Today I am launching 10 Q’s with DELTA – designed to get into the minds and hearts of creatives I admire. Expect some cool guests. I’m kicking things off by answering the Q’s myself, as told to my frequent collaborator, art advisor Maryna Hrushetska.
How old were you when you realized you were a born designer?
4th grade. I talked too much in class, so the teacher put me in a corner near a window as punishment. In my boredom, I started remodeling my bedroom in my head. Next thing I knew, I had sketched out a whole system of built-in storage. I created open curve shelving, a Lazy Susan for my furry friends and even built-in audio components. I showed my engineer Dad the plans and he made it happen! I got hooked on the design process and enthusiastically helped Dad with home projects until I left for college.
MY FIRST BUILT DESIGN, 1982. PROUDLY FABRICATED BY MY SUPPORTIVE FATHER, EDDIE WRIGHT. PHOTO TAKEN 1986. FORMER STUFFED ANIMAL LAZY SUSAN CONVERTED INTO HANGING AREA FOR THE STYLES OF THE DAY.
What two words would best describe your design style?
THOUGHTFUL BEAUTY. What I find most satisfying about design is creating spaces that feel good and nourish their inhabitants. I care deeply about my client’s well being and take the time to get to know what is meaningful to them.
Your motto is "Bring Soul Home", what gives a home soul?
A home that is handcrafted and heart-centered. A home with an aura of love. There should be personality and quirks. A space infused with the patina of one’s life. A “soul home” communicates self-knowledge and creative confidence. From a design perspective, I draw particular attention to the careful handling of light, sound and views.
What's the best piece of advice someone has given you?
“Trust your gifts and lean into them”. I was too young to know what my “gifts” were when I got this advice, but the phrase has stayed with me for decades. Perfection has been my kryptonite. When I was younger I was so afraid to mess up that I buried myself in hard-work and never-ending study. Now I see how perfectionism is a form of resistance. Courage sets you free. More recently, I deflected genuine praise from a very successful, older gentleman. He looked me straight in the eye and said “humility will never serve you in this business”. Keeping that wisdom handy these days…
Most memorable design project?
Creating the world-class fine dining and jazz club, VIBRATO, with Clodagh for the legendary Herb Alpert. The project was 18 months of soul expanding bliss. The marriage of aesthetics and acoustic engineering lit up my heart and mind. This was a pet project for Herb and he worked on it as though he was sculpting. I was still a youngish designer and observing his intuitive approach to designing a space left a huge impression on me. His creative confidence and generosity in the face of experimentation was very freeing. We would have regular lunches together and talk through solutions in a relaxed manner. If felt magical. I also enjoyed working closely with acoustic engineer Vincent Van Haaff to design the club’s interiors and acoustical design. From the custom modular wall paneling to the placement of the hand made mega spheres we strategically placed over the stage - each one according to its diameter relative to its depth and hanging height - we considered every surface for beauty and sound. I love the Yin/Yang of projects. The cherry on top was performing at VIBRATO as a singer 10 years after I completed the project! Unforgettable.
DELTA PERFORMING AT VIBRATO GRILL AND JAZZ - 10 YEARS AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION. PHOTO BY DYANNE CANO
Artist/Designer/Architect that could be your soul twin?
Piet Mondrian. I see him as a theologian who dove so deeply into the nature of the universe because he HAD to find his truth. His simplified pictorial vocabulary is rooted in the kind of wisdom that only comes from mastery. I feel completely aligned with his need to understand things deeply enough to present them simply.
COMPOSITION 8, PIET MONDRIAN 1914
What have been some of the biggest challenges in starting your own business?
The practice of interior design requires mastery of many different aspects - from the creative to the technical to the human. Mastery takes a l o n g time and involves both study and experimentation. When I graduated from a prestigious design school, I naively thought I had all the skills I needed. 20 years later, I understand that creative confidence comes from years of practical application, which includes a few “failures”. I can finally claim mastery in the creative and technical areas and I consider mastering human communication to be my final frontier. Learning what it takes for people to feel heard and to effectively communicate together has been in some ways harder than acquiring technical skills, but also much more rewarding.
If given the opportunity, what global problem would you solve through better design?
Cradle-to-cradle sustainability. Frustrating how late to the game we are. We need to refocus consumerism to quality, STAT.
Design trend that you would be glad to see retired?
Over scaled doorways and entryways. Let’s stop making stuff too big! It is not human.
What design tool/resource have you used for at least a decade?
A studio favorite is the manila folder. Tangible, reusable and makes organizing easy.
CLASSIC MANILA FOLDERS. COLOR: BUFF
Most treasured possession?
I really love small possessions that exude sensual pleasure. Right now I am obsessing over this rock wrapped in Japanese basketry knots.
ROCK WITH JAPANESE KNOTTING
Current state of mind?
Hyper-focused. I recently found out I have my Venus in Virgo. Precision, expertise and focus are my friends.
What's next for Delta Wright?
Taking my exploration of the meaning of “home” to the next level. I am currently in the process of designing a new home for my family in Santa Monica. A creative collaboration with a stellar architectural team, my husband and two teenage daughters! Stay-tuned for more...
TODAY I’ll be speaking on a panel hosted by Luxe Magazine and Quintus Showroom at the Pacific Design Center’s Fall Market. The topic “Transparency and the Newly Informed Client” is fascinating. I’m looking forward to sharing my insights and discussing the continuing evolution of the interior design industry.
Until Next time -
