Conversations with Hanna Li

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Li

Hi Hanna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I knew from a very young age that I belonged in the art world. Everything I saw & felt, I interpreted from a creative lens. I went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for my initial undergrad training, receiving a BFA in Furniture Design. After apprenticing with several design legends in the interior world, I decided to recruit my brother Jeff to start our very own firm. Through a lot of hard work and persistence, we were able to built it to the company it is today, and I’m very grateful for all of our clients old & new. It’s truly been a roller coaster of a journey with learnings, failures, successes, all along the way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For us, the challenges have always been about scalability, consistency, and growth. How do we balance having enough of a workforce for our pipeline, so we’re not turning away great potential projects, yet at the same time have enough work lined up for everyone so we’re not aggressively over-hiring? Additionally, since design is such a personal professional service, it’s hard to scale quickly unlike a product or software-based business model. In the next few years, we have plans to grow into the manufacturing space so that we can start designing our own line of bespoke furniture & accessories.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work primarily focuses on the luxury residential interior design realm. I’m always curious about how things come to be. There’s a history and story behind everything we touch in the material world, whether it was made by us or nature. My passion is to understand that past, and how I can shape the future.

My passion is to create bespoke spaces that truly express what the clients value, and how they want to live. We believe a home is rooted in people’s stories & memories — a place that enables you to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Blending traditional techniques with modern technology, my practice integrates culture and research to profoundly capture your essence.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Find people who are smarter and more experienced than you, and cultivate a genuine, meaningful relationship based on shared values and growth. Like minded successful people naturally want to help other like minded people succeed, and it’s important that we fill our social circles with people with the foresight and experience to help us get to where we want to go. No one does this alone!

Pricing:

• Our base projects generally start at around $100,000 for furniture & accessories, and go up from there depending on complexity and scope.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannaliinteriors.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannali.interiors
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hanna-li-interiors-pasadena-2

Image Credits
Sam Frost
Jess Isaac