Whenever I discover an impressive designer portfolio, especially one that is new to me, I like to send the designer a note on his or her beautiful work. I discovered Rita Chan Interiors a few weeks ago and had to reach out. Rita went to school for Interior Architecture at UCLA and worked for Waterleaf Interiors in Manhattan Beach for a few years before establishing her own design firm.
I loved the casual coastal vibe of so many of her interiors! Rita was kind enough to answer a few questions, ones I find helpful for anyone decorating their own spaces.
1. You believe in creating a peaceful environment at home that makes every day feel like a vacation. Tell us why that’s important and how it affects your approach to design.
In today?s incredibly fast paced world it?s so easy to get overstimulated, overbooked and stressed out, so I think it?s more important than ever to have our homes feel peaceful and serene, to give our minds a real break from all the noise. My goal when designing homes is to evoke that sense of being on an amazing vacation, where we truly unwind, allow ourselves to be present and enjoy life and our loved ones.  
For many, vacations and travel are the happiest times we have, so why not have those feelings everyday" I think our surrounding environment can really affect the way we feel, whether we realize it or not, so when I am designing I am not just thinking about how something will look, but how it will make my client feel. I am all about helpi...