Born in California and educated in London, it’s often said that her talent is to come up with sophisticated and contemporary designs with a sense of casual elegance, refinement and wit. And we can vouch for that. Lisa nothing short of  creative.

Free time is spent in her own vineyard, while work — designing hotels and residences for clients throughout the U.S. and internationally — is being done from the Bay Area offices in San Francisco.

Some of Lisa’s work include the amazing Milliken Creek Inn and Spa or the Hotel Yountville, both of which are located in the beautiful Napa Valley. But we’ll let you find out more about her in this enticing interview. Read on!

(Editor’s note: Lisa is a hell of a person; and her website music is addictive)

Lisa, you have extensively traveled throughout the world. What is the one culture that has influenced your designs the most?

I actually have two, Italy and Southeast Asia. Those are the areas of the world that I consistently refer to when I am thinking about design and creation.

What is your favorite city skyline? Have you ever incorporated it into a design?

One of my favorite city skylines is Rome’s, because it has multiple hills, the ancient ruins, and those incredible cathedral domes. Although it is an amazing site, I have never actually incorporated the skyline into any of my designs.

On your “Lisa Holt Inspired” blog you have a chair that appears to be hanging upside-down by a leg and you list “chair whores” as one of the sites that influenced you. How did your love affair with chairs start?

The upside down bergere chair on my blog site is a sketch I did a number of years ago for a client. The bergere is a reproduction of a Louis XV seating item. I think my love affair with chairs started because they are the primary item in a space that we interact with. We see them, we sit on them, and sometimes we even dance with them. Utilizing fabulous chairs gives you the opportunity to have an artistic expression, along with the ability to introduce multiple materials. Chairs are just an incredibly versatile design tool.

You say one of your most highly prized assets is your ability to listen. Did you ever have a situation where the customer did not quite know what they wanted and just said “go for it!”? Tell us about what you did.

Regarding my ability to listen … that comes out in a number of ways. Many of my clients are usually surprised that I deliver what they are imagining with the first presentation. That’s because I am trained to interpret all kinds of information a client gives me when we begin work together. A great example is my recently completed project, Hotel Yountville. The client did not have any specific design criteria other than the expected hotel programming. Given this flexibility, I created a design statement that is a consummate updated version of the napa valley wine country experience, with a hip European overlay. The project has already won a number of awards for the design.

What are your favorite two or three projects and why?

One of my favorite residential projects I have actually just completed was a project involving the renovation of an old church into a residence. The client is a very talented couple, with great vision. They were wonderful people to work with and the product that we developed for them was quite sophisticated and unexpected. Another project that I am very fond of is Spa Acqua, which is a freestanding 5,000 sq ft hotel spa. Conceptually, it was to feel completely different from the hotel, and so I created a very contemporary space, yet it is very warm and relaxing. It has been well received by all of the spa guests and was featured on the cover of American Spa magazine.

You have completed many luxury hotel renovations throughout the world. What are some of the challenges in incorporating some of those ideas into a luxury home? Obviously there are space and scaling issues.

In regards to doing residential work that feels like my hotels…some of the challenges definitely involve scaling issues because the power of the space of a lobby is difficult to replicate in most residential experiences. You normally don’t have the ceiling heights or 5,000 sq ft clear to work with a residence, so there are definitely some issues there. However there are some elements that I typically make sure that I always incorporate into my residences that come directly from hotels. I love the use of moving water and the elements of fire or fireplaces, these are always elements that people are attracted to on a subconscious level, and can easily be brought into the residential experience.

Can you remember when was it that you decided interior design is what you want to do for the rest of your life?

Well I was pretty hooked from the moment I started running around, working on window displays in London. I can remember being heartbroken over the fact that we would work ourselves to the bone over a display that would only be up 2 weeks, and then it would be gone. I remember saying that I wanted to create things that were more permanent.

Still remember your first project?

Yes. It was the worst (laughs). It was the engineering office for a gentleman I was dating’s father, and it was a disaster! But it was definitely a learning experience.

How do you manage to be so creative. What is it that inspires you to create?

Almost everything around me inspires me to create. I am very visual I spend a lot of time in nature, despite the fact I have lived most of my life in cities. Because of this I am constantly being exposed to the colors, forms, massing and volumes that occur in nature, and when combined with mans’ interpretation, it becomes even more interesting. So fashion, art, architecture, dance, music, theatre…all of those elements are big inspirations for me. Just people watching can be inspirational, because when you watch how people behave in a space, you learn what you need to do to solve the problems that come up in design. That’s really what designers are, we are problem solvers.

If you had to describe your work in three words, what would these words be?

Three words is pretty limited in terms of how I would describe my work, but I would say textural, experiential and sensual. I would also add the descriptor sophisticated.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

There are actually two phases to the work that are very rewarding for me. When you first start construction on a job and it begins to lay out in 3 dimensional form is a incredible experience. This is when you see the truth in the phrase “creating something from nothing.” In that moment you see the space you are creating that people will live into, and that’s a very exciting experience. Another gratifying point is when you see the people you have created the designs for beginning to interact in the space. This is incredibly informative because it tells you what you did right and what you didn’t do right. When people come into spaces and don’t want to leave them…you know you have done your job as a designer.

In the end, tell us how you’d like to change the world if you wanted it to be a better place.

If I said world peace right now I think I would sound like a Miss Universe contestant, but I have to admit that if I could wave a magic wand, I would make all of us more conscious of our decisions on an everyday basis about how we impact the world around us. We live in this very special place on this exquisite blue orb in the universe, and we want to preserve and protect it.

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to answer our questions.

This stone house can be appreciated in its natural state – a residential construction that merges with the surroundings but features straight, bold design lines easily recognizable from contemporary architecture.

Surrounded by stone walls, the interiors display an inviting atmosphere, but keep a sober elegance and a minimalist interior design. The Swiss architecture studio created two cubes emerging from the hill, caressed by natural light on the inside through cavities and open courtyards. Extensive use of wood in furniture and window frames especially in the kitchen and bedroom, soften the hard edges of the stone walls and warm up the atmosphere. (Found on HomeDSGN)

What you’re seeing here is called the “Crazy Surfing” collection. It’s a set of colorful rugs that are shaped like surf boards. It’s an unusual and crazy alternative to traditional rugs that offers a new perspective on something that we got used to being in a certain way. The rugs from the Crazy Surfing collection from ModernRugs feature vibrant and vivid colors that, together with the unusual shape, make them unique.

Each rug from this collection is handcrafted with 100% ‘Espirelle’ acrylic. Espirelle is an extremely durable and hardwearing material that looks and feels like wool. It’s soft and cozy but it lasts longer. This material also presents other benefits as well. It’s also easy to clean and maintain as it allows most stains to be removed using only water. The materials used to create there rugs do not pose a health hazard and stand for a high-quality product.

Colors and shape are particularly important for rugs in general, because they help set the mood in your room. The patterns are simple and artistic and represent either floral motifs or abstract shapes. These rugs would make a great addition to any home, especially now when spring is almost here.

If your home is ready for a fresh kitchen remodel but you don’t have any kitchen remodel ideas, take heart. A kitchen remodel doesn’t have to be incredibly elaborate or expensive. Just keep your family’s needs in mind and be creative, and you will be able to plan and execute your kitchen remodel with more ease than you think! Therefore we at Decoist have compiled a list of things to keep in mind when planning out your kitchen remodeling.

Budget:

Every family has a different budget, but there are things you can do to remodel your kitchen without breaking the bank. A fresh coat of paint in an exciting, bright color along with fancy new cabinet hardware can make your kitchen look new again, at a reasonable price. If you love the look of tile but can’t quite afford to completely retile your entire countertops, consider having a nice tile backsplash added instead. Kitchen remodelers will be able to give you an idea of what you’re about to pay for the whole revamping job.

Needs:

If your stove or refrigerator is teetering on the edge of breaking down completely, these items should obviously be at the top of your list. Peeling paint or a kitchen table that is too small for your growing family are other items that should be top priority when remodeling your kitchen.

Wants:

If you have a functioning dishwasher but would like a newer, upgraded model, this should be added to your list of wants. It shouldn’t be last priority, but it should be lower priority than the items on your needs list. Sometimes, if necessary, you should tweak your wants list; perhaps you can afford a new dishwasher, but not the one that you originally picked out.

Storage and organization:

Storage and organization is key to a functional and eye-appealing kitchen. If installing new cabinets isn’t an option, consider installing shelves instead. There are many other attractive storage and organization materials available on the market for a well-organized kitchen that are surprisingly affordable.

Difficulty:

It is easy for inexperienced remodelers to get themselves in way too deep when remodeling their own kitchen. Professional kitchen remodelers can not only give you advice on what appliances and other items to include in your custom kitchen remodel, but they can also install everything for you, giving you time to worry about your family and job.

Like any of these?

Check out our ideas for teenage boys rooms, below.

Modern bedroom retreat by Harrell Remodeling from Mountain View, California. Totally in love with the tuffed headboard, the bookcase and the blue armchairs that add to the rooms beauty. [image]

Have twins? This contemporary bedroom with custom bunk beds and a modern tiled carpet looks perfect for growing your boys. It’s airy and colorful. Done by Lisa Rubenstein at ‘real rooms design’. [image]

You’re trying to have a responsible kid. Right? Therefore having an organized bedroom for your little boy is a good start. This one has loads of storage space (all those drawers help hiding the mess, for sure) and a modern furniture with a single bed. Not sure about the window and the fact that the sun will wake the guy up early in the morning, but it looks tidy.

This is probably the coolest teenager’s bedroom idea you’ll see in here. Because it has attitude. A geometric rug, a bunk bed with a couch beneath and you may want to check up on your kid why he’s not leaving the house anymore. Not just sleek, it’s also functional as it saves a lot of space if you’re dealing with a small room. [by Bianca B.]

Have some space in the attic and you think it might be the right place for a new bedroom for you child? Absolutely right. This should prove quite inspirational. Love the white paint job. Maybe add some mirrors to make the whole bedroom seem bigger?

Not really into contemporary furniture and other modern amenities? Then you should consider a beach inspired bedroom for your kid. A big wallpaper and some recycled wooden furniture is exactly what he’ll need. Just make sure there’s AC in the building, because things are going to get really hot when he’ll have a girl friend invited over. [idea by kidsfactory.nl]

Navy blue, black and white, grey, or brown, that’s what people usually use when decorating their teenagers’ room. Here’s an example that an orange bedroom could be just as fit.

And one with a yellow-green theme?

Contrast. This bedrooms is all about the amazing contrast — the red curtains and the bed, along with the black furniture pieces. Totally sold on this one.

Your little guy is passionate by all sorts of sports? You’re a lucky parent considering the amount of time they spend in front of their computers, these days. Then how about this idea for a bedroom? The shelves made from skateboards are quite creative. Don’t you think?

Giessegi is an Italian furniture company that has a handful of ideas for your teenage son. They like using bright colors and put a big accent on functionality, not just looks.

(the above images are by Giessegi)

Last but not least, here are (next images until the end of the story) some ideas from PBTeen. They have some amazing setups that I’m sure you’ll love. But I reckon, they’re not as cheap as we’d like — it’s a good inspiration for some custom built furniture, though.

The Egg Table displays a contemporary design, with subtle hints of playfulness. Colorful and bold, it can spark up a conversation in no time and it would surely act as the focal point in any room.

The inspiration that led to this idea can easily be figured out from the last photo – tree roots, birds and broken eggs in a pan. Surely you must be an unconventional person to even consider having this piece of furniture in your home, but yet again, isn’t our home the space where we let go and enjoy what we really like? (Found on Freshome).

Made out of felt and supported by an intricate steel frame, the Big Basket was inspired by old basket-wicking techniques. The designer wanted “to make the construction part of the esthetics, and make every part of the chair visible.” Finished off with upholstered foam seating, the Big Basket invites you to experience an unusual, soft shape closing around you. (Found on Contemporist).

Everything is well balanced even with the oversized furniture (see that huge office table) and the bold art work in the dining room. Speaking of the open dining space, the 10-person dining set grabs the eye as it’s stunningly illuminated by a series of cube pendants. Even more fascinating are the rays of the rising and setting sun flow in similar pattern into the dining room.

There isn’t any doubt that the designers have shown incredible attention to colors, fabrics and even the way furniture is arranged. Each room comes with its own terrace. The bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the upper floor, and they overlook a pond that extends around the edge of the central patio, reflecting the sky. The front façade has been constructed against the backdrop of the surrounding countryside, and the view from each room is magical. Don’t you agree with us when we call the house mesmerizing? [found on livingwithwhite]

The front room includes the living, dining and kitchen area. A beautifully designed storage space on the wall provides ample space for a television stand, bookshelf and a modern fireplace. The modern kitchen with simple furniture, a four-seated dining table, light colored sofa, carpet and hanging lights add to the elegance.

We just love the bedroom for its simple design, minimal furniture and white curtains. The bedroom also has a small area covered with pebbles and a plant placed on them. The large glass windows in the room provide natural light. The bedroom also has a bathroom attached and is separated with glass walls.

Wouldn’t you want to live here? Like .. for the rest of your life?

Are you living in a small apartment? Things are cramped and you’d love to have more space? Then you need to expand your room size or at least make it look larger. You just found the right place to do that, as we, on Decoist, have quite a few tricks that will help out.

1. Using multi-functional or removable furniture is a great way to streamline the looks of your room.
2. Bring in a built-in storage that would help you to store your books or blankets. That would help keeping clutter away.
3. With lighter colors your room will appear larger. So always stick with pale blues, creams, gray, greens and yellows. Placing large mirrors in your room would add more space and reflect the light.
4. Don’t push your furniture against the walls. Sometimes a piece looks better at an angle or surrounded by space. Therefore, try to place the furniture with a skinny console behind it or place them at an angle
5. Rather than putting tiny furniture everywhere, it would always be good to place a statement sofa or a curved armchair
6. You can expand your rooms by painting the walls in different shades of same color such as white, off-white, and beige. But if you use bright colors and fun textures in your ceiling, it will create an illusion of height in the room
7. And, don’t forget to leave your windows uncovered because it will trick people’s eyes to the beauty of the landscape outside.
8. If you arrange knickknacks, books and vases in your room as per color, it will also make everything appear streamlined.

Anything else we should add to the list? Have you ever redecorated your small space making it look a lot larger and less cluttered?