ORIA Interiors

Design decisions rarely feel difficult at the beginning. There’s usually a sense of possibility — ideas, inspiration, a general direction.

But somewhere along the way, that clarity starts to fade. Options multiply. Questions follow. And decisions that once felt simple become unexpectedly hard to make.

This is something I see often.

Not because people lack taste or ideas — but because every option introduces another variable to consider. And in design, where everything is connected, that complexity builds quickly. Especially in renovations where decisions are layered, many are permanent, and they rarely exist in isolation.

What tends to help is not more inspiration — but more structure. A clear direction. A sequence of decisions. A process that allows each step to build on the last.

Once that’s in place, things tend to move much more easily than expected.

I wrote more about this — why design decisions become overwhelming, and what actually helps — here:

WHEN TOO MANY CHOICES GET IN THE WAY OF GOOD DESIGN Too many design choices can make renovations feel overwhelming. Learn why decisions become difficult—and how a clear, structured process brings clarity to kitchens, bathrooms, and small spaces.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about how we define love.

We usually associate it with people. But as a designer, I also see it in spaces - in the way a room is composed, in the care behind material choices, in the intention behind light.

I photographed this bathroom vignette at KBIS Las Vegas last year because, in the middle of a very busy trade show, it felt unexpectedly calm. It didn’t compete for attention. It invited you to slow down.

That, to me, is biophilic design at its best - not (only) decorative, not performative, but quietly supportive.

Design is one of the most practical ways we shape daily wellbeing. And that’s a form of care worth talking about.

DESIGN NOTE: DESIGNING FOR LOVE (BEYOND VALENTINE'S DAY) A quiet moment at KBIS Las Vegas and a reflection on biophilic design — creating homes that feel calm, grounded, and restorative.

At this year’s Interior Design Show (IDS) Toronto, one detail stood out immediately: arches emerged as a defining feature.

Not as decoration.
Not as nostalgia.
And not as a passing trend.

What caught my attention was how these curved forms were being used - framing sinks, bars, greenery, even pet stations - quietly shaping how people moved, paused, and lingered in space.

A few questions stayed with me after the show:

Why do curved spaces feel calmer than sharp, rectilinear ones?
Why did people naturally slow down and spend more time in booths framed by arches?
And what does this say about how our relationship with space is changing?

Through the lens of biophilic design and neuroaesthetics, arches reveal something deeper: a longer shift away from rigid minimalism and toward spaces that support comfort, ease, and emotional well-being. Not a trend cycle - but a kind of design recalibration.

I’ve shared my reflections in a new blog post, exploring how form and geometry influence how we feel, move, and connect to space.

I’d love to hear - did you notice the same shift at IDS this year, or in your own work and spaces?

DESIGNING REFUGE: A NEUROAESTHETIC LENS ON THE INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW IN TORONTO Why do curved spaces feel more inviting? Observations from the Interior Design Show in Toronto reveal how arches influence perception, movement, and emotional response through a neuroaesthetic lens.