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Yesteryear: I grew up on the North Shore of Hawaii, where the houses were few and far between and, as far as the eye could see, there were fields of sugar cane stalks blowing gently in the tropical island breeze. The beautifully idyllic weather made living indoors while having a strong connection to the outdoors a part of everyday life.
My story as an interior designer began through my appreciation for creating interior spaces that blend effortlessly with nature. It was only years later that I decided to move to Asia to help craft my story as a designer into who I am today. After travelling back and forth for work, I became inspired by what it had to offer: a foreign land filled with promise, beautiful scenery, amazing cultures and a blossoming design scene.I suddenly quit my first job at a renowned hospitality architecture firm in Honolulu, packed my belongings and moved halfway across the world to Bangkok that opened my eyes as a designer.
I found myself on a mission to explore the world in search of inspiration. Since then, I have been fortunate to have had countless opportunities to travel and work in so many different countries. At last count, I’ve worked on projects in over 30 countries. The more I travelled, the more I was inspired by the beauty and the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with along the way. Their stories and experiences have motivated me as a designer and fuelled my creativity.
Artistic rendering of the wood and stone-clad lobby of The Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
When asked to describe the work of my firm, I’d say that the designs are a refined embodiment of the soul of both the client and a place in time.A decade ago, interior design in South-east Asia was heavily influenced by a strong global design aesthetic, so a luxury hotel in Asia did not look too different from one in a Western country as many hotel companies stressed design conformity.
Even to trained eyes, it was hard to spot the differences. Conformity and generic interiors (although many were well done) dominated the design scene. One could draw parallels to the food scene where chefs have broken away from mainstream conformity to cook food that tells their story.
Artistic renderings of the lavish spa of the Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Fast forward to today: Thankfully, here in South-east Asia and most of the world, interior design has evolved similarly and designs now reflect personal stories of both the designer and the patron. No more conforming to a general aesthetic style as designs are fuelled by stories envisioned through the eyes of their creator.As designers, it is important to continue to tell personal stories through design and to have a never-ending source of curiosity that drives you to explore ideas in your world and beyond.
Travelling and sharing information are crucial, too. It is good to keep pushing boundaries and have open mindsets.For me, inspiration comes from everywhere. Through my design work, I have always sought to evolve and create new spaces in a never-ending quest to leave a legacy that tells the story of my past.