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Brit Lankan Dee Gibson is unashamedly a Lankophile ( to coin a phrase). When it comes to Sri Lanka she wears her heart on her sleeve and promotes anything and everything associated with Sri Lanka,
 especially if it is connected to the creative arts. Juggling life as a mother and an entrepreneur while running businesses in Sri Lanka and the UK is no mean feat, but Dee does it with panache and makes it seem so effortless. Currently in Sri Lanka, Dee speaks of her love for her Kalukanda House, interior design and why she is championing Sri Lankan women overseas.

Q  How did you get into interior design?
I had always wanted to be an architect and living in Colombo with my civil engineer grandfather when I was very young and travelling to his buildings and sites was where my passion for buildings began. I  have now come into interior designing via an Electronic Engineering degree and then 10 years in Finance and Strategy before I finally took the plunge and retrained at the age of 31!

Q  What formal training did you undergo in this discipline?
I took a year off and completed a Diploma at the Interior Design School in London which focuses on interior architecture as well as aesthetics. 

Q  What are some of your favourite projects you have worked on?
Most of my clients are London-based expats including French, Russian, Latvian, Indian and of course British. I am currently working for a French client in the South of France - a beautiful renovation in the Cotes d’Azur which is gorgeous and exciting.

Q  How much of your Sri Lankan heritage influences your design aesthetic?
I have a love for colour and texture and this informs all my work. I realise that working with expats is a comfortable place for me as I understand the desire to create a sanctuary that makes you feel at home in a foreign land. I incorporate heritage pieces and heirlooms in all my projects. I speak extensively about ethical sourcing and heritage in design and my Sri Lankan background plays a huge part in my style. With recent Indian clients in London, we sourced incredible craft pieces from their towns back home and blended them with their 1930s English property.

Q  How did you juggle building Kalukanda House, your villa in Weligama while living in the UK?
It was a finely tuned exercise in managing my weekly phone calls with many visits to coincide with key construction milestones and sourcing excursions. 

In between whilst in London I was working on marketing, creating a brand, and trying to get in a position to hit the ground running when we opened. The last 4 years have tested our mettle to the hilt but we have innovated and we’re still here.

Q  Describe your experience as a hotelier in Sri Lanka?
I absolutely love our island. There is so much we have to offer here - way beyond what we see and touch. I am committed to showcasing the dynamic people and stories often not shared. I feel we have an opportunity to uncover the ‘emotions’ that are created for our island guests and for locals too. As the world becomes more automated, I want to share real, tangible human experiences. I see this as the future for Sri Lanka.

Q  You also champion women of Sri Lankan origin in the UK. Why is that an important aspect for you?
My experience as a woman is vastly different to the experience of many women. If you do not have money or privilege or a mentor then girls are limited in their options. Why does that have to be the case? We must inspire and encourage more. I want to promote women because we can achieve brilliant things and collectively bring so much value to society. We need to raise the bar on aspirations for young girls. We must strive for our girls and women to be confident, financially independent and CREATIVE - I believe this is where the magic lies. I can do my part by collaborating with women and championing the many gems I find. If you feel you have something to show me, please get in touch!

Q  Any words of advice for budding interior designers or aspiring hoteliers?
Be as curious about life and people as possible. Get a mentor and learn on the job - find your voice early and bring it to every project you take on. Every client and project is different and should be treated as such, life is rich and full because of it. Designers and hoteliers have much influence and can drive positive change through the people and experiences we work with and showcase. It is a chance to create something FAR beyond a physical building. Successful projects enable humans - we can bring a lot of positive impact to all of our communities.

Q  You also mentor young people. How rewarding is that?
I love mentoring young people. Having a lived experience in the industry gives me the opportunity to share learnings and help to coax and guide my mentees to be confident and take bigger steps than they might otherwise. It is tremendously rewarding and I think should be a standard part of every curriculum - being guided by someone more experienced brings immeasurable quality to a designer's work by enabling confidence and creative thinking. Having a mentor is a necessity and should not be a luxury.

Pics courtesy  Dee Gibson