One of the most in-demand interior designers of the moment, Tara Bernerd talks latest projects and inspiration with Helen Dalley.
It’s been a busy time for London-based designer Tara Bernerd. Her interior design studio, which specialises in luxury hotels, homes and yachts, has been busier than ever with projects conceived before and during the pandemic coming to fruition. She reveals her latest projects, her take on design trends and why London remains a constant source of creative inspiration.
Your most recent project, Maroma Riviera Maya, re-opened this year. Tell us about that
Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya, was a rare opportunity to reimagine this iconic hotel, with its rich and storied history. We spent a long time researching the area and its culture, studying the local materials and existing architecture, so this formed the foundation for our design process and we incorporated a lot of local flavour through our selection of fabrics and finishes. We wanted to create something that had the feeling of a chic home, so we also drew inspiration from traditional hacienda-style living to create a relaxed, almost residential vibe throughout the resort and evoke a sense of connection, unity and flow between all of the public area buildings.
Maroma, A Belmond Hotel
You worked hand-in-hand with local artisans to honour Mexican heritage. Can you expand on that process?
The beachfront location of Belmond Maroma is the envy of the Riviera Maya and we took a lot of inspiration from the resort’s unique placement. We believe that interiors should never compete with the exterior, but rather embrace and enhance it, so we introduced large picture windows where possible to frame the amazing views, bringing the outdoors in.
We’ve also introduced locally sourced materials, not only from Riviera Maya, but also from the other surrounding areas including Chiapas and Oaxaca for their handwoven textiles and Puebla for its hand-painted clay. It was a joy working with the local artisans and the process was more like a conversation between artisan and designer, with each inspiring and on occasion challenging the other.
READ: Woodend by Curtis Stone to Open at Maroma
You are renowned for creating a distinct design DNA for clients. How do you achieve that?
We tend to take a very holistic design approach to each of our projects, envisaging the key elements of a design in our first brainstorming meeting. Our design philosophy is very layered, taking into account many different influences and we try to ensure that each project we undertake is indigenous to the surrounding environment, and we find each one has its own unique identity.
OMA on The Perigon
You are headquartered in London. To what extent, if any, does the UK capital inform your design approach?
Working on projects around the globe, in so many different time zones, we find London is perfectly placed to help us serve all our main markets. London itself is such a melting pot of influences and cultures from around the world, it’s a great source of inspiration in its own right. As such it enables us to inject the right amount of global influence to counter-balance the local elements of all of our projects.
You’ve worked with some of the world’s top hotel brands including Four Seasons, Rosewood and Thompson Hotels. How do you stay inspired?
I remain eternally curious and draw inspiration from so many places from architecture, film and certainly travel. Unusually, the smallest object can sometimes be the catalyst to the bigger picture and equally from everything that stimulates that is current. I also tend to draw on traditions from the past.
What have been the biggest changes you’ve noticed in the design landscape in the last decade?
There has been a noticeable movement within hotel design so that hotels feel more like a home-from-home, while conversely residences are becoming ever more hotel-like, with clubhouses and amenity spaces to rival many a hotel.
Which architects and interior designers have had the biggest impact on your career and why?
There are endless people that come to mind: Thomas Heatherwick, who is also a friend, for his incredible vision and dynamic approach. Of course, Frank Gehry is a legend, his effortless style, sheer confidence and the artistic value that he brings to the world of architecture.
READ: Never Forget a Thing With Kimpton & Anthropologie
Do you feel like design is in a good place right now?
I think that we are living in a very exciting time, with lots of new innovations coming to the market, not least of all through the accessibility of inspiration through social media and the internet. As designers we are exposed to more imagery and information than ever before and with a careful edit we can stay in touch with creative talent globally. But we do have to remember that the online world is only two dimensional.
Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale
You formed your company in 2002. What have been some of the highlights of your 20-plus year career?
There have been so many landmark moments throughout my career, from winning the Andrew Martin Design Award for my first home, to opening my first hotel in the UK capital, The Hari, London which recently came home to Hong Kong with the award-winning Hari Hong Kong. And working with so many of the top luxury brands and some amazing clients who have also become close personal friends.
What are your hopes and plans for 2023?
It’s an important year for us and I’m proud to be celebrating our 21st anniversary. Following the successful launches of Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale and Conrad Los Angeles in 2022, we have two major launches, from the reopening of Maroma, which I have so enjoyed working on, to Rosewood Munich in Autumn, a beautiful hotel in the heart of Munich’s old town. Also, in Miami we are working with OMA on The Perigon, a stunning residential building with extensive amenities.
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