Thirty Under 30: Leslie Hranicky

By NKBA Staff

Leslie Hranicky always felt drawn to interior design. “One of my favorite memories was visiting my grandparents every Sunday,” she says. “They had these old wooden blocks, but instead of building towers like most kids, I’d arrange them into floor plans and make up elaborate stories about the homes. Looking back, I think that’s where my love for design began.” And yet when deciding on a college major she didn’t necessarily see design as a career path. “Maybe it was because I didn’t grow up knowing anyone in the field,” she says. “But over time, I realized how much design aligned with my creative side and love for problem-solving.” 

As a result, Leslie has degrees in both business and design — a Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurial Management from Texas Christian University and an Associate of Applied Science in Interior Architecture & Design, plus an NKBA-accredited Kitchen & Bath Certificate, from Front Range Community College — which showcase her strategic, analytic mindset and her creativity.

While earning the latter degree, she interned in 2022 at Lakewood, CO-based Parcels Design Studio and quickly advanced to Junior Designer and then Interior Designer in 2023. At just 28 years old, Leslie’s strong attention to detail and creative approach to kitchen and bath design have already earned her two second-place Peak Awards from NKBA’s Rocky Mountain Chapter — for Primary Bath design in 2025 and Small Kitchen (co-designer) in 2024. “Even as a co-designer, receiving recognition among so many talented and experienced professionals for one of my very first kitchens is something I’ll always be proud of,” says Leslie, who also currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the chapter.

Leslie’s favorite part of her job? Hearing, after months of working with a client to create their dream space, how her designs have impacted their lives. “After recently completing a kitchen, I received an email from a client titled ‘Incredible Kitchen!’ she says. “The client went on and on about how much she is enjoying the space and thanked our team for our hard work. It is little moments of appreciation from clients like this that make me so excited for the next project.” 

When it comes to her personal design style, Leslie admits it’s hard to pinpoint because it’s always “evolving” (also the word she says best describes her). “One thing that remains constant is my love for mixing old and new,” she explains. “I have a few family antiques that I will always cherish and find a place for amongst the new modern furniture pieces. To me, great design tells a story, and I love incorporating pieces that reflect the personality of those who live there.”

Outside of work, Leslie enjoys cooking and exploring new hobbies, most recently golf and gardening. On weekends, she also loves escaping to the mountains where she likes skiing with her husband, Parker, in the winter and hiking with their German Shepherd-Husky mix, Lila, in the summer. “I find joy in anything that keeps me learning, active, and creative,” she says.

On the horizon: More travel — the couple honeymooned in Italy and fell in love with the history and incredible food and wine of Tuscany — and then motherhood. “I want to see as much of the world as possible, experience new cultures, and one day share those adventures with a family of my own,” she says.