Denton House Design Studio have been shortlisted for Luxury Residence – Americas Award, Residential £20 Million Plus (Property by Value) Award and Beach House Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2020. Read more about Vice President of Design, Matt Dickamore, below:
Name: Matt Dickamore
Company: Denton House Design
Position within company: Vice President of Design
Website: www.dentonhouse.com
Tell us a little about your background in design:
I started at a young age designing restaurants in the basement complete with an indoor waterfall made from an uplit (I used my clip on bed light) crumpled sheet of tin foil cascading down from the mantle that I would spritz with a spray bottle every so often. Trust me, it was cool. I formalized my love of being creative at Utah State University where I graduated from the CIDA accredited Interior Design program. I was fortunate to study architecture and interior design abroad in England and intern with a prestigious firm in Edinburgh, Scotland. After graduation I expanded my design experience by working in the event design industry on large high-end events in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles with work featured in the top wedding magazines. With 20 years of experience, I now have the privilege of working with an incredible team designing spaces all over the world. It’s like being a kid in a candy store!
How would you describe your personal design style?
Focus on the bones and pay attention to the details — no matter how small.
Where does your design inspiration come from?
I know this is cliché, but honestly, everywhere. Mother Nature is one of my favourite designers. I pulled a new color scheme together based off of a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park. I also love seeing what other designers are creating as a way to push myself and our team to come up with new ideas. There are some amazingly creative people out there!
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Design needs to be focused on how it makes someone feel now more than ever. With the current pandemic, our interior environments must provide the relaxation, healing, and comfort all of us have needed over the past several months. The design of our spaces can be determining factors of our mood, sense of worth, and overall attitude. A well-designed space can remedy these issues and heal in ways other things cannot.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
- Incorporating technology without letting it take over a space
- Design needs to provide a respite from the daily grind
- The use of materials in new ways
- Creating new sustainable materials with a lower environmental impact
- Don’t reinterpret an existing design, create a new one.
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Throw ideas around with your team and step away to let it marinate. The good ideas will float to the top the space will start to take shape.
How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
The awards bring the design community together and help us celebrate the successes of one another.
What projects are you currently working on?
Golf course clubhouses, restaurants, high-end residences, spas, cafes, and resorts in Portugal, the Bahamas, Mexico, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, and all over the United States
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Continue to push the design boundaries in each of our projects and help our team to pull out the best that is in them.
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring and everything that comes with it.
Your favourite holiday destination?
A remote log cabin in the woods with a fire, a stocked kitchen, and all the classic holiday movies.
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
Auberge Chileno Bay Resort in Cabo San Lucas and Acre in Cabo San Lucas.
Your favourite book, film & song?
Crawling by Elisha Cooper, action films or a good period piece, soulful vocal jazz.
Your favourite food and drink?
Cheese makes anything better – Diet Coke with lemon or an ice-cold glass of water.
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Hanging out with my wife and three-year-old daughter doing whatever they want.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I have always wanted to be a teacher, but I am a little nervous I would push my students too hard and make them cry…
Denton House Design Studio have been shortlisted for Luxury Residence – Americas Award, Residential £20 Million Plus (Property by Value) Award and Beach House Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2020.
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