Point of View: Behind the Scenes with Heidi Kim Interior Design

With a background in fashion and a deep sensitivity to material, mood, and story, Heidi Kim brings a distinctly nuanced approach to interiors. Her designs are at once sculptural and soft, refined yet relaxed, and thoughtfully tailored to the people who live in them. In this conversation, she shares how she helps clients articulate their vision and embrace bold choices—and how she brings emotional depth to spaces that are as livable as they are layered. –CH

How would you describe your design philosophy? What principles guide your work?

My design philosophy is rooted in creating environments that feel deeply personal, livable, and emotionally resonant. I believe a well-designed space should tell a story—it should reflect the daily rhythms, values, and aspirations of the people who inhabit it. At the heart of my approach is contrast: rich against raw, tactile against smooth, vintage against modern. I favor natural materials and noble finishes—velvet, marble, unlacquered brass, limewashed walls—not for their luxury, butfor the way they age, evolve, and invite touch. I use color sparingly but with intention and often anchor a space with a single warm note or a bold silhouette that speaks softly but carries weight.

My background in fashion design trained me to think in terms of complete looks, finely tuned palettes, and the lifestyle behind every aesthetic decision. I bring that same sensibility to interiors, crafting spaces that hold tension and balance. Ultimately, I design for real life. That means knowing my clients, understanding how they live, and helping them create a home that reflects who they are and how they aspire to live.

Do you have a signature style that you are known for?

Clients come to me for spaces that feel quietly expressive—timeless, alive, artful, but never precious. My work tends to be light and painterly, layered and warm, with a focus on texture, contrast, and mood. I’m drawn to a mix of modern and old-world elements: clean lines paired with time worn patina, or sculptural forms next to soft, natural materials. But each project is unique and truly customized to the clients and their homes. What I aim for is a space that feels both elegant and deeply livable. Refined but relaxed.

What is the most challenging part of being an interior designer, and how do you overcome it?

Helping clients feel comfortable making bold design choices. The biggest risk is playing it too safe and ending up with a home that doesn’t feel personal or special. Building trust is key. I try to give clients the tools to visualize—drawings, samples, references—so they can clearly see the vision and feel energized by it. The more clearly they can picture it, the more confident they become. And when they feel safe taking those leaps, the results are always more rewarding.

Tell us about one of your latest projects and what made it so special. What was the client’s vision, and how did you bring it to life?

The clients—a young, newly engaged couple—came into the project with a good sense of how they wanted the space to function, but they weren’t sure how to translate that into a visual language. Their living room had great bones with gorgeous Georgian paned windows, but it felt cold and flat. I wanted to create contrast by bringing in warmth and softness, so we started by limewashing the walls and ceiling in a warm, creamy tone that is actually two colors, layered, so you can see very subtle movement. That one change transformed how light moved through the space. From there, we set modern furniture that played against the home’s architectural detailing to create a dialogue between old and new. That kind of juxtaposition—structured and organic, graphic and quiet—is where spaces start to feel alive. Some pieces sparked more debate than others. The Noguchi light sculpture was a unanimous yes, but the persimmon velvet sectional divided opinion at first. In the end, they trusted the process, and that same sofa is now a favorite feature in their home. I love when a bold choice becomes the most-loved piece in the room.

Looking to the future, what design trends are you excited about?

The seismic shift in color palettes—from cool tones to warm—and a renewed focus on natural materiality. Warm, rich earth tones like terracotta, ochre, umber, moss, and olive feel fresh and new. They bring a grounded, enveloping quality to a space and feel emotionally connected to the natural world.

Interior Design by Heidi Kim Interior Design
Photography by Brad Knipstein