David Samuel Ko Shares His Design Journey and the Top Trend He Hates

David Samuel Ko is a Chinese American interior designer who has made a name for himself in Los Angeles. Born in San Jose and raised in Gilroy, he grew up surrounded by the natural beauty and slower pace of Northern California’s Bay Area.

His journey into the design world began out of necessity rather than intention, but it quickly became clear that he had a natural talent for creating beautiful spaces.

From his humble beginnings as a design assistant to managing his own projects, David’s path is marked by a keen eye for style, a deep appreciation for quality, and an adaptable approach that reflects both his personal evolution and the diverse needs of his clients.

What made you decide that being a designer was your calling? 

To be completely honest, it came out of necessity. I was having a difficult time looking for a job out of college. The role of a design assistant opened at a design firm, and I was hired through a referral from a friend. It wasn’t until I started working there that I realized I had always liked interior design and had an eye for it. 

Growing up, no one had a designer so I was never exposed to it as being a viable career path. That said, I was always into fashion, styling, event planning, and making sure my rooms, dorms, and spaces were perfect, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that this is what I actually found to be my passion.

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How would you describe your personal style and approach to designing spaces?  

My personal style is ever evolving and I think that is the same approach I take when it comes to designing spaces. I like to put my client’s needs first, which means each project is most likely going to be a little different from the last.

I encourage my clients to have their spaces be a reflection of them, with some tailoring of course. So in that case, my design approach is adaptable, which is similar to my own personal style.

Do you have any design inspiration, whether it be from your culture, other cultures, or anything else in between?

A lot of my design inspiration comes from the 70s, Japanese, and European design—primarily French and Italian. I love anything mid-century and I feel like it’s a great starting point to bring in other influences.

I especially love playing with color primarily within a semi-neutral palette. But I am always constantly looking for new inspiration and love traveling for that reason.

What design project have you done that’s stuck with you throughout your career?

This is a tough question as I’m lucky to still work with a ton of my clients on their projects but I would say doing the Gigi C Office & Showroom at The Grove. It was my first commercial, heavy renovation project and was such a great experience from start to finish.

The showroom took over the old Barneys New York space which is iconic in and of itself. Not to mention I love the final product, my client is happy, and it’s a semi-public facing space which is always a plus as you get to see strangers interact with your work, something that is quite rare when doing residential design.

How do you incorporate design elements from the communities you grew up in into your work?

Being of Chinese descent, growing up my family was all about feng shui, and still is. While I don’t actively design with the do’s and don’ts of feng shui, I do keep some rules in mind when designing.

Overall, I think there is something to be said about the energy in your space and creating an environment that feels inviting and safe.

Finding balance and harmony in your home is very important to me and I think that is what I take away from my upbringing. 

What does it mean to you to be LGBTQIA+ in your industry?

I’m lucky to work in an industry that celebrates LGBTQIA+ voices and creativity. A lot of the artists and vendors that I work with are also a part of the community so it creates a safe space for us to design and collaborate openly.

With any platform, I think it’s very important to be proud of who you are and be a voice for equality when you can, so making sure to work with those beliefs in mind is important.

I am also very grateful to have clients who also support me and are allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, which can be very hard to come by in other industries.

What’s one thing you try to incorporate in every space you design?

Color. Don’t get me wrong, I love a neutral palette, but I make it a point to add color and personality, whether that’s in the form of different textures, patterns, materiality, or simply just accessories.

How color is used is very important as you do want it to blend with your space as opposed to being this stark contrast. But when done correctly, it can elevate your space and make it feel more unique.

What design trend are you tired of?

I hate to say it…but bouclé.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever been design-wise? 

Paris. Not only is there such amazing architecture with so much history, but there is a big design scene as well.

There are so many cool galleries, showrooms, and even antique markets where you can find the most incredible, and unique stuff.

Every visit, I am so inspired that I come home ready to work and implement the tile layout I saw in my hotel room’s bathroom.