Part four of our Tastemakers series: an interview with Jeffrey Wilkes
Kuala Lumpur
Jeffrey Wilkes, principal at Designwilkes, a boutique interior design firm with projects that include the Anantara Siam Hotel Bangkok, the W Goa and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, Bali.
How do you approach each new creative project?
We approach each project first by assessing the requirements. What is our desired outcome, and what sense of place we hope to achieve?
What catches your attention in terms of fashion, design and interiors?
Our preference to design, whether in interiors or fashion, has always been one of eclecticism – in the mixing of the past, the present and the future. Pairing an Issey Miyake sweater with antique deco earrings, or a collection of turn of the century Victorian candlesticks on a 1950 Italian coffee table is what personally excites me about design.
How did you hone your sense of style?
Style has transformed over the years as we enter and exit different eras. In the 50’s there was no influence of the 70’s or 80’s…so while we constantly reflect into past eras, we add new ones to the mix. It is a fascinating journey. As we collectively become more design conscious, and educated, we pay more respect to creating. Look at what Philippe Starck has done for the toothbrush.
Your personal interpretation of luxury?
Luxury is an experience, and an emotion. Luxury is time, and space, it’s not just wonderful finishes or expensive fabric. Rusted metal can appear luxurious. It’s about proportion, balance, and juxtaposition – it’s about the experience.
Your most challenging project?
We are challenged with every project in some manner, whether it’s by time, budget, or other parametres. We have a current project in Sri Lanka, with Gensler from Los Angeles as the architect. It’s a stunning building, but with very challenging structural parametres. This has presented many challenges to us as interior designers to create harmonious spaces and working around the structure. It takes perseverance and a lot of sketch paper.
Your five inspirations:
Antarctica , for the sculptural floating icebergs. What you see today might not be seen tomorrow.
Long Beach, Tofino , and Vancouver Island because as a Canadian it was the edge of the world, and the window to Asia.
All of India , for its constant richness of culture and wealth of craft.
Palm Springs, California. A love of the surprises in the dessert with a mid-century modern richness… I’m a 60’s kid, and grew up on 60’s TV. Palm Springs has all of that.
What’s next for luxury?
In terms of upcoming trends in Asia, there will be focus on unique experiences. We have become almost jaded and somewhat spoilt with choice in Asia, and so the experience will form the luxury element. As we are hotel designers, we want to tap into the emotion that one experiences when they are in any given space. Do they feel warm, secure, and cosy? Or glamorous and successful? We want to push all these buttons.
In this series, we also feature Bonnae Gokson , Farah Khan, Loh Lik Peng and Polpat Asavaprapha
