Why empty rooms tell the truth

An empty room is the most honest version of itself. No styling. No distraction. Just light moving across a wall, the proportion of a window, the silence of a corner.

When I take on a project, the first thing I do is sit in the empty space. Sometimes for an hour. Most designers skip this step. It looks unproductive. But everything that follows — every piece of furniture, every material choice — is either in conversation with the room or fighting it.

Trust the room first. Then design.