reflect the unique blend of taste, culture, and experiences that define us. Her passion lies in helping clients create not only visually pleasing environments but also spaces that are accessible and resonate with their individual personalities. By skillfully combining colors, shapes, textures, furnishings, lighting, and textiles, Diane crafts harmonious arrangements that enrich the mood and ambiance of each space and is dedicated to transforming homes into beloved spaces that are both beautiful and practical and genuinely feel like Home.

Diane loves to engage in this creative work which allows her to forge deep personal connections with clients while indulging her own artistic sensibilities. When she isn’t hard at work, Diane loves to travel, hike the East Bay hills, spend time with her friends and family, and enjoy communal time, often involving wonderful food. She lives in the Oakland Hills with her partner, their three daughters, and their beloved pup. 

LARA JEALOUS | LEAD DESIGNER 

As Lead Designer at Bleu Leman Design, Lara brings over two decades of experience to her craft. With an eye for quality, beauty, and meticulous attention to detail, she collaborates closely with her clients to create interiors that resonate and celebrate their lives. Lara believes that a home should be a place that supports holistic well-being. Her designs reflect this philosophy by beginning the process by listening carefully to her client’s goals and seeking to create designs that harmonize with the home’s surroundings, respect the architectural style, and exceed her client’s expectations. 

Lara's career path includes over 15 years of experience as a colorist and textile designer and international experience in product development and artisan mentorship. Her transition to interior design in 2017 was a natural evolution. She founded her interior design studio in 2018 and joined Bleu Leman Design in 2021. 

With degrees in Art History and Fine Arts from UC Berkeley and additional training at UCLA's Interior Design Program, Lara is a skilled designer who believes in continuous learning. In 2022, she earned the Wellness Between Your Walls certification to further her ability to guide her clients toward sustainable solutions that promote a healthy environment at home.

The daughter of Peace Corps volunteers who settled in a community of artists and educators in Carmel, California, in the 1970s, Lara grew up surrounded by the treasures her parents collected during their travels and the stunning beauty of the California coast. These early influences cultivated her appreciation for all world cultures and inspired her passion for design, nature, and distant travel. Having lived in New York, Paris, and San Francisco and traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, Lara brings a worldly perspective to her work.

Today, Lara resides in the beautiful Oakland Hills with her husband, daughter, and two adopted fur babies. She loves living among the trees, exploring new places, and creating joyful environments for her clients.

LARA JEALOUS | LEAD DESIGNER 

As Lead Designer at Bleu Leman Design, Lara brings over two decades of experience to her craft. With an eye for quality, beauty, and meticulous attention to detail, she collaborates closely with her clients to create interiors that resonate and celebrate their lives. Lara believes that a home should be a place that supports holistic well-being. Her designs reflect this philosophy by beginning the process by listening carefully to her client’s goals and seeking to create designs that harmonize with the home’s surroundings, respect the architectural style, and exceed her client’s expectations. 

Lara's career path includes over 15 years of experience as a colorist and textile designer and international experience in product development and artisan mentorship. Her transition to interior design in 2017 was a natural evolution. She founded her interior design studio in 2018 and joined Bleu Leman Design in 2021. 

With degrees in Art History and Fine Arts from UC Berkeley and additional training at UCLA's Interior Design Program, Lara is a skilled designer who believes in continuous learning. In 2022, she earned the Wellness Between Your Walls certification to further her ability to guide her clients toward sustainable solutions that promote a healthy environment at home.

The daughter of Peace Corps volunteers who settled in a community of artists and educators in Carmel, California, in the 1970s, Lara grew up surrounded by the treasures her parents collected during their travels and the stunning beauty of the California coast. These early influences cultivated her appreciation for all world cultures and inspired her passion for design, nature, and distant travel. Having lived in New York, Paris, and San Francisco and traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, Lara brings a worldly perspective to her work.

Today, Lara resides in the beautiful Oakland Hills with her husband, daughter, and two adopted fur babies. She loves living among the trees, exploring new places, and creating joyful environments for her clients.

GILLIAN ATCHLEY | JUNIOR DESIGNER 

Gillian’s background includes art direction, visual merchandising, and event management in the fashion and retail industries, including working for Wasteland Clothing, where she was a founding member of the design team. Gillian also worked with frog design, where she was part of the digital media team and was responsible for the visual and creative development of client-orientated designs. 

Gillian contributes her many years of design and art direction skills to drafting floor plans, product sourcing, and putting together inspiring mood boards for various Bleu Leman Design clients. Her passion for interior design led her to take on a few personal projects, including remodeling her family’s late 1800s home in Colorado. Committed to the interior design world and furthering her knowledge and skills, Gillian recently returned to school to earn her AS degree in Interior Design at CCSF. 

Gillian has been recognized for her art and design work, including receiving the Communication Arts Scholarship and CCA Trustees Scholarship, and the Lou Shawl Design Award. Gillian lives in Piedmont with her husband and two children and, in her free time, enjoys gardening, cooking, making pottery, and road trips with her family to discover new places for inspiration.

GILLIAN ATCHLEY | JUNIOR DESIGNER 

Gillian’s background includes art direction, visual merchandising, and event management in the fashion and retail industries, including working for Wasteland Clothing, where she was a founding member of the design team. Gillian also worked with frogdesign, where she was part of the digital media team and was responsible for the visual and creative development of client-orientated designs. 

Gillian contributes her many years of design and art direction skills to drafting floor plans, product sourcing, and putting together inspiring mood boards for various Bleu Leman Design clients. Her passion for interior design led her to take on a few personal projects, including remodeling her family’s late 1800s home in Colorado. Committed to the interior design world and furthering her knowledge and skills, Gillian recently returned to school to earn her AS degree in Interior Design at CCSF. 

Gillian has been recognized for her art and design work, including receiving the Communication Arts Scholarship and CCA Trustees Scholarship, and the Lou Shawl Design Award. Gillian lives in Piedmont with her husband and two children and, in her free time, enjoys gardening, cooking, making pottery, and road trips with her family to discover new places for inspiration.