Yaileen Obregon
When we learned about Yaileen Obregon, who is one third of the Miami-based design team Girls Who Do Interiors, we were fascinated by her work. Yaileen and her colleagues work on a lot of exciting projects, but have a hyper-focus on accentuating and restoring old Florida architecture, which makes them creative outliers in a city obsessed with newer and modern. Yaileen graduated from FIU School of Interior Architecture with a Master’s Degree.
We sat down with Yaileen to learn more about her inspiration and why she loves what she does for work. Read on!
DS: Hi Yaileen! Welcome to Design Storytellers. Let’s get started. You’ve been an interior designer for four years now. What do you love about what you do?
Yaileen: I absolutely love the freedom of owning my own interior design firm and being able to create my own future. As a creative, I can't be stuck in front of a computer for 40+ hours a week, so having the flexibility to move around, work from different locations, and take "inspiration breaks" is something I never take for granted.
DS: We love that. Speaking of, where do you get inspiration from?
Yaileen: I find inspiration in anything, but my top three sources would be from restaurants and hotel establishments around the world, creative branding (logos, storefronts, menus, etc.), and magazines. And of course Pinterest.
Interior design Casa del Sol, a 1920s home in Coral Gables. Photo by The Loving Lens.
DS: What project are you most proud of?
Yaileen: I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of all the projects we take on at GWDI. It's a dream come true to have clients trust us with designing their forever homes. I have to give a special shout out to Palm Riviera, a historic 1930s home in Miami Shores that we're restoring. We're giving it a Bahamian-Old Florida makeover. I'm super proud of how we're focusing on the original architectural details and digging into the neighborhood's history to inspire our designs.
Scenes of restoration life, captured at Palm Riviera in Miami Shores.
DS: What are some challenges you’ve come across and have learned to anticipate with restoration work?
Yaileen: Definitely aligning with what’s realistic without compromising the design or our creativity. Old homes are fragile and well, old - some things are not repairable and having to let go of some of the original work of the home is actually really painful for us. It’s a challenge to preserve everything we can, however, as designers, we thrive in trying to design new things that speak to the original character of the home.
DS: What is your favorite design style?
Yaileen: I have a special love for traditional European designs, but with a modern twist featuring retro and deco touches. I'm all about color and pattern, especially when they blend with classic styles. The mix of old and new makes my heart sing, and I usually find myself drawn to hotels and restaurants that showcase this kind of style.
Mini Retro project by GWDI. Photo by The Loving Lens.
DS: As you said, inspiration can be in anything. We find that a lot of creatives feel inspired during travel. Does that resonate with you? What are your favorite cities in the world?
Yaileen: Definitely. My top cities are Paris, Lake Como, and New York. It's tough to choose because I've traveled a lot and love exploring new places, but those are the first to come to mind. Paris is one of my favorite cities in Europe—it's feminine, has amazing architecture, I'm obsessed with the branding of their establishments, and it just has an energy I always look forward to. Lake Como feels like a city out of a fairytale—it's peaceful, the people are amazing, and you're surrounded by breathtaking views of water and mountains. And New York has always been my favorite since I was a little girl—the high energy, the character, and the history packed into such a small island is something I can't let go of. I've always hoped to live there one day.
DS: What advice would you give to aspiring interior designers?
Yaileen: Just have fun! We are in the business of designing beautiful things. It should definitely be a passion-powered career, and reminding yourself of the bigger picture is super important. The girls and I started GWDI in the middle of design school - we all shared the same entrepreneurial passion and drive to do something ourselves and never worked for other design firms. It was a HUGE risk to opt out of the internship phase during college but chasing our dreams became our priority. And if you’re thinking of starting your own studio, stop waiting for the perfect time. Here’s your sign ;)
Yaileen with her classmates-turned-GWDI business partners, Jennifer and Daniela.
DS: Who are some creatives that you find interesting?
Yaileen: Wes Anderson, Anne Marie Barton, literally any creative involved at Soho House, Jake Arnold, Katie Harbison
Find Yaileen:
@somethingmarble
@girlswhodointeriors
