Lily Riefkohl
get in touch
Lily Riefkohl is the Founder and Principal Designer of Sensory Interiors, a Fort Lauderdale-based interior design firm dedicated to sensory-informed design for people with neurodivergencies and sensory processing disorders, serving clients nationwide. After being laid off while designing ABA therapy clinics, Lily drew on her own experience living with ADHD and realized it was time to help others in a way the interior design industry wasn't. That realization became the foundation of Sensory Interiors, where Lily designs homes, clinics, educational spaces, and beyond, applying a methodology built around all eight sensory systems, not just the traditional five, to help autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, and other neurodivergent individuals feel more supported by their environment, wherever that environment may be.
Her work has earned a Best of Best 2025 South Florida recognition and been featured in national media including CBS, ABC, and the AP. Lily is committed to serving a population that has long been underserved by the design industry, and to building a practice grounded in the belief that thoughtful, personalized design can create real, measurable change in people's daily lives — from homes and clinics to hospitality, offices, and public spaces.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- That your environment is never neutral—it's either regulating or activating your nervous system every moment.
- How to identify when a room's design, not a person's behavior, is causing meltdowns, shutdowns, or burnout.
- Why generic “calming” palettes and soft lighting often fail neurodivergent individuals without personalized sensory assessment.
- That there are eight sensory systems—including proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoceptive—that design must address.
- How a career layoff, combined with self-knowledge of ADHD, can become the turning point to launch a purpose-driven business.
- That lived experience as a neurodivergent person is not just legitimate expertise—it leads to more effective, human-centered solutions.
- Why sensory-informed design extends far beyond autism to support ADHD, dyslexia, PTSD, anxiety, and sensory processing differences.
- That a vast, underserved population exists in plain sight—and almost no interior designers are intentionally serving them.
- How small, intentional design choices create measurable outcomes like better sleep, improved focus, and fewer daily meltdowns.
- Why sensory-informed design isn't a fringe idea, but the future of universal design that benefits everyone.
about the show
Legacy Makers is an entrepreneur TV series and business documentary experience built around powerful founder stories, leadership lessons, personal branding, and the strategies behind lasting success.
Each episode takes viewers inside the minds of influential entrepreneurs, industry leaders, pro athletes, executives, and business titans to uncover the moments, decisions, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped their journey.
Through cinematic storytelling and in-depth conversation, Legacy Makers highlights the real experiences behind success, from building a brand and overcoming obstacles to developing expertise, creating impact, and leaving a legacy that reaches beyond business.
In this episode, Lily Riefkohl will share his journey, the lessons that shaped his success, how he built his brand, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped him become a leader in his field.
