We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Whitney Maehara a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, thanks for joining us today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

When my business partner James Fung and I took over the NB Design Group in 2017 the focus was to maintain the legacy and success that the company had built since its infancy in 1988. As we’ve established our footing it has become ever more important for us to think about the larger role we play in our industry and the community as minority business owners (POC, female & LGBTQ+). As creatives in a niche industry it is not lost on either of us how lucky we are to be where we are today.

A career in design was not necessarily the dream/financial path that our parents’ had envisioned for either of us. Being raised in modest homes we had no organic access to the design industry. Suffice it to say that we didn’t become owners/principals of this firm without putting in the work or pushing back against assumptions and stereotypes that were put upon us along the way. The creative process and client collaboration inherent in the work we do is motivating in and of itself. What elevates our motivation is knowing the impact that our roles in the community have on the generations to come. For the up-and-coming generations to see two minority principals in the industry with cultural identities and upbringings that closely resonate with their own is so very important. It is our hope that the connection propels younger generations into directions that have yet to be imagined and makes more room for ”otherness’.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Whitney Maehara. I am one of the owners and Principal Interior Designers of NB Design Group (NBDG) a boutique studio based in Seattle, Washington. NBDG specializes in high-end residential interiors that run the gamut between custom ground up single family construction to remodels of all sizes. NBDG is known for its collaborative spirit and for creating spaces that are responsive to our client’s visions. As evidenced by our portfolio we pride ourselves that no two projects look alike. It is our mission to create spaces that are a unique reflection of our clients’ personalities, lifestyles and the story that they wish to tell through their homes.

I have strong roots planted in Seattle. I also spent ten formative years in Boston working for a prominent design firm and obtaining an Architecture degree from Boston Architectural College. The interplay of an architectural education matched with luxury interior design provided me with a well-rounded background to understand how the two disciplines work together to create aesthetic harmony between interiors and exteriors.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

We spent countless years thinking about how to find/grow our clientele. We invested in ad space, hired PR agencies, took advantage of every networking opportunity and worked hard at building our online social media presence. But time and time again what proved to yield the biggest return was thoughtfully investing in our current clientele. Providing top-tier service and focusing on the design tasks at hand ensured happy clients who in turn were more than willing to pass along our names to their friends and colleagues. Similarly, building collaborative and ego-less relationships with the architects and contractors on projects has proven to be a worthwhile way to create a lasting work dynamic that each of us are glad to engage in as more projects come to the surface.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner, James, and I met at NB Design Group in 2013 when we were hired as Project Designers within 4 months of each other. On paper we had the makings of being close friends. We had similar upbringings, career trajectories (having both attended Architecture school and having worked on the East Coast) and shared an excitement for travel and culture. In actuality though, our similarities elevated our competitive spirits as each of us tried to stand out from one another as you do when you’re new to a firm. In that era of NB Design Group each of us worked on our own projects alongside the founding principal so there was very much a ‘fend for yourself’ attitude within the office. It wasn’t until we were put on a joint project that we started to warm to each other. The client was tricky, the budget was trickier and we had to rely on each other creatively and personally to yield success at the end of the project. The similarities in our design approach made it easy to get the project off the ground but it was our differences in personality, design process and skillsets that ensured a strong landing at the end. Throughout the years, we’ve learned how to harness what sets us apart into a fruitful collaboration that not only makes each our projects more diverse but our firm stronger in its foundation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nbdesigngroup.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbdesigngroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-fung-bb882021/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyemiko

Image Credits

Photo 1 (dining/exterior): Benjamin Benschneider

Photo 2 (dining room with draped pendant lights): Kevin Scott

Photo 3 (powder room): Kevin Scott

Photo 4 (entry/library): Haris Kenjar

Photo 5 (tasting room): Miranda Estes

Photo 6 (sitting room): Kevin Scott