A Leap of Faith: Hyemin Choi of Studio Whynought

The moment Hyemin Choi discovered she was pregnant, she was on a project site at Andaz Shenzhen, during the second week of a work trip for what she thought would be just another hotel project. She'd been too busy to notice the signs: discomfort, exhaustion, the kind of brain fog that comes from preparing for intense on-site mockup presentations. When she finally made it to a pharmacy after successfully finishing the presentation, the test confirmed what her body had been trying to tell her: everything was about to change.

This was the kind of pivot point that could have sent her in any direction. But for Hyemin, it clarified something she'd always wanted but never quite articulated: the desire to build something of her own.

She'd come to New York after graduating from interior design school in Korea, planning to intern for just a year. At a moment when she thought she would have to return to Korea, she interviewed at tonychi, one of the most influential hospitality design studios in the world. Tony Chi offered her a job on the spot. She stayed at his firm for ten years, working on major projects including Rosewood London and Andaz Shenzhen, as well as projects for global brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental. A decade in, she'd built a name for herself. But when she found out she was pregnant, something shifted. She didn't want to wait anymore to build her own thing.

Hyemin sat down with hertelier at the Park Hyatt New York, where  Studio Whynought recently completed two wellness projects, to chat about her career journey to founding her own firm. Here's herstory.

Building a Career in Luxury Hospitality Design

How did you get into hospitality design?

After I graduated from interior design school in Korea, I moved to New York. My first choice was London, but it didn't work out. I started interning at a small design studio, still figuring out if I wanted to study architecture or continue working in interiors.

It turns out New York was a great choice. It's very international, and being here helped me discover hospitality design. I was drawn to how it brings together interiors, architecture, culture, operations, and the way people experience a place. I told my mom I'd go back after a few months, but I didn't.

What was the turning point?

At a moment when I thought I would have to return to Korea, I interviewed with acclaimed hospitality designer Tony Chi. He usually did not interview people at my level. I was very junior and fresh out of school, but he offered me a job right away. I think the timing was right. I was young, passionate, and eager to work and learn.

And you stayed at his firm for ten years.

Yes. It was my first and last company before I started my own. The first project I really managed from start to finish was Rosewood London. I was involved from the beginning through opening, and I still remember seeing the staff so excited to welcome guests into the space.

I learned so much from that project, not only about design, but about the entire process. You have to understand the brand philosophy, collaborate closely with operations, and think carefully about the full guest experience. It is a team effort: the people, the architecture, the cultural understanding, and the choreography of the entire guest experience, from arrival to check-out.

After London came projects in Mumbai and Shenzhen for global brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Andaz. Each project taught me something different about how hospitality works in different parts of the world.

Founding Studio Whynought: The Leap

What inspired you to open Studio Whynought?

When I became pregnant with my son, I realized I didn't want to wait anymore. I always wanted to build something. My husband encouraged me to take a leap of faith. He truly meant it—not just words, but he was ready to support this and he believed in me. At first it was practical (I needed flexibility with a small child), but it became about doing more intentional work, projects where I could shape not just the spaces but the entire philosophy of how a property should feel.

Motherhood & Entrepreneurship

What was it like building a business with young kids?

It was a struggle, but I liked it. It gave me a certain kind of freedom. I could work late and adjust my schedule when my kids needed me. My husband is truly a partner (he handles school logistics, school drop off and pick up in Manhattan). 

In the early years, when I was establishing my firm, I was still doing all the design work, plus admin, plus business development. I'd put my son to sleep around 8 p.m., then sneak downstairs at 10 p.m. to work. Around midnight, he'd wake up calling for me. He'd say, "Mom, you have to sleep. Sleep with me." I'd pretend to go to bed, wait for him to fall asleep, then sneak back down to finish my work. This was when I had multiple projects happening between Asia and here with tight deadlines.

Our elder son grew up watching the studio grow. When he was little, he'd sit on my lap while I worked. I'd ask him, "What do you think?" And he'd give his opinion. He'd say, "I think you can add the color here." He has opinions about design, which I love!

So you have two kids now?

I have two sons. My older one is seven and in second grade. He plays soccer. And I just had a baby (three months old).

How do you juggle all of that?

When children are growing at different ages and stages, the demands are different. When they are very little, it is more physical. As they get older, it becomes more mental and emotional. There is always something.

Studio Whynought has also grown. I now work with a strong team of experienced designers, and we focus on luxury hospitality, branded residences, and private residential projects. These are high-end projects where every detail matters, and the work requires travel, intensive collaboration, and a lot of coordination.

It is not the same as earlier in my career. Now it requires different logistics, different planning, and a different kind of discipline.

We're figuring it out together. It's not perfect (especially now with a baby), but we are making it work one day at a time. 

Spa Nalai at the Park Hyatt New York // photo: David Mitchell (@davidmitchellphoto)

As we are sitting in the beautiful Park Hyatt New York, tell us about the wellness projects you recently completed here. How did you approach the design?

Park Hyatt New York has been a very meaningful relationship for Studio Whynought. We had the opportunity to work on both the Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa and Spa Nalai, and each space allowed us to explore wellness in a different way.

For me, wellness design should feel personal. At Park Hyatt New York, we wanted the spaces to feel intimate, warm, and restorative, with a quiet connection to New York.

For the Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa, we created an intimate, highly crafted experience where wellness, artistry, and beauty come together. For Spa Nalai, the focus was calm and restoration. The framed views of Central Park became part of the treatment experience, bringing a quiet connection to nature into the space.

We also thought carefully about the guest’s emotional journey, from arrival and check-in to a moment of pause and renewal. I love working with artists and makers, so collaborating with local and international artisans helped bring more depth and individuality to each space.

Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa at the Park Hyatt New York // photo: David Mitchell (@davidmitchellphoto)

The recognition from the AHEAD Awards by Sleeper Magazine has meant a lot. Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa won the AHEAD Americas 2025 Award in the Spa and Wellness category, and Spa Nalai has been shortlisted for AHEAD Americas 2026. It feels very encouraging to see both projects receive meaningful recognition.

Quickfire with Hyemin

What would you say to someone scared about starting her own thing?

I would say fear is very normal. I still feel it sometimes. Starting your own thing does not mean you suddenly become fearless. It means you learn to move forward even when you are not completely sure.

You can prepare as much as possible, but you may never feel fully ready. At some point, you have to trust yourself and take that leap of faith. After that, you keep learning, adjusting, and building step by step.

What does your morning look like?

Right now, my morning is very real. With two boys, one seven-year-old and one three-month-old, mornings are busy from the moment they wake up.

Usually the baby wakes up first, so I feed him, then make breakfast for my older son and get him ready for school. Once he leaves with my husband, I get a little more time with the baby before I start getting ready for the office.

It is busy, but it is also a sweet part of the day.

What do you do for self-care? Or do you with two little boys?

Self-care looks different for me now. One of my small rituals is waking up early before my kids wake up. I have a quiet moment alone, look outside, watch the sunrise, and feel grateful before the day begins. That gives me energy.

I also try to sleep early when my kids sleep. In the early years of starting my business, I often worked late across different time zones. But last year, I made a decision to protect my sleep more. Sleeping early has become part of how I take care of myself, and honestly, it helps me feel happier and more balanced.

A designer or hospitality space inspiring you right now?

One place I find very inspiring is Hotel Castello di Reschio in Umbria. I love its story, craftsmanship, and deep connection to the land. Every detail feels personal and considered, from the restoration to the interiors and hospitality experience. It feels layered, rooted in place, and very memorable. I would love to visit one day.

What books, podcasts, TV shows do you suggest?

For TV, I always love Chef’s Table. It is not only about food. It is about craft, discipline, emotion, and storytelling, which connects a lot to how I think about design.

Studio Whynought is a New York City-based interior design studio founded by Hyemin Choi, focused on luxury hospitality and residential interiors. From its Tribeca studio, Hyemin and her team work on projects across the U.S., Asia, and beyond.