The multi-talented designer talks to Tatler about finding inspiration everywhere—from beauty brands like Cult Gaia and Glossier to quirky little cafes on her travels
Natalya J Ho is a multi-talented designer making a name for herself in the field of interior design. After graduating from Brown University with a bachelor of arts and the Rhode Island School of Design with a master’s in fine arts, both in 2022, she moved back to Hong Kong last autumn. Having already had experience in design—she worked with interior design practice Joyce Wang Studio to create Dockside Dairy, an ice cream pop-up by day and art sculpture by night, outside K11 Musea, in 2021—Ho met with Michelle Ma-Chan, the co-founder and managing director of Gourmet Dining Group (GDG), in September last year. The two hit it off, and Ho was tapped to transform The Blooms by Épure, the outdoor space of GDG’s one-Michelin-starred French fine-dining restaurant Épure, in Tsim Sha Tsui.
In November, Ho began transforming the 3,000 sq ft space into a haven of immersive experiences, with the themes The Enchanted Mirror and The Enchanted Bench. “The intention was to transport visitors to a mesmerising French garden. I wanted to infuse life, warmth, colour and fascination into an already stunning outdoor area,” says Ho. “I want to create spaces that not only look visually appealing, but can provide an added dimension of beauty and intrigue when [they are] photographed.”
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Ho finds inspiration everywhere: in the retail spaces of fashion and beauty brands like Cult Gaia, Glossier and Khaite; through her travels, films and the charming ambience of quirky coffee shops; but most importantly, through her family, for “their knack for infusing creativity into their lives despite their busy schedules”, she says. “From a young age, my family would take me to extraordinary, one-of-a-kind restaurants, hotels, stores, museums and homes,” says Ho. “It felt as though I’d stepped into an entirely different world. I learnt to value even the tiniest design elements and how all details work together to create a totally immersive experience.”
Ho’s mother, Yvette, is a prominent Hong Kong businesswoman and the co-founder of Bloom KKCA Academy, a school for innovation and entrepreneurship; while her brother, Christopher, is a respected private chef in Hong Kong. And of course, her grandmother Joyce Ma is the founder of the Joyce retail empire.
“My grandmother always reminded me to be curious and observant. It has made me realise that creativity and inspiration can be found in all aspects of life—whether it’s in the unassuming nooks and corners of a New York street or in a purposefully curated space. There is inspiration to be discovered everywhere.”
