This living room combines a rich Mediterranean feel with modern comfort, featuring a curved velvet sofa and rustic wooden elements.
Andrew Joseph: What is the most important element in a successful interior design?
Mandy Cheng: That it works for my client’s needs. It’s not my house. There are real people living in this home, and it needs to function according to the way they live, otherwise I’ve failed them. To successfully design a project is to create a functional and beautiful space to the highest level.
AJ: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a designer?
MC: “Take a deep breath and chip, chip, chip. Just keep chipping away at it, and eventually you’ll get there.” That advice has gotten me through so many overwhelming situations, the daily stresses of a million to-do’s, and goals that seemed so far away they were impossible to attain.
AJ: What is the most important skill for a successful designer?
MC: A degree in psychology.
AJ: How do you stay organized while working on multiple projects?
MC: Successful and organized interior designers would be neither without a badass team behind them. Also, spreadsheets.
AJ: Can you describe a project where you had to work with a limited space?
MC: I turned this tiny, narrow, 2nd bedroom with high ceilings into an office with a lofted bed and storage in the stairs. I like to think I raised the value of that little bungalow.
AJ: What is your favorite design tool to use?
MC: A tape measure and SketchUp. I know that’s 2 tools, but I’m not changing my answer.
AJ: What is your favorite type of lighting to use in your designs?
MC: Wall sconces. Let me incorporate them! And stop letting your electrician talk you into installing a recessed can every 4 feet. The inside of your house will look like the 4th of July to everyone walking their dogs at night.
This dining room embraces a lush floral theme, with a stunning chandelier resembling a blooming flower and playful candles mimicking the natural flow of vines in water.
AJ: What is your favorite type of space to design?
MC: Dining rooms/restaurants! I love a dinner party, or dining with friends at a restaurant, so designing spaces where people gather and eat makes me happy.
AJ: What’s the weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
MC: It wasn’t a client, but a sub-contractor once asked me, “Do you actually know what 1/4 means? Do you actually understand fractions?” Yes, sir. I’ve known how to calculate fractions since 2nd grade.
AJ: What’s your design pet peeve?
MC: When a client doom scrolls in the middle of the night and I wake up to a list of alternative options for the pieces I’ve sourced.
Large windows and French doors bring the beauty of the outdoors into this dining space, using natural light and greenery to complement the earthy color palette. The result is a harmonious room that feels open and connected to nature.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
MC: A boutique hotel.
AJ: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
MC: That chemistry exam is not the beginning of the end of your life. You’ll be fine.
Project photography by Madeline Tolle.
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