INTERVIEW WITH CLAIRE HUNG OF CLAIRE HUNG DESIGN
Next up in our Designer Profile Series where our members share their own unique POV on all things design!
Design by Claire Hung Design. Photography by Henry Hung
Claire styling her Astoria Project. Photography by Henry Hung
What is your idea of a perfectly designed space?
A perfectly designed space is one that considers the Architecture, the Residents or Users, and considers all if not most of the Functions the space & the user will encounter.
What is your greatest extravagance when designing a project?
I always prioritize the Architecture of a space before investing in the Interior Design. The Architecture must function and be aligned in order for everything else to come together. As such, the budget prioritizes the Architecture, and what remains is dedicated to the Interior Design. What sometimes becomes an extravagance budget-wise are the the decorative finishes, like wallpaper, lime wash or wood paneling.
What do you consider the most overrated design trend or rule?
Trends in general seem overrated. As a Designer, I look to find inspiration not from the images a Client is attached to but from the Architecture of the space and the people or brand I am designing for.
All rules are meant to be broken. I don't follow rules. I simply respond to the space & client as intuitively as possible.
The last few years have been quite interesting in how our business has changed. What do you consider your greatest achievement in managing all this?
Residential design is a very intimate process. You forge a very unique relationship with each Client, and you guide them through an imperfect process. When combined with the global event of a pandemic, stress management comes to the forefront.
You have to manage your own stress, the stress of the Client, and the stress of the Team (contractors, vendors, and your own team). And while this was always the case, it's heightened by this global event.
Empathy-led design & project management has been my greatest achievement. I work hard to make sure that my Clients feel taken care of, and that the Team as a whole is appreciated for their hard work. On a deeper level, I recognize that everyone is human, has a personal life and sometimes it takes precedence over the job. When we care about each other, the job gets done well.
If you were to die and come back as an object or space, what would it be?
I have always been intrigued by buddhist temples, and have studied the ancient and modern architecture of these spaces. If I were to be reincarnated as a space or object, it would be to one of these spaces or an object within them. To vibrate with the chants, to smell like incense, and to heal those who enter, that would be an amazing experience.
Design by Claire Hung Design. Photography by Kate Glicksberg
Design by Claire Hung Design. Photography by Joshua Simpson
What is your most treasured space or possession in your home?
We recently redid our Kitchen a year or so ago, and it was life changing. We had spent so much of the pandemic with a subpar Kitchen and it was starting to wear on us. We didn't invest much. We changed the layout to open up to the main space, and used all IKEA cabinets. We gained a ton of storage and the new design gave us 15-feet of counter space to cook & bake. It was worth every penny!
What is your motto?
"Go with the flow"
Flow for me is many things. It is the space I get into when I design. It is the way I approach project timelines and issues that arise on a project (aka things I cannot control).
Control is futile, and so while we plan and design for nearly everything - things can still arise. I used to fight & push to get something back on track, but it would only make things worse. Now, I go with the flow, and let go into the process. I have come to trust that everything happens for a reason.
What is your current state of mind?
Love.
Love is where I reside now, and it's wonderful. With the arrival of my son, I have become more aware of my mortality, and how little is within my control. Embracing this has allowed me to see all that I have and recognize all that comes my way as a blessing.
What do you value most in your clients?
I value the human connection we make during our time together. It's not an easy process, especially a renovation. So when a Client can let go and trust me, and let me guide them - we can have fun! We can see that the tough unknowns or issues that arise can all be overcome. And thus what remains is the exciting part of what we are manifesting together - the dream for the space that we've all been working so hard to achieve.
Who are your favorite artist, architect and designer?
My favorite Architect is Tadao Ando. I have two fave Designers - Pierre Yovanovitch and Kelly Wearstler. As for Artists, there are so many I love, but the most influential on my designs are Constantin Brancusi, Yves Klein, Cy Twombly & Sol Lewitt.
Claire Hung Design is a full-service and e-service multi-disciplinary design studio focused on the curation of physical and digital spaces through sensitive inquiry into the human experience. Our work extends to both businesses and individuals through Interior Architecture & Design.
Founded by designer & entrepreneur Claire Hung, CHD endeavors to explore creative process, vision, and execution of modern art, design and living through our projects with our clients and the artisans & creatives we collaborate with.
Claire is a successful multi-disciplinary designer living and working in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Architecture from UC Berkeley, has spent nearly two decade in the Architecture & Interiors business, and owned a successful 6-figure boutique wellness studio in E. Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She minored in Landscape Design, studied Scandinavian Design in Copenhagen, Denmark, and interned for the Royal Parks of England where she designed a sustainable restaurant concept for Richmond Park. She currently works with brands, businesses, and individuals designing Interiors, Branding & Websites.
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