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creating a protective, restorative place
for rest and recreation where they can
feel at home, safe and happy.
Many of us are far from home, living
in properties we don’t own, often in an
uncertain time-frame, limited by budgets
and restrictions on what we’re allowed to
do. Faced with these limitations, some
people react by doing nothing at all: they
go into a sort of holding pattern or limbo;
they settle for feeling generally dissatisfied
until it’s time for them to return “home”.
Instead of that negative and
unsatisfactory state of affairs, I can
help them to proactively make the most
of what they have.
Can you describe your approach
to styling other people’s spaces?
It’s not about telling people what they
should have in their home. Instead, it’s
about observing and listening to them,
to understand what would make them
feel most comfortable and connected
with their surroundings.
Often, they come here with their own
furniture, and sometimes just want to
get a few Asian things to add to the mix.
When they look at a particular room or
piece, I ask them how it makes them
feel. If it evokes a positive emotion like
peacefulness, pleasure or happiness,
they’re on the right track; and the same
principle works whether the overall style
is vintage, minimalist, contemporary or
Asian.
In essence, I want to help people
connect with how they feel in their
homes, rather than only what they see,
because that’s what will take them to
another level of connection with the
space that they live in.