Two Curators, One Vision

Lisa Wedell

Lisa Wedell started Renatus Living when she needed backyard furniture. Her father worked in lumber, and her grandfather owned a small furniture and cabinet shop, so she grew up surrounded by wood, sawdust, and hard work. She watched her grandfather plow fields and grow food for neighbors. She remembers a bucket in the pumpkin, corn, and watermelon patches, where people could take what they needed and leave money. These moments taught her to value community and care for others, shaping how she curates, leads, and carries on her family’s legacy.

Her mother, who enjoyed drawing pencil portraits, taught her to garden, cook, and sew, and showed her the value of living off the land. She learned how cooking brings people together and how to entertain guests. Sewing skills helped her make window treatments and upholster furniture. She also learned generosity from her mother and grandmother.

Her grandmother and great-grandmother taught her the importance of family. On her daily walks to visit her grandmother, she chose the road instead of cutting through the woods with the horse. This path took her through a neighbor’s bamboo forest to a small pottery studio, where she learned pottery, a skill that later led her to cast-stone making.

Colin Barbalace

Colin Barbalace is the designer and fabricator behind Renatus Living. He worked as an Engineer and Project Manager for multiple Fortune 500 companies, giving him the knowledge and ability to push materials beyond conventional design limits. With extensive experience in designing and building luxury custom homes, Colin has developed a style that combines engineering precision with the beauty of natural materials. He uses his diverse background to continually develop a progressive design style that elevates spaces with a sense of wonder.