‘Learning to hand draw, particularly life drawing. It taught me about scale and proportion and the importance of really seeing details. How light interacts with objects and texture. It helps to envision spaces in 3D and understand how people move through them. It has given me a deep appreciation for the beauty of imperfection.’
'Luxury hotels have a transient audience, so we like to whip up the experience and atmosphere while weaving stories into the design. Often, establishing a new brand along the way. But residential interiors are deeply personal, where listening to and understanding the clients’ lifestyles is essential. In both cases, they should be deeply comfortable. Knowing our residential guests are also our hotel guests gives us a huge amount of insight and understanding of their preferences and lifestyles.'
‘Our design philosophy is for originality and authentic design. We have a deep respect for design heritage and craftsmanship, weaving in a narrative of modernity and timelessness. Our craft is to create effortless spaces that are a natural fit for our individual clients and their personalities.’
‘Receiving an honorary award such as your Pineapple Achievement Award is huge validation, not just for me, but for the whole team. It’s a boost of confidence to our clients and us, and reinforces our philosophy to pursue and explore new ideas.’
‘I would recommend embracing a broad spectrum of design, not just interiors. This approach has been a huge asset to me. Get some hands-on experience, even volunteering on projects. Attend workshops, connect with peers and mentors and don’t limit yourself, there are many paths in design.’
‘In junior designers, I value openness, curiosity, a hunger to soak up knowledge and no ego. A balance of creativity and practicality, and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves. I don’t like titles, we are all designers.’
‘Developing an eye for design is all about observation and curiosity. Drawing trains your eye to see detail. Visit museums, galleries and historic interiors. I often borrow and reinvent ideas from the past. People-watch and absorb the world around you.’
‘I wish more young designers knew to just pick up the phone and talk to people. It’s about understanding needs, solving problems, building relationships and gathering insights. It’s a two-way street; you build trust together this way. It's also important to be humble, don’t get so caught up in the idea of ‘designer’, it’s a team sport.’
