Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2016 | Page 36

Do you think fashion influences the world of interior design?
Absolutely. There are design
principles that both disciplines
share when creating furnishings in
a space or an ensemble of clothing:
determining a focal point, creating
the silhouette, balancing proportion
and details. Gretchen Aubuchon,
Editor in Chief of Fashion + Decor,
said it perfectly “the worlds of
fashion and decor are colliding.”
She explains where there was once
a 5 to 6 year lag from the runway to
furniture showrooms, “then a couple
of years ago we were seeing just a 2
year or 2 season lag, and now both
worlds are engaging as the creative
minds are joining together with the
social media forces.”

a hotel, I try to create a particular
feeling that each guest will enjoy
in both the private and public
spaces. I always consider the client’s
perspective, the site’s story, the
cultural background and often a
particular exciting trend. I mix up
all these aspects with my design
philosophy, and this makes for a
good starting point. I enjoy creating
the story board to show the client
what it will look like. But the end is
the most gratifying. The client’s joy
is everything.

Tell us about some of the
spaces you’ve designed.
I have designed homes, hotels,
restaurants, retail spaces and
offices. I am currently working on
a local project for CHATS – the
Center for Holistic Advancement
for Therapeutic Services. It will be
It is said your dress reflects
operated by a speech therapist who
your personality. How
specializes in Autism. It is a happy,
important is the choice of
colourful yet calming space. It is a
personal attire to an interior
first in Antigua and has become a
designer?
very dear project to me. I am also
It is very important. There is a
working on a home in Jolly Harbour
typical interior designer dress style.
that was bought by a Canadian
You know the look: architectural
couple who have a young son. It was
silhouettes, bold basics, and a
fun designing his room which has
statement haircut, finished off
a loft space. The overall style is very
with minimalist jewelry. But, not
laid back, and quite nautical, and we
me. I dress for how I feel that day.
are doing a huge deck and pavilion
Jeans and flip flops, a kaftan with
on the water. I am also working on
embellished slippers. A vintage
a second branch for a store called
printed skirt with a t-shirt and
“The Tailor’s Daughter”. This is a
brogues. Hats, hats, hats. It can get
quite humid here. And I always wear store that specializes in local and
natural breathable fabrics. I think it regional specialty and gourmet food
as well as entertainment items. The
is very important for us to combine
first store I designed used only recomfort with fashion.
purposed items and locally found
What do you enjoy most about driftwood and calabash for lighting.
I did a yogurt store last year, and
the interior design process?
the client did not want it to look like
The beginning and the end!
a “pinkberry.” So we made it look
To start, I imagine how the home
like a market fruit stall meets rum
will be used inside and outside: the
shack. We used reclaimed wood and
breadth of interior and exterior
corrugated galvanize, and shelves of
spaces and what it will mean to
those who live there. When I design pineapple and coconuts.
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