I am a Swiss Filipina creative entrepreneur, the president and managing director of Philux, a homegrown furniture and lifestyle brand that champions Filipino craftsmanship, author of Embracing Natural Design, published by Rizzoli, and a mother of 3.

Steph wears the Giselle Midi Dress in Watercolor Peony Garden

I am a visual person and delight in translating my sources of inspiration into furniture designs or broader interior conceptions.

My sources of inspiration tend to be diverse, ranging from the mundane, as when we study our wood off-cuts (the timber we no longer use in the furniture construction process) to up-cycle and integrate them into new designs, to unforgettable images I see online, from thought-provoking articles, the work of renown architects and designers to exhilarating travels. My family’s Filipino, European and African roots inform much of my aesthetic philosophy. Lastly, mother nature. She is the greatest artist and she inspires me everyday.

My sister Jessica and I work hand in hand on the creative direction of Philux. We always strive to make pieces that evoke form, function and sentiment. It is important to create designs that are beautiful, while being practical and also meaningful to us. The process of this design development is what is most fulfilling, seeing the abstract ideas slowly come together into a concept that really resonates with us, and further down the line see them fully develop into loved pieces in clients’ homes. While the result is a rewarding feeling, the creative journey I share with my sister is my favorite aspect of this experience.

Follow along on Instagram @stephkienlegonzalez

I like to associate natural design with conscious, local craftsmanship. I find the idea of making design choices that can help local communities and have a soft impact on the environment incredibly appealing. This can be something as simple as choosing a piece made locally, by an artisan whose skills have become part of the object’s story. Or using your creativity to find a second life for a piece of furniture you have loved, or even just choosing the very best quality you can find so that an item will give you many years of pleasure.

When I am asked “what’s your style?” I can never give a simple answer, because my style evolves as my life and experiences do. My design sensibility transforms as I discover new artisans and artists who resonate with me. People love to categorize and apply labels to fashion and interior design, and while I understand the need to do so, I have never felt obliged to adhere to a particular look.

Interiors wise, I feel that transitional defines best how I enjoy mixing textures and elements from different time periods—a modern take on traditional styles that includes natural elements.

Fashion wise, I enjoy wearing feminine pieces that flatter the silhouette and I love an effortless chic look - elegantly put together without being overly contrived. An element of surprise in any outfit is always fun.

Kelly Wearstler, Isabel Lopez Quesada, Christiane Lemieux,  Rose Uniacke, Sarah Sherman Samuel, Amber Lewis, and Ashley Stark.

Fresh blooms or a touch of greenery in a beautiful vase.