Community Highlights: Meet Larissa Peixoto of Studio Black Oak Interior Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Peixoto.

Hi Larissa , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Influenced by my family, I started my path in law school. At the time it made sense to follow it, but after a few years working in the field I realized it wasn’t where I was meant to be. I had always had a deep love for art and architecture, and that never went away.
So I made the decision to go back to school, earned my Interior Design degree, and followed that with my NCIDQ certification. It was a longer road than most, but it shaped the way I approach every project.
The analytical side from law never went away, it just works differently now. It shows up in how problems get solved, how a project gets managed, how client needs get translated into real decisions. Combined with a genuine love for beauty and function, it became a foundation worth building on.
After working with established firms in Atlanta and Chicago and learning the craft at a high level, launching Studio Black Oak felt like the natural next step. The whole point of SBO is spaces that are thoughtful and personal, that’s how every project and every client relationship is approached.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Changing careers completely is not a small decision, and there were real moments of doubt along the way. Walking away from a law career, something you spent years building and that your family supported, comes with a lot of second-guessing. You wonder if you’re making the right call, especially when you’re starting over from scratch in a new field and a new country.
Going back to school as an adult, while managing the personal weight of a career transition, was its own challenge. And then building credibility in a new industry takes time.
Launching Studio Black Oak brought a whole different set of challenges. Running a business means you’re not just the designer, you’re handling everything else too. The learning curve on the business side is real, and there are still days where that balance is a lot to manage.
But honestly, the harder road gave me a perspective that I don’t think I’d trade. Every part of that process made the work better.

We’ve been impressed with Studio Black Oak Interior Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Studio Black Oak is a full-service interior design studio based in Atlanta. The work centers on residential projects, creating spaces that are well-designed, personal, and built to actually live in.
SBO works with clients at every stage and every scope. New construction from the ground up, full renovations, or simply furnishing and pulling a space together, the involvement fits whatever the project actually needs. No project is too early or too finished to work with.
What sets SBO apart is the combination of backgrounds that drives every project. The legal training brings structure, attention to detail, and a process-oriented mindset. The design training brings the creative and technical side. Together, that means clients get someone who can hold both, the vision and the execution, without dropping the ball on either.
The studio is known for spaces that feel curated but not overdone. Every decision has a reason behind it, whether that’s a material choice, a layout, or how natural light moves through a room. Nothing is just filler.
Something that stands out about the way SBO works is how those client relationships tend to grow. Most clients don’t stay just clients, they become friends. That says a lot about the process and the trust that gets built along the way. It’s the part of the work that’s hard to put into a portfolio but means the most.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The best advice is to stop waiting for the perfect moment to put yourself out there. Networking feels uncomfortable for a lot of people, but most of the meaningful connections don’t happen at formal events, they happen in everyday conversations with people who are genuinely interested in what you’re doing.
For finding a mentor specifically, don’t approach it like you’re asking for a favor. Approach it like you’re building a real relationship. Be curious, ask thoughtful questions, and show up prepared. People who are good at what they do are usually willing to share what they know, you just have to make it easy for them to want to invest in you.
Working in firms before launching SBO was invaluable for that reason. Being around experienced designers, watching how they handled clients, how they made decisions under pressure, how they ran a project, that kind of exposure is hard to replace. Those relationships still matter today.
The other thing that has worked is just being genuine. People can tell when someone is networking just to collect contacts versus actually being interested in a connection. Lead with curiosity and generosity, and the right relationships tend to follow naturally.
And don’t underestimate the people already around you. Some of the most important connections come from unexpected places, a former colleague, a client, someone you met once at a random event. Stay open to all of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studioblackoak.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioblackoak

Image Credits
Veridiane Lourenco
Jack Mullikin