Cassandra Provenzola - Principal Designer

I opened Proven in 2018, and Dexter MI has felt like a hug ever since. I wanted our studio to feel like a home and designed the space to reflect my style. I wanted Proven to have a feeling that evoked a warm home on a fall day, with your favorite candle burning, the sunlight hitting through the windows warming the floor, and a cup of coffee in your hand.

I love to create. Every space is different because there is just one and only you! Your home should be as unique as you are. I love the puzzle of design. I think that I was gifted to see a space. Most good designers see space uniquely, and I approach each space knowing I can improve it. My focus is always on the people. How do you live? What is needed? Our process allows the puzzle pieces to fit into place, and we create homes that sing for their residents. It’s genuinely thrilling!

I am an avid antique lover, adore anything vintage, and am genuinely drawn to anything with a past. I find so much inspiration in simple things, from hand-carved corbels to candle sticks. Our studio is always filled with antiques; we integrate many pieces into our designs. Every space we create feels like it has a soul. You can find me often dragging my kiddos and husband to my favorite antique markets and warehouses; don’t be fooled, they love the hunt, too!

I have always known this was my career choice. I was helping my friend’s parents re-arrange their homes and choose paint colors at sleepovers. It’s wild to believe that I have been in this industry professionally for nearly 20 years! I feel blessed to create something new daily, be invited into many homes, and help our clients live better with functional and beautiful designs.

Leia Lapensee - Designer

Writing this ‘about me’ might be the hardest thing I’ve done during my career in design thus far. Who am I, what am I? Purple. Hungry! Help?! Becoming an interior designer was a desire I had always had, but graduating in 2008 into the Great Recession put a bit of fear in me! After bopping around and trying to make different collegiate paths and jobs work for me, it was time to hang in the towel and switch gears. In 2017, I screamed, “Mom, I’m returning to college!”

After putting myself on an accelerated path, I graduated from OCC in May 2019. I officially stepped into the design world five months later by joining the Proven team. The part I love most about my job is creating a space that matches my client’s personality and lifestyle; this means our portfolio is diverse and eclectic (AKA sheer perfection). When I’m not busy working hard for you, you will likely find me with my nose in a book, pestering my husband and kids, or stalking John Mayer. During the design and construction process, I will try to refrain from texting you my 2 am thoughts, but I can’t promise it will never happen!