Projects in LongmontProjects in LongmontLala All the Way
I made this staircase about ten years ago.
To be honest, I still don’t think of it as art.
At the time, we simply did not have the money to replace everything that was old, worn out, or falling apart. So I did what I always did. I fixed it myself.
And I loved it.
I loved looking at something tired and forgotten and imagining what it could become.
Back then, I did a lot of projects around the house. I painted things. I repaired things. I covered things with paper and glue. I transformed old cabinets, mirrors, tables, chairs, and whatever else I could get my hands on.
Looking back now, I realize that my Craft Design background never really left me.
It just found a different place to live.
Instead of galleries, it lived in staircases.
Instead of canvases, it lived in old furniture.
Instead of expensive materials, it lived in leftover paint, scraps of paper, and things that other people might have thrown away.
I have always loved upcycling.
I love giving something a second chance.
I love finding beauty where nobody is looking.
I have lived in this house for almost thirty years, and I will be leaving it soon.
Not every memory here is a good one.
But when I look at this staircase, I remember the version of myself who was excited to make something with her own hands.
The version of myself who could spend hours with paper, glue, paint, and a new idea.
That is the memory I want to keep.
And I have a feeling I am not done yet.
Who knows how many old chairs, forgotten tables, worn-out cabinets, and strange little treasures I will rescue in the future?
I am actually excited about it.
I will keep sharing them here.
Because that is what LALATOWN is.
LALATOWN is not about pretending everything is perfect.
It is about finding something worth keeping, even when life gets messy.
And somehow turning it into a story.
Welcome to the neighborhood.
— Hyungjoo Kim
Caretaker of LALATOWN Studio Delivered a comprehensive brand overhaul for The Gardner's Inc., a landscaping company based in Lacey, Washington. I redesigned their logo, developed a cohesive visual identity system, and rebuilt their website from the ground up, translating the client's established local reputation into a professional, modern brand presence that could compete in a crowded market. I owned the full design relationship from discovery through final delivery, creating brand guidelines, color palette, typography, and digital assets that carry consistently across both print and web touchpoints.
