Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Burns Boyda.
Hi Lara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I came to Austin to attend UT and, like many good Austin stories, mine starts with taking a chance on something scrappy, passionate, and full of potential. Urbanspace was in its infancy when I joined—truly a “whatever needs doing, do it” kind of operation—and I was immediately hooked. By my senior year, I had taken over the company’s books, which was not only a crash course in real-world business operations but also a perfect fit for an economics major who genuinely enjoys understanding how things work behind the curtain.
After graduating, I doubled down on building my skill set, taking accounting classes at ACC because this was before the era where you could YouTube your way through a new discipline. That period taught me something invaluable: resourcefulness isn’t just a trait—it’s a muscle you build over time.
Right out of college, Urbanspace expanded into high-end furniture—during the recession, no less. Launching a luxury retail business while managing finances across two divisions was both wildly challenging and incredibly formative. It forced me to learn how to run a company lean, stay agile, and make smart, strategic decisions when the margin for error was thin. Those instincts have stayed with me throughout my career.
Over the next two decades, I followed my curiosity and embraced every new challenge, eventually becoming CFO and later COO. With that came the privilege of helping Urbanspace grow from a real estate firm into a full ecosystem—interior design, moving and logistics, hospitality, and development. Through it all, our north star has remained the same: serve people who love Austin’s urban core as much as we do.
Every expansion was intentional and rooted in unmet needs. When we created Codependent, for example, it was because we saw an opportunity to enrich the daily life of residents at The Independent—a community our real estate team had supported from the ground up. We aimed to create a concept that mirrored the rhythm of urban living, from morning coffee to a late-night cocktail.
The journey has been fast-paced, creative, and full of lessons learned. Looking back, what started as a college job evolved into a career defined by growth, grit, and an unwavering belief in what Austin can be when you build with heart and listen to the people who call it home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening our furniture store during the recession and then our first hospitality concept right at the start of COVID.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Urbanspace is, at its core, a company built for people who love Austin’s urban lifestyle as much as we do. What started over two decades ago as a real estate firm has grown into a full ecosystem—real estate, interior design, moving and logistics, hospitality, and development—all designed to support the way people actually live, work, and play in the downtown core.
We’re known for being design-driven but never pretentious. High design, absolutely—but always with that laid-back Austin energy that keeps the city feeling approachable. One of the comments we hear most often is that our spaces feel both elevated and easy. We love that. We want someone to feel just as comfortable walking into one of our concepts after a jog around the lake as they do dressed up for a night out. Exceptional service with relaxed vibes—that’s our sweet spot.
What sets us apart is that we build places we genuinely want to use ourselves. I’ve lived downtown for over a decade with two kids and two dogs, and the question, a little bit selfishly, drives every Urbanspace concept: Would this make my daily life better? If the answer is yes, we know it will resonate with other urban Austinites, too. You may not catch me there past dinnertime, but you can bet I was heavily involved in making sure the food, the flow, and the feeling are exactly right.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of our consistency. Whether we’re helping someone find a home, designing their living room, moving them in, or welcoming them downstairs for coffee or cocktails at one of our hospitality concepts—we’re committed to meeting them wherever they are in their urban journey. We aren’t trying to be everything to everyone; we’re simply here to be the piece of the puzzle our clients need, when they need it.
At the end of the day, Urbanspace is about elevating the urban Austin experience while staying true to what makes this city special: creativity, community, and a come-as-you-are spirit. That’s the heart of our brand, and it guides everything we create.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you want to experience our hospitality concepts, stop by Codependent for a coffee or cocktail, swing through Tómalo for something fun and fresh, and keep an eye out for Modern Bar, opening soon. Each one reflects our signature mix of high design and laid-back Austin energy.
If you’re in the mood to refresh your home—or need the perfect housewarming gift—visit the Urbanspace Interiors showroom. And of course, if you’re ready for a bigger life upgrade, you can buy your next home with us, design it with our studio, furnish it with our showroom, and let our moving and logistics team get you comfortably settled in.
The easiest way to support us is simply to enjoy what we’ve built. Visit the spaces, shop the showroom, bring friends, and stay connected. Whether you’re grabbing a latte, finding the perfect sofa, or making the leap into homeownership, we’re here for whichever piece of the puzzle you need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://urbanspacelifestyle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codependentatx/ , https://www.instagram.com/tomaloatx/, https://www.instagram.com/modernbaratx/, https://www.instagram.com/urbanspacerealtors/, https://www.instagram.com/urbanspacedesignstudio/, https://www.instagram.com/urbanspaceinteriorsshowroom/, and https://www.instagram.com/themodernaustin/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/urbanspace-real-estate
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanspaceAustin
Image Credits
Kasandra Keyes, Likeness Studio, Chase Daniels, Richard Casteel
