Designer Spotlight: Mandy Cheng | All Sorts Of

Let’s start from the beginning! Tell us a little about the journey that led you to where you are now.

Design was always a side gig for me, beginning in college when I worked at an advertising agency doing graphic design. In my late 20s, while working in production at an animation studio, I met some of my best friends — many of them were film school graduates who spent their evenings and weekends pursuing passion projects. I’d jump in to help whenever I could and loved getting my hands dirty in all things creative. Around that same time, I went through a big breakup, and it pushed me to leave production altogether. I started doing freelance graphic and production design full-time. Saying goodbye to the corporate world was liberating, but the hustle was real! I worked crazy hours, accumulated an impressive tool collection, and learned that sometimes hard work doesn’t pay off in Hollywood in — but authentic friendships always do.

For the first time, I felt like a true Angeleno! I experienced the city for what it was known for and joined forces with the thousands of people here chasing a dream. Everyday was exhausting, yet fun. Fast forward to 2013 when I met my husband Rory, an architect, and everything changed. Production and graphic design had started to wear on me, and Rory suggested I consider taking on some interior design projects. A mutual friend happened to need help overhauling their new home and this resulted in my first interior project — a full gut renovation of a two story condo. One thing led to another, and soon after I tossed my butyl collection for good (iykyk). This is what led to the launch of Mandy Cheng Design.

You’re known for your approachable yet elevated style, often blending modern, eclectic, and California-casual aesthetics. How would you describe your design ethos?

I think, in general, I just want a space to function to its highest capacity for the people that are using it (and for it to be as beautiful as possible given those parameters.) I approach each of my projects the way I did as a production designer, which is to first understand the director’s vision and then execute it. With interior design, my primary goal is to understand the personalities and styles of the clients and reflect that back into the space I design for them!

Tell us a bit about how you find inspiration. What factors have played roles in the development of your design style and evolving aesthetic?

Nature has, and always will, play a prominent role in my design style. The pandemic really highlighted how essential connecting with nature is for our mental well-being. Not everyone can have an outdoor space or live an indoor-outdoor lifestyle, but you can incorporate the color palettes seen in your favorite natural environments, into your home. Also, traveling always gets the gears spinning. I’ll come across something with an interesting color palette, a unique combination of textures or materials, or a really special vignette, and I’ll mentally file it away. Years later, a project will come up and that little memory will pop back into my head. It’s these memories or experiences that serve as the creative inspiration and guidebook for my projects.

Your recent collaboration with Mitzi Lighting was such a standout – Have you thought about channeling your eye for product design into additional product categories?

Thank you! I would love to continue down the path of product design if the opportunity presents itself. I’m really drawn to architectural products — pieces that are attached to the home or space and have a big impact on how the room comes together. I’m excited to see what’s next!

Between design meetings, project installs, photoshoots, design consultations, and everything in between, you juggle so much! Tell us what a typical day-in-the-life looks like for you.

My day typically starts around 5:30am or 6:00am, depending on the workload. My morning always starts with a big cup of coffee, walking and feeding the dogs, and spending some time outside. By the time my team logs on, I’ve usually been working for at least an hour or two. I have a team of 6 employees and standard working hours are filled with collaborations, video meetings, on-site meetings, phone calls, text messages, and a million emails! Starting my day early gives me a much-needed jumpstart and allows me to sit with my thoughts and plow through work without interruption. I have a daily alarm set to remind me to stop working, feed the dogs, think about what to cook for dinner, and try to shut my work brain down a bit. That’s usually easier said than done, but the phone chime is nice.

How do you find balance within it all?

I’m not sure I’ve truly found balance, per se. I’d imagine most other interior designers who run their own studios would say the same. It’s a huge responsibility to be handed the keys to the future layout and look of someone’s biggest investment, and I feel that weight to my core. I want to do my very best on every project so that my clients love their home as much as I love mine.

I also think interior design is often underrated and it’s a bit of a mission of mine to remedy that. It’s not that people don’t appreciate a beautiful space when they see one, but they might not fully realize just how much it can affect their mental well-being. I feel a responsibility to show people that, especially my clients. Maybe some of them already understand the importance of a thoughtfully designed home, but others might just want a nice-looking space. Either way, by the time the project is complete, my hope is that they feel the positive impact and have a better understanding of just how impactful interior design can be.

As far as balance, let’s say it’s something that I encourage my team to have, and strive to have within my own life. Hosting friends for dinner is one of my favorite pastimes and one of the best ways for me to mentally unplug.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve received?

Photograph your projects (unless it’s a style you don’t want to be associated with). It’s the best advice I’ve ever received, and it’s advice I have passed on to so many others. I know photos are expensive. Marketing, in general, is expensive. But it’s everything — without photos you have nothing to show for the time and effort you put into that project.

What is a design-related trend or element you’re loving right now? And not so much?

I love that people are embracing color! I’m sure there will be a day when all-white spaces and minimalistic furniture come back to reign supreme, but for now, each season comes with added colors, layers, and textures. I’m loving it!

What’s next for you? How do you hope to see the impact of your work take form?

I have some fun projects wrapping up that I’m so excited to share! One of them is my own home, which has been two and a half years in the making. I’m always dabbling in conversations with those in the hospitality world, waiting for the right opportunity for a boutique hotel collaboration. But honestly, I’m thrilled to be here with what I have. Having a small platform of people who enjoy my work is so cool and so flattering, and hopefully it inspires others to pursue interior design in some capacity — whether that’s their own studio or simply more thoughtfully curating their own home.

Favorite place to visit to spark inspiration?

A botanical garden. I also love Mexico City!

What’s always in your styling kit?

Minimalistic bookends.

A design “rule” you always follow — or always break?

I’m not great at keeping track of the rules, so I’ll end with this — I never karate chop my pillows.