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Abstract
This cross-disciplinary, qualitative pilot study presents the development and testing of the Home Lifestyle Assessment (HLA). The HLA, a unique client assessment tool adapted from the field of marriage and family therapy, includes a written portion of nine demographic questions, 66 verbally administered questions, and two interactive drawing activities. Three case studies with premarital couples were conducted to test the assessment and yielded positive results. Results demonstrate how the HLA elicited new types of designer-client conversations about home and lifestyle background, while also engaging both partners in the discussion. Additionally, use of the HLA increased communication about the home environment between partners and between the couple and the interior designer. The results provide implications for practice, pedagogy, and future research.