Enterprising Irish: Grania Murray

Dublin-born designer Grania Murray moved to Los Angeles in 2013, bringing with her a strong Irish identity, work ethic, and a keen eye for intuitive, luxury design. After rebuilding her brand from the ground up, she established Studio Grania Murray as a go-to for clients seeking elegance with depth.

Her Irish heritage deeply influences her business style, emphasizing empathy, storytelling, and warmth, while also fostering a collaborative spirit by supporting Irish creatives entering the US market.

Grania sees Irish entrepreneurs as vital contributors to LA’s creative and economic landscape, offering integrity, charm, and a global mindset.

She’s proud of bridging Ireland and LA through projects like The Irish Collection and The Design Align, championing Irish artisans in high-end design. Her message to aspiring Irish entrepreneurs? Be bold, stay authentic, and find your community early.

Read her full interview

Introduce yourself, where are you from, how did you find yourself in LA?

"I’m Grania Murray - Irish to the core, born and raised in Dublin. I moved to Los Angeles in 2013 and my daughters, Jill and Joelle, followed shortly afterwards where we all met our partners. I may have traded Georgian doors for Spanish tiles but kept my strong Irish work ethic and design instinct fully intact."

What inspired you to bring your business to Los Angeles?

"LA was calling with its scale, ambition, and appetite for luxury and reinvention, so it was the perfect playground for my brand of high-end, intuitive design.

I knew I could offer an experienced European approach and that there would be a demand for that type of service. Starting fresh in LA wasn’t easy, but I guess my Irish grit kicked in. I rebuilt from the ground up and re-established Studio Grania Murray as a go-to for clients craving luxury with depth."

How has your Irish identity influenced the way you do business here?

"We Irish have an uncanny ability to read the room. My design work is deeply intuitive grounded in empathy, listening, and storytelling through design. In that way, my clients feel seen, heard, and guided. You might say my process is less transactional, more transformational – and it results in a lot of referrals!"

Are there any Irish traditions that you bring into your work or workplace?

"Hospitality. Warmth. Wit. I don’t do cold, clinical meetings. Whether it’s a client consultation or a supplier negotiation, there’s always plenty of laughter, and a fierce commitment to excellence.

I also believe in supporting companies trying to break into this market or Irish designers considering moving to LA and those contemplating taking a leap from their existing job to work in design. I understand that transition because that’s what I did almost 30 years ago in Ireland. I’ve also been very lucky with support so it’s important to me to pay that forward as best I can."

How do you see Irish businesses shaping or adding to LA’s cultural and economic landscape?

"Irish businesses bring a level of integrity and charm that really stands out here. We’re storytellers, connectors, problem-solvers, and we’re loyal and relentless."

Have you noticed a growing interest in Irish culture or products in LA?

"Absolutely. There’s a hunger here for authenticity, and Irish culture supplies that generously. Whether it’s our heritage, craft, design or our philosophy, Irish culture resonates deeply with LA’s creative crowd."

What role do you think the Irish community plays in LA’s broader creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem?

"It’s simple: we’re the glue. The Irish community here is surprisingly tight-knit, generous with introductions, support, and solidarity. In industries like design, film, and tech, we not only show up for each other, we constantly raise the bar.

It really stuck home for me personally during the LA Fires when there was an outpouring of emotional and financial support for everyone in our community who suffered during that dark period."

What does the relationship between Ireland and LA mean to you?

"It’s my bridge. Professionally, it’s been opportunity and scale that’s allowed me to build a business that flows between continents. I founded The Irish Collection some time ago to promote Irish Artisans, designers and makers abroad.

With my company’s latest addition, The Design Align, I now consult virtually with homeowners and developers in both markets. My work has been published frequently in both countries. I renovated The Cellar Bar at The Merrion while living in LA.

I exclusively used the creations, lighting and fabrics of the Irish artisans from The Irish Collection on that project. That was the central focus of our design plan. Most of my work is done at a distance whether that’s locally or transatlantic."

Are there any collaborations or opportunities you’ve seen between Ireland and LA that excite you?

"Yes, I’m proud to have already created some of those partnerships. I’ve used paint from the Irish Kraftsmann paint collection on many of my LA projects.

I’ve consulted with Enterprise Ireland about best strategies within the design market in the US for companies expanding here. The cross-pollination between Irish design talent and LA’s development scene is just getting started. It completely inspires me. I love it all."

What advice would you give to another Irish entrepreneur setting up in LA?

"Don’t shrink to fit the room. Bring your full Irish self - humor, humility, hunger. LA is imposing and enormous, but it’s very manageable when you find your tribe early and continue growing those relationships."

Is there a moment in your career here that really made you feel proud to be Irish?

"Every time a high-profile client in LA chooses me over a roster of big-name designers because of my insight, authenticity, and directness, I know it’s the Irish in me they’re trusting.

I also love when my American friends or clients visit Ireland and send me their pictures of The Cellar Bar. It really fills my heart with pride."

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome as an Irish business owner abroad?

"In Ireland, understatement is a virtue. In LA, you have to claim your space. That’s been a challenge and a process. Other than that, I guess, learning to speak “American” without losing my Irish voice - that was the shift."

If you could share one message about Ireland with Angelenos, what would it be?

"We’re visionaries, builders, healers, and innovators. If you want to surround yourself with design that has a special soul and strategy, hire Irish."

- Grania Murray

Follow Grania on Instagram: @studiograniamurray
Find Grania online: graniamurray.com