Ella Bridgland of Studio Ella

Nov 07, 2024

Ella Bridgland has been making a name for herself since launching Studio Ella in Hong Kong in 2022. Her projects display an air of sophisticated tranquility yet very much maintain a warmth and a human touch, making her decidedly in-demand. The Studio creates art-led spaces that explore the dialogue between art, aesthetics, place, and people. Spanning interior architecture, bespoke design, and art consultation, Studio Ella works across a diverse range of high-end residential and boutique commercial projects. Driven by an intuitive aesthetic, rich with cultural influences, the Studio’s philosophy results in timeless, contextual spaces that directly relate to their environment and the people that use them. Before founding the studio, Ella earned a first-class degree in architecture and worked in London for the prestigious practices John McAslan + Partners, Tom Dixon, and Studio Ashby. After relocating to Hong Kong in 2017, she led the studio as an Associate for one of Asia’s top design firms, Joyce Wang Studio. Get to know this up-and-coming creative below - we're sure you'll be just as charmed as we are.

Ella's divine bedroom features our Alexandra Mirror

Designer Ella Bridgland in her office

Art is the focus of Ella's living room

A Studio Ella living space

An in-progress project

Reflections

Form, Function and Cranes

How do your residential and commercial projects compare: The biggest difference lies in the scale, purpose, and function. I think of residential projects as ‘home museums’, that reflect the client's ever-evolving lifestyle and personal idiosyncrasies. It's about creating spaces that resonate and grow with the individual - the self they know, the self they present, and the self they didn’t know yet existed. Commercial spaces, particularly hotels, are about creating memorable experiences for a diverse range of people. They have to look great and function extremely well. The challenge is crafting a narrative that feels authentic, unique yet universal. I find excitement in the storytelling aspect of both typologies and find beauty in design that is driven by rational thinking.

The craziest work challenge you've overcome: Working in a vertical city, we often find ourselves doing mad things like hoisting the perfect sofa through a 100th-floor window. Good design should never be restricted by the size of your lift!

The last item you purchased for your home: My home is full of prototypes at different stages of their life cycle. I find living with something really is the best test and is an important part of the process towards refinement. I recently added a handwoven abaca rug from a collection we are launching soon to my son's room, the ultimate performance test! Rug vs Playdough.

Inspirations

On Paint and Silver

How does art play into your design work: Art is an integral component of our projects and processes. From the very inception, we consider the interplay between art and space, and we firmly believe that neither can flourish without the other. Art possesses the transformative power to completely define an environment and the experiences within it. It is my ultimate tool. When approaching space, I’m driven architecturally by proportions, scale, and geometry and the incorporation of art is an extension of that. Works are meticulously selected and arranged to create emphasis and hierarchy, introduce tension through juxtaposition, or to build a dialogue that evokes a mood or feeling.

What do you collect: Aside from paintings, silverware. We inherited my in-law's collection and use it daily. Silverware is just so classic and subtly elevates every scenario, making even our humble breakfast of eggs and soldiers (a Sunday family ritual) instantly chic. I often use juxtaposition in my work and love to create unexpected dialogues, such as adding vintage, silverware accents to a minimal, utilitarian tablescape. The most recent addition to our collection is the Peugeot Mignonnette salt and pepper mills. They have a reassuring weight, and I love the stubby, modest scale. The salt gets a bit jammed in Hong Kong’s humidity, but perhaps that’s nature's gentle way of moderating our sodium intake.

Our Belvedere Bar Cart in
Ella's Pok Fu Lam flat

A piece from Ella's
silver collection

Designer Ella Bridgland

Captain's Bar at the Mandarin
Oriental Hong Kong

Ng Tung Chai Waterfall

Around Town

Martinis and Waterfalls

Describe your ideal night out in Hong Kong: Dining for me is extremely experiential and the food is just one (very important) component of it. But I despise over-complicated plating - the fuss of fine dining can often kill the vibe and stagnate good conversation. For a classic evening out, I would start with a no-nonsense martini at the iconic Captain's Bar. Exuding timeless charm and impeccable service is why it remains one of Hong Kong's finest. For dinner, the late David Tang’s The China Club is another beloved institution. From the noodle beating show to the embroidered napkins, there are so many kooky details that make this place delightful. Drinking and dining amongst an impressive collection of art and antiquities from 1930s Shanghai instantly transports you back to a bygone era.

A surprising ritual you have: It’s become a birthday tradition to hike among the foothills of Hong Kong's highest peak, Tai Mo Shan, and drench myself in the waters of the Ng Tung Chai waterfalls. It’s like an annual rebirth and my favourite place in all of Hong Kong to clear my mind.

A bedroom by Studio Ella

Designer Ella Bridgland

A marble moment by Studio Ella

Recommendations

A Forest and Chromotherapy

The next cultural happening you'll attend: I plan to head to Khao Yai outside of Bangkok to go to the opening of the ‘Art Forest’, where a number of artists are responding to the land. Fujiko Nakaya is creating one of the largest permanent sculptures in her ‘Fog’ series (1970–ongoing) on the hills, which I’m super excited about.

The last thing you read and loved: I recently read a book on the psychology of colour, recommended by a painter friend in Jaipur. It has a simple proposition, a definitive guide for harnessing the power of colour in consideration of our well-being. I’ve always been fascinated with our relationship with colour, the mood it evokes, and the impact it has on the perception of light and space. People are often scared by it and overwhelmed by the choice, but they needn’t be. Colour is a feeling, and when used in a considered way, is one of the most effective ways to create atmosphere. Accepting your landlord's favorite white is cowardly!