The Studio

We are Habit Studio, a women-led studio committed to making the world a better place through sustainable and beautiful modern residential design.

We celebrate compassion, invite collaboration, and trust our intuition.  The result is a smooth, stress-free experience and a comfortable home that feels easy to live in. 

For us, sustainability is not a superficial add-on. We integrate our creativity with advanced building science and Passive House systems to ensure intelligent, beautiful, and sustainable design informs every corner of your home.

We like working with open-minded individuals who respect good design, trust our expertise, and give us the creative freedom to do our best work.

Your home plays an essential role in your overall physical and emotional wellbeing. That’s why we take the time to understand how you want to live as well as your budget and timeline.

At Habit Studio, design is a conversation. We create a warm and welcoming environment where you feel comfortable expressing your needs and opinions. This ensures the design process flows steadily and easily with minimal disruptions and stress.

  • Lorrie and Jude work extremely well together. They are very true to themselves, and complement each other nicely. You feel a connection with one or the other every step of the way. This allows the project to flow smoothly, and makes you feel like you're all that matters to them. We could not have done it without them.

    — Krista B.

  • Every night as we sit in our awesome new home, we reflect on how happy we are with the design. If there is one thing we got right throughout this whole process, it was working with Habit Studio.

    — Richard & Jenny

  • The Habit team’s ability to be highly collaborative while working quickly and efficiently speaks to the strengths of women professionals, as does their ability to lead with kindness and intuition. They were responsive to requests and changes in a manner that kept the process moving forward, while benefiting from the expertise and experience of the entire team.

    – Cathy W.

WE’RE ROOTED IN VALUES

Habit Studio has grown not only from our expertise and experience, but also from our values.

  • We’re in it for you. To us, design is an intimate reflection of you and how you live.

    That’s why we listen to you with an open mind, and work with you every step of the way. No fuss. No ego. Just beautiful and sustainable work.

  • To us, knowledge is pointless unless it’s shared. That’s why we involve you in every decision we make.

    We’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure you always know where we’re at, what we need to do next, and what you need to do next. You need to make hundreds of decisions throughout the design process, and we’ll guide you through every single one of them.

  • We’re straight talkers, and big believers in setting realistic expectations from the start. The process we follow is robust, and we’re upfront about any anticipated fees. That means no hidden costs or surprises.

  • It’s our responsibility to make a positive impact on the building industry’s carbon footprint. That’s why our collective mission is to create healthy and beautiful forever homes you have a deep connection with.

MEET THE TEAM

We’re a tight-knit collaborative team. We’ve got big hearts and open minds. We’re technically proficient.

And we’ll never say no to a piece of celebratory cake.

Judy Obersi (she/her)

Co-Founder, Director of Design, Architect, NSAA, M.Arch

“I want architecture to become more accessible to the masses. I want the building industry to take climate action more seriously. And I want people to understand that beauty and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.”

Judy oversees Habit Architecture, the architectural arm of Habit Studio. As the Design Lead at Habit Studio and an award-winning Architect, she distinguishes herself by keeping sustainability, creativity, and the senses top of mind when working with clients.

Judy believes delivering uniquely conceived projects at the intersection of the client’s aspirations, our culture, building context and site conditions can transform the inhabitants’ lives for the better.

She is a firm believer in the housing first model; our responsibility as architects lies in using our skills to improve people’s lives.

When not working, Judy keeps herself busy conquering her fears like x-country skiing downhill, sailing in new waters, and parenting two teenagers. 

    • Licensed Architect
      (Nova Scotia Association of Architects)

    • Master of Architecture (M.Arch)

    • Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS)

    • Two years of Civil Engineering

    • Lieutenant Governor’s Citation award for the Sandy Cove Residence

  • See: Maya Lin’s work

    Hear: Indie Rock/Folk and Latino Music

    Feel: An old worn-out thick cozy cashmere cardigan, or my baggie black cotton Cos dress

    Taste: Basque cheesecake

    Smell: Freesia and pear

  • “Judy is just a great person, and I feel she'll always be somebody we feel close to. She’s very warm, and was always available to answer our questions. Judy was just as excited about the home as we were. It was almost like it was her own house. She would come to the site during the build and take pictures and say; “Can you imagine looking out the window seeing that greenery?” We fed off her excitement!”

    — Kim G. & Eric M.

Lorrie Rand (she/her)

Co-Founder, Certified Passive House Designer, Director of Sustainability

Lorrie has an almost magic ability to keep going when things get tough. She powers through challenges with persistence and ease. Her unmatched mental stamina is useful for solving puzzles. It’s one reason she’s so great at retrofit projects. She genuinely enjoys figuring out how to unite complex and conflicting requirements.

Pragmatic and sensitive, Lorrie’s motivation is to make things better for people—spatially, functionally, and emotionally. She believes a comfortable, beautiful and healthy home can be life-altering for those inhabiting it. And when it comes to green buildings and building science, Lorrie is a self-confessed nerd. She generously shares her knowledge, and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring students, colleagues and builders.

Spending time in nature not only helps Lorrie rest and recharge, but also acts as an important reminder about what’s important in life. As she says, “I don’t think we’ll ever run out of lessons from nature.”

    • Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS)

    • Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD)

    • Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT)

  • See: Dreamy landscapes by artist and friend Sara McCullough

    Hear: Rain falling, wind in the trees, a good storm

    Feel: Flannel sheets and hand-knitted socks

    Taste: My grandmother’s Christmas pudding

    Smell: Balsam fir, tomato plants, line dried laundry, new babies, and beeswax

  • “Lorrie grew up 10 minutes from our place in Nova Scotia. So she really knows the feel of the area. (It's a strange area in Nova Scotia. We're on the water, but it's a farming community.) But Lorrie is familiar with the community, the rhythm of life, and what it's like to live here. Her insights and understanding were really valuable when deciding on materials, etc.”

    — Cathy W.

Karen Cairney (she/her)

  • Karen Cairney is a communications, marketing and operations professional with over a decade of executive management experience. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing and is a certified adult educator, whose career has spanned industries from tech start-up and travel/tourism, to post-secondary education and leadership coaching.

    Karen’s focus at Habit Studio is the oversight of business administration and operations, ensuring our clients have the systems and support needed to bring their projects to life.

  • See: A good book

    Hear: Wind in the trees

    Feel: Warm sun on my face

    Taste: Strawberry rhubarb pie

    Smell: Lilacs in bloom

Isabelle (Biz) Gosselin (she/her)

  • Isabelle is a graduate of the Drafting-Architectural program at the Nova Scotia Community College. She unites technology and design to not only create beautiful 3D renderings, but to communicate the language of the composition through lighting, textures and graphical representation. Isabelle’s ability to blend the technical details and a creative aesthetic helps our clients visualize their projects.

    Her time in Canada’s backwoods, planting over half a million trees, has deepened her appreciation for nature and her commitment to developing sustainable design solutions.

  • See: Snowy mornings, a calm sea on the horizon

    Hear: Birds chirping after a storm

    Feel: Soft dog ears, warm sand

    Taste: A briny seafood bite

    Smell: Lilacs, woodworking shops, fresh bread

Lee Cameron Surrette (she/her)

  • Lee Cameron Surrette is a Certified Passive House Designer and holds a Masters of Architecture from Dalhousie University. She is an environmental advocate, promoting the integrity of craft and sustainable building practices.

    Lee incorporates light, texture and comfort into each of her projects and continually tries to improve the relationship between the built environment and nature. Lee has worked in Siena, studied in Paris and is now part of the design team at Habit Studio, in Halifax.

  • See: Design harmonizing with nature

    Hear: Seagulls and foghorns

    Feel: Cool room and a heavy blanket

    Taste: Simple seasonal ingredients, black licorice rolled in salted caramel

    Smell: Citrus, sea salt and sheets on the line

Jennifer Smith (she/her)

  • Jennifer Smith is a graduate of Nova Scotia Community College’s Drafting-Architecture program. It was video gaming that, in part, charted the path for her professional life. Jennifer spent hours playing The Sims purely for the enjoyment of it, and quickly realized she wanted a career that would allow her to turn digital designs into real life.

    Jennifer specializes in life-like 3D renderings, giving our clients a much better sense of what their home will ultimately look like. Innately, Jen is both creative and analytical—her advanced skills in drafting and modelling allows her to engage both sides of the mind.

  • See: A leafy path through the calm woods

    Hear: The quiet during a snowfall

    Feel: Bed at the end of the day

    Taste: Earl grey vanilla tea

    Smell: Rockets (the halloween candy)

Jessica Cesa (she/her)

  • Jessica Cesa is a graduate of the New York Institute of Art & Design. After an early career in television production, she turned her creative eye to interior design—her lifelong passion.

    Jessica approaches each design with intention, considering both the client's use for the space, as well as the environment outside. With a balance of simplicity and originality, the results are thoughtful, practical, and timeless interior spaces for our client's to call home.

  • See: A vibrant city skyline on a clear night

    Hear: The ebb and flow of gentle waves on a seashore

    Feel: The light pressure of my napping dog’s head on my lap

    Taste: It begins and ends with chocolate

    Smell: Night blooming jasmine on a warm breezy evening

Locke (he/him)

  • Locke specializes in all things food and people. He is our official treat tester and mood lightener. While he may sleep most of the day, he’ll greet all our guests with his big brown eyes and a wagging tail.

  • See: The smiling face of a soon-to-be friend

    Hear: Background noise of my people close by

    Feel: Cold, soft surfaces

    Taste: Cheese and fish

    Smell: The stronger, the better

Every project starts with a conversation.