Welcome to Room Envy, a series where we ask interesting people about a favorite room in their house. From minimalist living rooms to vibrant kitchens, we’re zeroing in on the best features of the most enviable rooms.
As the founder of Maison Ko, the interior designer David Samuel Ko has accomplished a long list of feats in a short span of time. Through his eponymous firm, the multidisciplinary creative has spearheaded some of his most notable projects to date—from reimagining a nursery for Hilary Duff to working on a slew of commercial and residential projects (Frankies Bikinis, a lawyer’s home in Studio City, etc.), David is already off to an impressive start. But even as a professional interior designer, his biggest struggle has been curating his own space.
When you spend so much of your time and energy focused on maximizing other people’s vision, it can be challenging to execute your own ideas for yourself. David recalls how when moved into his 1,500-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles, it was the first time that he was really able to create the antithesis of his family’s house in the Bay Area. “I feel like my space is [like that] because my parents’ home is filled with stuff they’ve hoarded and tons of plants,” he says on a Zoom call. “At one point, our house was like a jungle and it felt like living at the Rainforest Cafe. Now with my own space, I want everything intentionally placed.”
Prior to the big move, David lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Brentwood for three years. It was great for a while…. That is, until it wasn’t, and eventually he felt it was time for a change in scenery. His hunt for a new spot soon landed him in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom situation right in the heart of Studio City, conveniently surrounded by trendy cafés and quaint neighborhood gems. Plus, his new building has amenities: a built-in pool and designated parking spots which, if you didn’t know before, are essentials to living comfortably in the City of Angels.
