I LOVE WORKING WITH CONTRAST —NOT JUST VISUALLY, BUT EMOTIONALLY 

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You mentioned that the brief called for “an entirely new narrative.” What were the core elements of that narrative for you?

 

The intention was to rewrite the home’s story through a lens of refined contrast—where classical proportions meet a modern edge, and elegance finds depth through restraint. I was drawn to architectural periods where quietude and ornament existed in delicate balance, where clarity of form was softened by nuance. The resulting narrative is grounded in a kind of quiet tension: rustic materiality elevated by considered detailing, and the beauty of imperfection held in graceful dialogue with structure. Wabi-sabi sensibilities converge with classical cues, allowing textures to remain raw yet deliberate, and forms to stay sculpted and spare. A restrained palette—hot-rolled steel, cast plaster, dark-stained oak, bleached walnut, antique smoked mirror—unfolds through tactile contrast, softened by velvet, leather, and woven textures. What emerges is a home layered with texture and intention—timeless, grounded, and expressive, where each room reveals a quiet tension shaped by material richness and sculptural restraint.

 

There’s a striking balance throughout the home between softness and structure, rustic textures and refined materials. How do you navigate this kind of contrast to create harmony?

 

For me, harmony is about creating space for contrasts to complement rather than compete. Where there’s structure, I soften; where there’s texture, I refine. It’s a careful dialogue—materials playing off one another, allowing individual notes to shine without overwhelming the whole. The balance comes through restraint and rhythm, and through trusting the integrity of each material.

 

Your use of tone and material often plays with light and shadow in a very intentional way. How did you explore that dynamic in this project?

 

I love working with contrast—not just visually, but emotionally. Light and shadow give shape to the architecture and atmosphere to the interiors. Here, I used tone and material to deepen that interplay—matte against gloss, textured against smooth—so that even quiet moments have presence. The result is a layered experience of space, where subtle shifts in light become part of the design language.

 

You’ve said that you wanted to evoke the atmosphere of a private hotel—inviting yet composed. What does it take to create that sense of calm and quiet luxury in a family home?

 

Materiality and ambiance are at the core. But this is also a family home for six—four energetic young boys and their parents—so it had to hold both sophistication and livability. We wanted to create something elevated but unpretentious, where laughter and play could unfold within a backdrop of refinement. It’s about soft transitions, durable yet beautiful materials, and spaces that feel tailored without ever feeling precious. A careful balance of elegance and function.