Rebuilding with Intention: Concierge Design, Architecture, and Fire Recovery with AAHA Studio

Season 7 of The Interior Collective Podcast is brought to you by Materio.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Loloi.An operating system built specifically for design projects—from start to finish. That’s what Materio is.From concept to handoff, client billing to procurement—it’s one connected workflow. Try it for free.It’s intuitive. It’s fast. The Interior Collective listeners get 50% off their first month. Just head to getmaterio.com to claim the offer. Subscribe now at patreon.com/theinteriorcollective Welcome back to The Interior Collective. I’m your host, Anastasia Casey, and today’s episode takes us inside the walls—both literal and figurative—of what it really means to design with purpose, clarity, and care. I’m joined by Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, the husband-and-wife founders behind AAHA Studio. Based in Los Angeles, AAHA is known for their concierge-style approach to design, blending architecture, permitting, and full-service interiors into a seamless experience for their clients. Their studio is built on collaboration, curiosity, and a deep respect for the people they serve. But recently, their work has taken on an entirely new dimension. After the devastating fires across California, several of AAHA’s projects—some newly completed—were destroyed. Overnight, their firm shifted focus to helping over a dozen families rebuild, navigating complex legislative hurdles and emotional recovery in equal measure. In this conversation, Harper and Aaron share how they’re guiding their clients through unimaginable loss—using design as a way to restore hope, dignity, and vision for what comes next. We’ll also unpack what makes their studio’s integrated approach so effective, how they lead with elevated service and strong systems, and what interior designers can learn about working more cohesively with architects from the very beginning.