Morgan Ræ
is a 3x award-winning designer with 25 years of experience on over 100 projects (62% of them constructed) across 13 countries & 13 US states. Currently CEO, Director & Founding … L’eautelier
American to Internationally Renowned Designer
Before graduating first-in-class with of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the Art Institute in San Diego, California, Ræ worked as the Home Furnishings Consultant at IKEA designing spaces for homeowners, business owners, and model homes in Mexico. She left the executives with a business plan for the role before becoming the first interior designer at Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects. Designing biotech laboratories, school libraries and office campuses while concurrently completing her thesis “Project A.I.R” - an airport redesign that is published in the textbook “Research-Inspired Design: A Step-by-Step Guide for Interior Designers”.
Ræ then headed to Italy, first for a tour of the country before rooting down in Milan where she completed her Master's in Interior & Living Design at the prestigious Domus Academy which allowed her to learn from Italian brands such as Alessi and Ducati while also showcasing on an international level. “Mystic Innovations” was published and showcased with high regard in the Made and Italy exhibition in Rome. “La Fermata Delta” was shown at the IB Rubinetterie booth at Salone del Mobile while also showing “Gossip” at Fuori Salone. She was awarded trips to the Bordeaux region to see the Atlantic wall bunkers that inspired the “Acoustic H(e)aven” project and a trip to Paris to see her “Focus On Italy” exhibition design realized for Paris Photo in the Louvre.
Mini Communities to Placemaking Champ’s
Her master's thesis created a community hub out of three derelict buildings on the property of a teaching hospital in Bologna and led her to Seattle, Washington where she unveiled more layers. While working as the senior interior designer for Dynamikspace, she also worked with Worldchanging offering her graphic design and occasional articles on sustainable design. With the economic downturn, she saw it as an opportunity to launch a bakery specializing in mini pies, called “Mini Empire”. This venture led to the publication of the cookbooks Mini Pies: Adorable and Delicious Recipes for Your Favorite Treats, featured in Target and Barnes & Noble and the second, Petite Treats: Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies, which was presented in the Oscars gift bags.
After volunteering with Historic Green in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and as the Creative Director of People’s Parking Lot(s), transforming vacant lots into short-term public spaces, Ræ was called to Placemaking in NYC with a goal to use integrated design to create “urban living rooms” in the public realm. She became part of the Project for Public Spaces' Placemaking Leadership Committee. Her introduction to New York included the design & production of the Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar including 30 travel-related organizations and brands for their 40th anniversary. During the production, she was also featured in Brokelyn and on community television for her work with a neighborhood bakery called “Champ’s”. She offered her design skills to renovate the space into a vegan diner and soon after became a partner in the brand which grew to 6 locations and 4 concepts including “Screamers Pizzeria”, “Haymaker’s”, “Hartbreakers” and “Champ’s Diner” which was noted on the Joe Rogan Experience.
Small-Town Motel to Luxury Hotel Brands
Ræ has spent part of her youth in hospitality, picking up cigarette butts in exchange for pool use, folding laundry, making beds and working her way up to a housekeeper first at the Sands Motel and later at the Radisson while growing up in South Dakota. Linking with their midwestern roots, David Mexico - a Rockwell Group alum - brought on Ræ as his first hire to help him build the David Mexico Design Group starting in Rockefeller Plaza in NYC. She designed the company logo, created the brand standards, and managed the staff while also acting as a senior designer for projects around the world. Notable projects included Kerzner International’s Atlantis and One&Only Resorts, Westin Music City, The Cordish Companies China Live!, Detroit Redwings, Caviar Russe, MGM Cotai, Jupiters Hotel & Casino, Hard Rock Hollywood & Tampa, The Bobby Hotel, Parx Casino, Emerill’s Tchoup Chop, Stix, and the OTG Experience at Newark International Airport.
Ræ later had a brief stopover with UHURU - a luxury furniture company in Brooklyn that wanted to expand its market into hospitality design. She worked directly with the COO to develop this sector being asked to create concepts for KIN, Young Woo and Brian De Lowe (Proper Hotels & KOR Real Estate).
She was introduced to the newly formed Brand Bureau - a division of AvroKO - and quickly hired as senior designer and program manager. Projects included Philosophy Flagship store, FaceGYM, John Masters Organics, Barnes & Nobel Kitchen, Royal Caribbean Celebrity Edge, Block 16 at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, Harbour Eats by Precinct Properties, The Tillery by Prometheus Properties, Sheraton, The Rum Cellar at Fairmont Southampton, and a discreet five-star Coral Gables hotel. Ræ was awarded the platinum design award for The Holler and gold for Cold Brew Bar after she had left the firm. Thrive Farmers, with the blessing of Brand Bureau, followed Ræ with her company, at the time called “RoomService”.
Feng Shui Nōmad to Blue Economy Residency
RoomService began as an after-hours project outside the office and offered contemporary principles of Feng Shui planning and design with intention. Ræ held workshops at residences such as URBY, panel discussions with SohoHouse & 1Hotels and worked with various NYC apartment dwellers to align their space. The business expanded to healing hotels and projects included Higher Dose sauna guestrooms at 11Howard, Roam & BMW’s Mini Living at the former Morgan Hotel, Listen Bar - a nonalcoholic pop-up brand, and the headquarters of LOLA feminine care.
The design practice soon became nomadic with the first stop located in Tulum. There she taught Feng shui at Nômade, tarot at Beso, coordinated art installations at Playa Mambo and linked the Tulum Art Club with Selina, the hotel brand for nomads. Additionally, she designed for Woomoon festival, Art With Me, and IDEATE at Burning Man. While in the Americas she was interviewed on numerous podcasts including Awaken & Align, Jeffery Eisen Podcast and Gastro Gossip.
Her stay in Australia was extended due to the pandemic, although the creations continued. Ræ wrote, directed and starred in an audiobook called MxRS, created a performance art series for Port Phillip as well as produce and host a television series called ARTv while in Melbourne. While there she was connected to OceanBuilders and their SeaPod project in Panama, which she converted into a regenerative hospitality concept that won the 2021 Radical Innovation award and kickstarted the coral garden program. During her time in Panama she stayed with PanaSea to create their business development collateral, learn how to monitor aquaculture, and develop community programs with Reef2Reef Foundation and brand awareness with OceanSoldiers.
MORGAN RÆ Θ L’EAUTELIER
As a guide to aquatic living Ræ is bringing her hospitality mindset to seasteading & deep sea space. With a goal of raising the standards of design and awareness of our connection to water, L’eautelier is part studio, part host mixed with the fluidity and resilience of its element of choice. L’eautelier has hosted the Dreams Do Come True Exposé during the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon and was co-host of the I ♡ NY Sea water awareness series during the 2023 United Nations Water Conference in New York City. Ræ was also featured on the Seasteading Today and Top Floor podcasts for her aquatic design. Currently preparing for the 2023 release of the L’eautelier - Guide to Aquatic Living waterproof guidebook and eBook series while also developing the Casa Piña collection.
L’eautelier timeline
RoomServicio
We spent time immersing ourselves in a variety of marine environments, hospitality typologies and subcultures around the world. The learnings inspired our design vision and sourcing journey. Rather than trends, we observed what made a lasting impression and why.
L’eautelier.com
The brand was birthed after a month-long stay on an island known for its pineapples grown in the middle of the Atlantic. The logo, typeface, graphic design and imagery were all created during this time when we watched the sky kiss the sea daily.
L’eautelier, Unipessoal LDA
The next year we explored the country of the brand’s birthplace. Discovering the local resources, culture, architecture & design and vendors. Our team sensed Porto was the right place for the studio and soon after we found the space - newly built and designed by a renowned Portuguese architect.
L’eautelier - Guide to Aquatic Living
This waterproof guidebook preps future guests for their extended stays at sea. Starting with sequences that can be applied on land, recipes, adventures to consider, etiquette and overall experience. Additionally, are the stories behind the resources we use and an introduction to a new friend.
Aquatic Living Exposé III
Project showcase with the public and private sectors including models, mock-ups, multimedia and limited edition collectibles.
Bungal’eau Prototype
After completing the initiative phase including location analysis, improving core & shell design, bringing on key stakeholders and feasibility studies, we move into the interior design detailing.
A sky pool and terrace floating 30+ floors above sea level with water trumpets, central lotus, and calligraphy pools, that took almost a decade to realize. Take in the sun on a floating chaise under a chandelier umbrella.
A historical architecturally renowned oceanfront property with a whimsical café renovation with a revolving menu. Look for the floating cake dome lights behind the pastry chef finishing treats in the window.
A world-class sailing competition required a celebratory space for champions, spectators and local sailors. A mix of Gosling’s rum, copper pineapples to share and a wine cellar converted into tiki disco fun.
Turning up the club meant turning away guests. Swapping beds for saunas added an option for detoxing the day after. Hot boxes held room for three and provided a healthy risqué twist on the concept of booking rooms by the hour.
New construction in a new city gave us room to push the brand boundaries and redefine “country club”. Belt buckle chandeliers, floating gardens, and a picture box rooftop pool are all public features. Suites hold delights for VIP guests privy to book.
A gratitude tent takeover with the power of Feng Shui. Hosting workshops for guests, locals and event staff of this beachfront wellness wonderland. Follow the scent of copal to the point before dancing in front of the DJ.
A signature restaurant on sea space for celebrity cruises on the edge. Bright beachy colors that compliment the cuisine.
Coral gardens, underwater drones, sea cucumber searches and data collecting. A playa paradise with a bay of dreams.