

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalae Larsen.
Hi Shalae, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As long as I can remember I have always loved drawing, being creative, and nature. I also grew up watching PBS on the weekends and my favorite shows were the New Yankee Workshop, This Old House, and the Victory Garden (in retrospect, this may have influenced my career choices – lol). In school I gravitated towards science, math, and art. When I was 14, I met a landscape architect who worked for the forest service and I was enthralled listening to her describe her career! I later had the opportunity to job shadow this same woman in high school, and ended up going to Utah State to study landscape architecture. Along the way I met and married my husband Travis Larsen (who was an electrician at the time, but has since segued into general contracting). Fast forward to my senior year at USU, I had a job lined up in SLC and my husband was working for a company in Brigham City, so we were looking to Ogden for a place to live. We’d always loved the idea of fixing up an old house, and we happened to stumble on a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian (a fixer upper to say the least), and contrary to the advice from our parents decided it would be a good idea to buy it! Long story (link here) short we ended up deeply involved in a nearly decade long renovation (and ongoing community revitalization) project. https://www.storiedbuilders.com/from-the-ashes-our-founding-story/
It was during this experience that I decided to pursue a Masters degree in Architecture, while also co-founding Io LandArch. I had the opportunity to focus on historic preservation as part of my architecture degree. I graduated in 2010 and continued to work, growing Io LandArch’s portfolio of landscape architecture, urban design, and planning projects. While we’ve worked all over the state of Utah, some of our most impactful projects have been in Ogden, including the redevelopment of the historic Ogden Union stockyards, and the Nine Rails Creative District (including work on the Dumke Arts Plaza, the Corner Plaza, and the recently completed Nine Rails streetscapes (on the 400 Block of 25th Street)). Additionally, we’ve worked on some historic Ogden estates including the E.O. Wattis House and the Healy Home in the Eccles Historic District.
This past year, in addition to continuing to grow Io LandArch, my contractor husband and I launched Storied Design-Build to continue our work on historic homes and buildings. We are excited to get our two boys (ages 7 & 10) into the family business in the coming years! We’ve learned so much through our professional and personal experiences about old house restoration, and we’re really excited to bring our vision and expertise to help others tell their own stories and the stories of their homes/businesses through design and restoration.
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?
Generally speaking, I feel like it’s been more struggle than smooth sailing. Our old house project started out with a series of unfortunate events. We’ve survived three economic recessions, an ongoing battle with cancer, and juggling multiple companies with life/parenthood. At this point, I oscillate between feeling anxious and like a superhero.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Between my two companies, Io LandArch and Storied Design-Build, I’m fortunate to have a career that focuses on making beautiful/meaningful places and spaces, from residential homes and gardens to entire neighborhoods and community spaces!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We’re proud to say that our work (specifically with Io LandArch) has been pioneering in terms of our focus on native/waterwise plants (specifically meadowscaping) and the integration of history, art, and culture. We are definitely seeing an increase in demand for these types of projects/focus as many people are yearning for a greater sense of connection to place, nature, region, and community. Historic buildings, homes, and neighborhoods make us feel connected to the broader story of the past and generations who have come before us. The nuance and details of contextual buildings and landscapes encourage us to slow down, be present in the moment, and help us connect to our friends, family, and community. Our wild approach to planting design is not only ecologically sustainable and water-wise, but also creates a sense of whimsy and connection to the context of our environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iolandarch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iolandarch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iolandarch
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/io-landarch/
- Other: https://www.storiedbuilders.com/