Libsyn Directory

Asheni Alwis from The Woodberry House

Release Date: 12/20/2024

Multi Story Thinking

Asheni Alwis is an interior designer based in Columbo, Sri Lanka and founder and head of design of The Woodbury House. Described as an Experience Centre, The Woodberry House showcases design ideas and settings to help clients visualise how they can create their dream space. The spaces combines interior, furniture, and accessories which combine traditional Sri Lankan craft and production techniques alongside contemporary and innovative design approaches. I met Asheni during a visit to Sri Lanka with my partner Monica in October 2024 as part of a Flying Faculty visit to teach...

Thushar Jayamanne and Lakshinie Rathnapala from Talk Design Studios

Multi Story Thinking

Thushar Jayamanne and Lakshinie Rathnapala run Talk Design Studios which is a Sri Lankan architectural and interior design consultancy based in Colombo, Together they lead a dynamic team of associate architects, interior designers, furniture designers, technicians, and experienced consultants, working across the residential and commercial design sectors. I interviewed them during a visit to Sri Lanka in 2022 when I was teaching at the NSBM Green University as part of the academic partnerships program with the University of Plymouth. In this episode, we discover the importance of integrating...

Simon Hamilton-GATEway Project

Multi Story Thinking

Migette Kaup

Multi Story Thinking

Migette Kaup, Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of Interior Design in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University. She also serves as the Coordinator of Aging Research and Graduate Studies for the K-State Center on Aging. As a designer and gerontologist, her research is focused on aging and environmental relationships. She uses organisational culture and long-term care policy structures as a lens to understand place-type practices and to investigate progressive changes occurring in nursing homes. I spoke to Migette in January 2023 via Zoom. In this episode,...

Sharon Simpson

Multi Story Thinking

Sharon Simpson is an interior and home decor designer, public speaker, and photographer She founded her design company, Dark Romantix Design Studio, after studying at The Interior Design School, in London. The business has evolved with a recent name change to Sharon Simpson Studio, which reflects her growing confidence and the wider appeal of her design services offer. She is a member of the British Institute of Interior Design and a key member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and has taken part in design talks as part of Clerkenwell Design Week in London. In this episode, we...

Gus Zogolovitch

Multi Story Thinking

Gus Zogolovitch is a property developer and founder of Unboxed Homes, whose aim is to help people build their own homes and to find ways to make it easier. Gus is on a mission to change new builds in the UK. His aim is to build homes to be great quality, brilliantly designed, tailored to a customer's needs and most importantly, they should represent good value for money. Their Blenheim Grove development in Peckham, South London, has won the BuildIt Award for Best Custom Build Project, the Silver Award for London Design Awards 2021, as well as made the shortlist for the Telegraph's...

Pamela Durkin

Multi Story Thinking

Pam Durkin, ASID, LEED AP ID+C, is an interior designer, a business coach for interior designers, and a podcast host. Originally from New Jersey and now based in Florida, Pam has been in the high-end interior design industry for 30 years. After 7 years of exclusively working in Commercial Design, she founded Pamela Durkin Designs, which specialises in Residential and Commercial Design in Florida. Pam is a past president of ASID Florida South Chapter, served on the Board of Architecture and Design in NJ, and is the author of the book, Elevate! She has progressively branched out into...

Asheni Alwis and Tharuka Fonseka

Multi Story Thinking

Asheni Alwis and Tharuka Fonseka head the interior design team of Concept Interiors, a full-service interior design firm based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They met whilst studying Interior Design at the NSBM Green University and have built their company to include design, manufacturing, and construction, with a passion for creating beautiful and detailed interiors across the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. I met them in February 2023 in their Colombo studio during a thunderstorm, which provided a dramatic backdrop to our conversation. In this episode, we discover the design...

Kelly-anne Watson

Multi Story Thinking

Kelly-anne Watson is the managing director of The Class Foundation, a partner-based non-profit organisation with a simple goal: to further the professionalism and knowledge of student housing in Europe and beyond. Established in 2011, the foundation is now the largest European student housing platform open to anyone and everyone Kelly-anne cut her teeth as Student’s Union President of Welfare and Community and as Delivery and Development Officer for Unipol Student Homes. She’s worked alongside councils and accommodation providers to raise standards of housing and open up access and...

Patrick O'Donnell

Multi Story Thinking

Patrick O'Donnell is the International Brand Ambassador for British paint and wallpaper manufacturer Farrow & Ball. Patrick is responsible for Farrow and Ball’s outreach strategy connecting with interior designers across the UK and North America. His role includes colour consultation, curation of colours and promoting products, delivering talks on colour and decoration, and providing logistic support to interior designers. I interviewed Patrick via Zoom in early December 2022. In this episode, we discover the two schools of thought of when to choose colour. How National...

More Episodes

I met Asheni during a visit to Sri Lanka with my partner Monica in October 2024 as part of a Flying Faculty visit to teach interior design at the NSBM Green University.

In this episode we discover how this unique experience centre in Sri Lanka showcases bespoke furniture and cutting-edge design concepts. We learn about the blend of traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, and how this approach creates stunning interiors for their clients. We hear valuable advice for aspiring interior designers and the importance of gaining work experience when studying interior design. And why, when working with contractors, you need to know the detail and be able to speak the language.

Links
Asheni on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/asheni-alwis-9b1b41142/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=lk

The Woodberry House on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Thewoodberryhouse/about

The Woodberry House on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thewoodberryhouse?fbclid=IwY2xjawHQzzZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQCf0B_QO9eN93C58jx4vse48HJSK_gdin8NVp-pYZrTnaww6A6qu-OsZA_aem_GYynvRmzxP-S7-oYadqENg

Concept Interiors
http://conceptinteriors.lk/

How to be a kick-ass Interior Designer.

Come and join us on the Interior Design BA(Hons) course at the University of Plymouth.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-interior-design

or in Sri Lanka at the NSBM Green University
https://www.nsbm.ac.lk/course/ba-hons-in-interior-design/

Thanks to

Dave Clarke from @iamthehow (http://www.iamthehow.com) for production support and invaluable advice in the setting up this Podcast.

Kay Hanson (https://www.instagram.com/kay_v_hanson/) for her planning support and co-hosting for these and our educational podcasts for the University of Plymouth

Mark Frith (https://www.markfrith.uk/) for composing the music and your support and advice along the way.

I’d really like to hear feedback on the podcast. Leave a comment or get in touch via the website or Instagram.

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/forster_jonathan/

Website
http://www.multistorythinking.com/contact

Thanks for listening. Bye for now.

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