Local Hawai‘i talent Noa Santos has certainly made a name for himself far beyond the islands. The O‘ahu born and raised designer and serial entrepreneur has started several successful ventures in the interior design space and is now focused on NAINOA (nainoa.com), an architecture- and interior design firm with chic, upscale projects worldwide. Here, we take a peek into his process.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN TORRES/COURTESY OF NAINOA
How would you describe the NAINOA style? I don’t know that we have a particular aesthetic but rather a singular goal—to create a sense of retreat.
How do you design for the tropics? We want to craft spaces that augment the living experience, and designing in tropical climates means considering interior and exterior space in tandem. Temperate climates blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living and call for spaces that allow life to happen beyond the four walls of a room.
What most inspires you? Inspiration comes from all corners. I constantly search for a surprise, something I haven’t seen before.
Any design trends you are looking forward to? We are increasingly recognizing how important our homes are to our overall well-being. Far more important than any design trend, caring for ourselves by caring for our home is truly taking hold.
What’s on the horizon for NAINOA next year? We have a fantastic team of incredibly talented and passionate people—and have been lucky enough to work with clients that participate in the design process and bring joy to the act of discovery. Our plan for the next year is to double down, grow NAINOA and invest further in that shared experience.
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