By Lauren Egger
The world had only known them as bicycle store owners and tinkerers. Day in and day out, they helped local townspeople travel to and fro on two wheels. But their real work began when the lights went out and the business closed for the day.
Once in their shop space in the back of the bicycle store, they would work for hours, perfecting, drawing, testing, and tweaking. The townspeople didn’t pay any attention to these men, but we know them today as the Wright Brothers, who changed history forever. The showroom was their gateway to the community, their means to make a living, but their life’s work and calling were in a shop in the back, creating the engine for their airplane.
Interior design may be my bicycle business, but helping others to experience a God-inspired flow of beauty and order and to be a faith-led, principle-driven leader in the business community is my “shop in the back.” When I established Lauren Egger Designs in Mississippi in 2021, I couldn’t have imagined how God could use my “bicycle shop” for His kingdom purposes.
Daily, we all encounter different facets of God through various means. We may meet with the nurturing character of God at our schools or through children’s ministries. We may run across growth and personal responsibility facets of God while caring for our bodies, working out, and making good choices. But something unique occurs deep within us when we surround ourselves with design that resonates with us, speaks to our souls, and delights our eyes: We enjoy an invigorating jolt of rest and rejuvenation that is both healing and inspiring. This same reaction occurs when we witness the grandeur of God’s creativity through mountaintop sunrises or beautiful sunsets viewed from the beach.
When I create a design plan for my clients, the components of the proposal — colors, details, layers, unique touches — though part of the end game, are not the primary goal. My highest aim is to capture who God has made the client to be and bring those details to life through my work. In keeping with this mindset, the opportunity arose to expand Lauren Egger Designs and, in May of 2025, I opened a first for Mississippi — a unique custom design studio that gives customers access to designer materials and a limitless array of possibilities by allowing them to participate in the creative process.
Those who come through the doors of Lauren Egger Designs will enjoy opportunities to produce beautifully exquisite items for their personal spaces, fashioning home accessories that directly reflect themselves, creating items of beauty that make their hearts sing.
Design is more than beauty. It is a direct reflection of the very heart of God, and I pray you will take the time to savor and appreciate its splendor in a new way.
Lauren Egger is the owner and principal designer of Lauren Egger Designs, a full-scale interior design firm and custom design store. Lauren and her husband, Clif Egger, are in a busy season of young parenthood – sports and kid activities – but are soaking up the moments. They do appreciate a good date night!