I came to be interested in hospitality design through my best friend. We were neighbors in NY with a shared backyard and I met him as he dug a hole next to the adjoining auto shop to make kimchi. He is of course a chef. Over the years sharing the yard we hosted parties, got our dogs, and saw seasons of life unfold all while talking, laughing, drinking and eating. This time of shared communion enriched my life immensely and gave me the itch to design bars and restaurants where people gather and celebrate life.

To design for hospitality is to engage with the stories of a community. I am drawn to hospitality design because these establishments hold the history of a neighborhood, record its changes, and create opportunities for new stories to emerge.