DESIGN DIALOGUES WITH MELISSA LEE

Founded on the belief that interiors should reflect how people truly inhabit and experience them, multidisciplinary design studio Bespoke Only is recognized for work that explores the relationship between people and their environments – shaping spaces that feel both alive and timeless. We spoke with founder Melissa Lee about the experiences, curiosities, and sensibilities that shape her practice, and how they continue to guide her work as she looks toward 2026.

As you look toward 2026, what overall shift do you think will shape interiors in a lasting way?

I think interiors will move further away from expression as display and closer toward spaces as regulators of energy, attention, and emotional load. Homes are no longer backdrops; they’re active environments we rely on to restore us. Spaces support how people actually live — how they wake up, decompress, entertain, retreat.

Are there any materials, colors, or moods you expect to feel especially relevant this year – either emerging or making a quiet return?

I see a continued return to materials that age visibly and honestly such as unlacquered metals, hand-finished texture, natural stone with irregularity. Alongside that, textiles like mohair feel especially relevant, as a tactile layer that brings warmth and depth to a space.

Color and mood wise, we're loving more inward-facing notes for an atmospheric, cocooning feel. Overall, the direction we're most interested in studying further is sensory richness and durability. Things that hold presence, invite touch, and feel meant to be lived with over time.

In 2026, what do you think people will value most in their homes that they perhaps didn’t a few years ago?

I think people will value clarity — spatially and emotionally.

A few years ago, homes were asked to be everything at once. Now there’s a growing desire for spaces that are legible: rooms with purpose, boundaries, and a sense of rhythm. There’s also a deeper appreciation for thoughtful decisions over constant change with investing in fewer things that feel anchored, meaningful, and enduring. In that sense, the home becomes less about keeping up and more about holding steady.

In a fast-moving design world, what feels truly lasting or essential to you — something every space will want to include?

A sense of place — one that holds both the past and the present. A space should reflect the people who live there, but also honor the story that came before them. That layered continuity between lives, eras, and the surface materials is what defines a space’s soul.

Can you share a bit about your journey into interior design, and what inspired you to establish your firm, Bespoke Only?

I studied cognitive psychology, then worked across fashion, luxury goods, and events before finding my way into interior design. Through this winding path, one thing that has consistently intrigued me is the idea of how experiences and surroundings, chosen or incidental, leave lasting imprints on the way people live.

Bespoke Only was born out of that curiosity. For me, design is less about embellishment than about translation - a way to listen, to interpret, and ultimately, a medium to connect with the lives of others. Each project becomes an attempt to respond to human needs, both seen and unseen.

What does 'home' mean to you?

A place where one can fully be oneself. No pretense. No frills. A place that listens, serves and responds intimately and truthfully.

A place that means a lot to you?

Bali. It’s where I have been visiting since a young age, and now returning annually with my family. I’ve always been fascinated by the traditional Balinese architecture - the courtyard villa layout, the way people can be sharing the space so jointly yet independently, and how one can be wholly immersed in the surrounding. The connection between people and nature feels evident and effortless.

Where are you personally drawing inspiration — from travel, art, or certain eras and objects?

It’s often imagined spaces like books and film sets. There’s something deeply evocative in the way a setting is composed in fiction. They way intentionally framed, emotionally charged, with quiet cues layered in the background that hint at the story, the people, and the life behind the surface.

Lastly, your favorite Nordic Knots piece and why?

Loops - Yellow. We’ve used this rug across multiple settings from traditional to contemporary, and it resonates every time. The rich ochre hue and intricate border create a grounded, sophisticated backdrop that adapts and shines, regardless of context. It brings warmth and depth without overpowering.

Photography captured by William Jess Laird.