A master of sensory design with global influence, Emma DeRoche brings a distinctly French perspective to contemporary American interior design. Born and raised in Paris, and now practicing globally with a home base in Los Angeles, she approaches each project with the belief that exceptional décor should tell an unmistakably singular story.
Her multilayered interiors, highly customized to each client down to the home’s signature scent, are crafted to engage all senses in either stimulation or serenity. Drawing from extensive travels across Europe, Africa, and South America since childhood, DeRoche sources unique, artisanal pieces from around the world.
Her work reflects both global sophistication and the personal narratives of her clients. Her vision of creating tailored, thoughtfully conceived spaces sits at the intersection of haute couture sensibilities and l’art de vivre, embodying the essence of luxury living through storytelling. Click play on the video below to watch our discussion or read on for the highlights:
Discovering the client’s core identity
Leading designers like DeRoche are moving beyond trend-driven approaches to create spaces that genuinely reflect their clients’ unique personalities, experiences, and emotional needs. This means diving deeper than surface-level aesthetics to understand a client’s core identity and translating that understanding into meaningful design choices.
How is it done?
Contemporary design approaches, like DeRoche’s, engage all five senses. Beyond visual aesthetics, designers must consider the tactile experience of materials, the acoustic properties of spaces, and even the olfactory environment through custom scent creation. This multi-sensory approach creates spaces that don’t just look beautiful but feel deeply personal and memorable.
Biophilia as an extension of wellness and sustainable design
Biophilic design continues to shape modern interiors, with an emphasis on authentic natural elements. This philosophy favors real plants over artificial ones, prioritizes natural materials, and seeks to create meaningful connections between indoor and outdoor environments. The key is finding a thoughtful balance between natural elements and technological necessities in today’s homes.
DeRoche’s forward-thinking approach expands her sourcing horizons beyond traditional design hubs. This includes exploring artisanal work from regions like Asia and Africa, mixing vintage pieces with contemporary designs, and drawing inspiration from diverse global design traditions. She believes success in today’s market requires staying connected to international design shows while remaining open to discovering unique pieces from unexpected sources.
The most compelling design work emerges from a clear philosophical foundation that embraces creativity and uniqueness while rejecting standardized approaches. This means creating personalized, boutique-style designs that challenge clients to explore unexpected elements while remaining grounded in color psychology and emotional resonance. Emma DeRoche’s goal is to push boundaries while maintaining functionality and personal meaning. | To see more of her work, visit her online.
