Living Edge: Turning Houses Into Homes - by Ariana Pirvu, Catarina Pirvu
Romanian Entrepreneurs of the Pacific Northwest Series
Living Edge is an interior design and home staging company based in Bellevue, founded by Romanian entrepreneur and CEO Larisa Kocsis.
There is a common saying that goes, “a house is different from a home.” A house is a structure that provides shelter, privacy, and a place to reside. On the other hand, a home is a timeless sanctuary of comfort that fills the emptiness, brings people together, and complements their way of life. At first, the house is empty- nothing but polished wooden floors and freshly painted walls with windows. With staging, the house is transformed into a home. This job doesn’t just happen on its own- it is made possible by a team of talented designers and staging professionals who foster collaboration. “Collaboration will always be key,” says founder and CEO Larisa Kocsis. Living Edge was established to help homeowners and real estate agents transform properties into welcoming, market-ready homes by combining “intentional, impactful design” with smart staging strategies to create spaces that are personalized, beautiful, and functional.
With over 20 years of hard work, Kocsis describes founding Living Edge as pursuing “an industry that was a whole new career” from what she was used to. Kocsis had initially worked in architecture, where she gained valuable experience in staging and design, yet she found the job limiting and unfulfilling for her ambitions. Thus, Kocsis established Living Edge with a clear purpose: to “let go and start an inspiration” in which she would “get back to something creative.”
What do you enjoy most about being the business owner of Living Edge? Kocsis replied with a smile, “The creativity.”
On a typical day at Living Edge, that’s what leads most decisions: it is pivotal to finalizing furniture selections and staging the interior of houses. However, when working with her team or clients, Kocsis described loyalty as the foundation of her business.
“I would call that number one,” she explained, “You get to build some very strong relationships, and that is extremely valuable.”
For Kocsis, success is measured not only by beautiful interiors but by satisfied clients and lasting relationships.
“I cannot measure my success if it is not expressed in terms of my clients”
Together with the strong team ethic at Living Edge, this philosophy drives the company to deliver high-quality staging and design consulting.
How has your Romanian background influenced your career decisions?
Kocsis proudly stated, “Being a hard worker is something I can trace to my Romanian background.”
Rather than viewing challenges as setbacks, Kocsis also approaches them as opportunities and a chance to grow- a mindset that can be traced back to her Romanian roots. Kocsis also credits much of her motivation to her upbringing, expressing profound gratitude to her mother, who instilled in her the values of perseverance, resilience, and dedication from a young age. These principles continue to guide Kocsis throughout her career development, work ethic, and leadership style. Additionally, Romanian culture is something the Living Edge founder and CEO embraces in the work environment and lifestyle;
“Being part of the Romanian community opens up relationships for resources, but it also opens up the possibility of connecting with like-minded people who provide inspiration,” she explained with a smile.
Beyond professional networking, the Romanian community has provided friendships, inspiration, and a sense of belonging that continue to strengthen Living Edge’s collaborative culture.
Kocsis lives by a simple philosophy: “Be obsessed or be average.”
After exploring interior design and the staging industry, she discovered her passion for it and turned it into her reality.
“Without working hard and working my best, this wouldn’t be possible,” stated Kocsis. “I value my clients very much, and I want things to always end up good enough to meet or exceed their expectations.”
Kocsis’ passion for interior design extends far beyond an established career, leading the dedicated founder to spend much of her time transforming houses into homes. While the founder spends most of her time and energy improving Living Edge, Kocsis additionally enjoys “dancing, running, or spending a long summer on the lake with [her] family.”
Whether spending time with her family, staying active, or tackling a unique project with her team, Kocsis approaches each aspect of her life with the same dedication and enthusiasm that have contributed to her undeniable success.
“My vision for Living Edge is to be recognized as the #1 design-led staging company in the Greater Seattle Area,” Kocsis proudly stated when asked about her aspirations for Living Edge.
To Kocsis, Living Edge isn’t just a business: it’s an opportunity to create “a smarter way to stage.” In Kocsis’ words, the next steps Living Edge seeks to implement are to prove its motto through supporting feedback, reviews, and project metrics.
The Living Edge team combines strategic thinking with strong design expertise. As Kocsis explains, "things are very fast paced," and the industry requires continuous education in design principles and changing consumer preferences.
“It never gets boring,” Kocsis said with a smile. For Living Edge, this is only the beginning. She is determined to grow her interior design business into the leading design-led staging company in the region.
Deeply woven in Romanian culture, the common saying “nu lăsa pe mâine ce poți face azi” highlights the value of hard work and emphasizes pursuing initiative in the present.
What advice would you give to your younger self and young, aspiring entrepreneurs?
Kocsis’ advice was immediate: “Become comfortable with the discomfort.”
Growing up surrounded by resilient traditions and passionate culture, Kocsis learned to “do it scared,” embracing uncertainty and learning from setbacks. She believes that “taking risks becomes something that you get to enjoy and becomes very fulfilling,” ardently expressing that “it gives you confidence and gives you the ability to do things that you haven’t imagined.”
Living Edge began as the dream of a young Romanian girl who used her imagination to guide her creativity and her curiosity to build her initiative; today, it has become a reality that shapes Kocsis’ mindset and guides her very definition of “home.”
About the Series
Romanian Entrepreneurs of the Pacific Northwest is an ARCS Journal series featuring Romanian-owned businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Through meaningful conversations with local entrepreneurs and business leaders, the series explores the unique stories behind their companies, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the experiences that have shaped their success.
About the Authors
Ariana and Catarina Pirvu are students attending Woodinville High School with a strong passion for business and their Romanian culture. The two created this series in hopes of learning from and sharing the special experiences of local Romanian entrepreneurs with the Romanian community.
So proud of Ariana and Catarina for creating this series and bringing such curiosity and thoughtfulness to their first interview. ❤️ I love the idea of learning directly from the Romanian entrepreneurs who are building, creating, and shaping our community here in the Pacific Northwest. And thank you, Larisa, for sharing your story so openly!