Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Cunningham
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been a creative at heart, and I went to school for graphic design and spent the first 10 or so years of my career doing branding and designing paper goods. I had put my work on the back burner for a few years while we had our two boys and we spent two years living in Shanghai, and once we were back and more settled I was ready to start something new but wasn’t quite sure what that would look like. I knew I needed the right place to work from but was struggling to find a studio space that met all of my requirements, and around that time I was also getting curious about commercial real estate. One day it dawned on me that I could purchase a property and create an ideal workspace for not just myself but for other creatives, and that is how the idea for The Commune was born.
We opened in 2019 as a co-working space for artists and creatives, and while our business model has shifted some over the years, our roots are still in providing an inspiring environment for the community. We now host a lot of meetings for businesses of all sizes and industries during the day, and on the weekends we’ve become a destination for baby showers, receptions, and even celebrations of life. I think the best part as an owner has been seeing so many people come together in a space I envisioned and built.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course not! First, my husband had a stroke 2 weeks before we opened, and then Covid hit 11 months later. I had 2 very young kids at home and had never run a business like this. Let’s just say it’s been a 6 year long roller coaster ride. There have been incredible highs, but not without some serious lows.
As a creative, I thrive on vision-building, and in the early days I really resisted when people would suggest I take business classes or conform to a more systematic approach — my brain just didn’t work like that. But over time, I had to adapt. In the past few years, I’ve been able to lean into that more and as a result, we’ve evolved into a more sophisticated business with a very strong team. It’s been a journey, but one that’s shaped both me and The Commune in ways I never could have predicted.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about CHSL Studio ?
As a creative, I always need a new project, so once The Commune was up and running I set out to learn more about interior design and real estate development and co-founded CHSL Studio with a good friend and real estate broker. After working on two great residential projects I decided to lean back into commercial. Last summer I took the first step in building a brand of wellness studios, a concept that was born out of my experience renting studios at The Commune. Innerhouse will offer high-end, spa-like studio rentals to wellness practitioners including massage therapists, estheticians, acupuncturists and more. Austin has a large number of these talented wellness professionals who struggle to find a space that reflects the elevated level of service they provide. With thoughtfully designed interiors, premium amenities, and a curated approach to tenant selection, Innerhouse will redefine what it means to rent a wellness space. Our first location in NW Austin will open this summer.
Pricing:
- Private offices: Starting at $40/hr
- Large meetings: Starting at $100/hr
- Full buyouts: $400/hr
- Events: Starting at $250/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecommuneatx.com
- Instagram: @thecommune.atx
- Other: @chsl_studio
Image Credits
Leonid Furmansky
Sarah Natsumi
Son of Rand
Angela Doran
