Project: KOTO, 2020
Words: Louisa Grey
Photography: Genevieve Lutkin

At the House of Grey, we create spaces with design and wellbeing in mind. We have developed a whole-person-whole-world approach to designing and building spaces. This year, we crafted KOTO in a collaborative project with the olfactory studio AOIRO.

Due to the current global situation, we had to work remotely for the majority of the project. This opened up unexpected but rewarding ways of communication. We decided to go back to the roots of written communication—exchanging letters of poetry, descriptions of sights, scents and daily events. The everyday exchange of letters became something to look forward to, instead of dreading a full inbox. We have learned that open communication and expressing your combined intentions from the outset is hugely beneficial.

Don’t Rush to Get to the Point

If you take enough time to express yourself, your thoughts and your vision, it will be valued, appreciated, and in like manner returned. Only by taking time to discover shared values, design philosophy can you develop a synergy between brands, clients, or collaborators.

Take the time to build a connection through open communication.

Louisa Grey is a stylist and consultant, renowned for her tasteful, muted interiors and holistic design philosophy. She is the founder of the interior-design studio House of Grey.

project Credits

House of Grey, in collaboration with AOIRO
Co-creation and strategy: CO

One Lesson Learned is a feature in which inspiring creatives share their recent project and an actionable lesson they’ve discovered while creating it.