Emily Senes Portfolio

EMILY SENES

HEY THERE, I’M EMILY.

I was an art director/graphic designer in the advertising industry for six years until I realized that my talents extend beyond 2D. I’ve always loved building things for my home, selecting materials for my sewing projects, composing balanced scenes in my photography, and figuring out what makes people tick, so interior design felt like a natural fit.

I have a particular passion for environmental issues, so the natural world is woven into the fabric of my designs. I believe that bringing nature inside as well as marrying functionality and form benefit the eyes, the mind, and the planet. With my people-first philosophy, my goal is always to design in a way that makes a client feel like their best self. I love using natural textural elements and integrating objects with history to create a home with a rich and welcoming story. I hope to make a difference in people’s lives one beautiful space at a time.

Please enjoy the work I’ve laid out on the following pages and feel free to reach out if you want to connect!

Thank you so much for your time!

EDUCATION:

UCLA Extension: Certificate of Interior Design 2024; 2-year certificate program learning the ins and outs of interior architecture and design

Chapman University: B.A. in Public Relations and Advertising with a Minor in Graphic Design 2016; Magna Cum Laude

EXPERIENCE:

March 2024-Present | Timothy Corrigan Inc.: Interior Design Assistant; source materials and furniture, expedite custom orders, update CAD files, track project schedules, communicate with vendors, prep for client presentations, and more for this luxury residential interior design firm.

Nov. 2023-Feb. 2024 | Timothy Corrigan Inc.: Interior Design Intern; make tear sheets, source materials, pickup samples, update project schedules, communicate with vendors, and more for this luxury residential interior design firm.

Oct. 2022-March 2024 | Pair Furniture: Graphic Designer; design brochures, social media content, brand identity, websites, email mailers, and printed publications for this forward-thinking flexible office furniture company

2017-2022 | High Wide & Handsome: Art Director; concept, design, and art direct ads and collateral for print, TV, digital, outdoor, in-store, social, and experiential. Also design branding such as logos, packaging, websites, etc.

SKILLS & SOFTWARES:

AutoCAD

SketchUp & Enscape

Studio Designer

Adobe Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom, Bridge

ACTIVITIES:

Photography: Portrait, Landscape, and Interiors

Sewing

Furniture Building

2013-Present | Emily E. Photography: Founded a portrait photography business; worked with over 50 clients, mainly obtained through social media and word of mouth since September 2013

2019-Present | Stuart House: Playroom volunteer; play with and supervise victims of child sexual abuse while they wait for their therapy appointments

Note: No poppies were harmed in the taking of this photograh

RESIDENTIAL

BIOPHILIA PENTHOUSE

BLUE HOUR LOFT

700 PALMS RESIDENCE ---------------------------------

OUTSIDE-IN APARTMENT

GLAM & GLOW LIGHTING PLAN COMMERCIAL

HOTEL AMALGAM

GALLERY DE TERRA CLASS EXERCISES

DRAWING STUDIES

IA.04

IA.08

IA.11

IA.13

IA.27

IA.21

IA.25

IA.30

BIOPHILIA PENTHOUSE

RESIDENTIAL

n. A hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project is set in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, where you would have to drive for miles to see a full grown tree. The entire space will be around 5,250 sq. ft. and serves as a residence in which time is spent equally inside and out. The interior space must have a maximum of 1,800 sq. ft. and be able to comfortably house a young couple. The exterior space must include a pool, an attached bar, a parametric overhead structure, and lots of outdoor green space.

DESIGN THINKING

Aesthetically, the center is meant to honor the history of Los Angeles while integrating modern practices and sustainable materials. The exterior and floor plate design take influence from Beaux Arts and Classical revival to hearken back to the early years of the city. However, unlike the historic counterparts, the exterior of the penthouse will be entirely made of glass to let in light for the bio-diverse plants inside. The interior will be blanketed with a wide array of recycled stone, wood, and clay materials in textural creams, whites, and tans to emphasize the bright green color in the plants, All materials used will be natural, sustainable, or sustainably sourced.

PRIMARY BEDROOM

WALK-IN

CLOSET

RESTROOM

BAR, POOL, & GREENHOUSE

FIRE PIT

MOVIE LOUNGE

BLUE HOUR LOFT

RESIDENTIAL

PROGRAM

This project is a renovation of a luxury loft on a small lot in the hills of Los Angeles. The owner of the space is a collector of classic cars and thus wanted the garage to be an important feature. I designed the property from scratch, being confined to a 70’x35’ space. The only requirements for the design were to include an attention-grabbing “crash wall”, a sunken living room, two restrooms, two bedrooms, an office, green space, a multi-functional kitchen, and a catwalk leading to the loft upstairs. The ceilings could not exceed 21’ and I had complete control over the finishes on both ceilings and walls.

DESIGN THINKING

I wanted this loft to feel classically luxe, similar to the client’s car collection I always love to integrate greenery into the fabric of my designs, so biophilia is incorporated throughout, but instead of creating typical light and bright green spaces, I wanted this home to have a more sensual feel. The colorway throughout the loft is inspired by blue hour, the time of day just as the sun dips below the horizon before nightfall. The floor to ceiling windows allow the deep rich tones in the finishes I chose to come to life when the sun is up, but create a more sexy masculine energy in the space when darkness hits. The sleek modern furniture supports this aesthetic while still remaining soft with mid-century inspired curves. More bespoke elements like the parquet floors feel more traditional and inject character into the space.

FIRST ROUND PLAN A

FIRST ROUND PLAN B

AREA LOCATIONS

ENTRYWAY

GARAGE

OFFICE

LIVING ROOM

RESTROOM 1

SEATING AREA

KITCHEN

PANTRY

BEDROOM 1

CLOSET 1

RESTROOM 2

BEDROOM 2

CLOSET 2

GREENSPACE

POWER LEGEND

WALL MOUNTED QUAD OUTLET

WALL MOUNTED DUPLEX OUTLET

WALL MNTD. GFCI DUPLEX OUTLET

FINISH LEGEND 1

RECTANGULAR TERRACOTTA TILE

CHECKERED HARDWOOD

PORCELAIN TILE

THIN PLANK HARDWOOD

THICK PLANK HARDWOOD

TERRAZZO

MARBLE

SQUARE TERRACOTTA TILE

PARQUET PATTERN HARDWOOD

POLISHED CONCRETE

BRAIDED HARDWOOD

POURED CONCRETE

Walk-in

LATITUDINAL

Built-in

LATITUDINAL

LONGITUDINAL

Walk-in

700 PALMS RESIDENCE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

This was a real-world project located in Venice Beach, CA that I was tasked with rendering and redesigning from the ground up. I was given construction documents to collect measurement data and had to re-create the structure exactly as built. The finishes, furniture, and decor are all original to my design.

DESIGN THINKING

The original design was very industrial and I wanted to create an aesthetic that was a little closer to nature and a little more welcoming. As this residence is in Venice Beach, I was inspired by the quirkiness of the town as well as the colors of the sand and the sunset. I used light woods and stones with yellow and orange hues to make it feel like the space itself is glowing when the sun rises and sets. The purple accent wall and decor are inspired by vivid colors and the shadow of a sunset, creating a subtle day and night motif in the space.

I selected both modern geometric furniture and more traditional pieces with some curvaceous elements to create a balanced environment that didn’t feel too harsh. I also added a custom breakfast nook to the design to make the space a little more functional for the family living in the residence.

FRONT FACADE, BACKYARD, & POOL VIEW

LIVING & DINING ROOM VIEW

KITCHEN VIEW

SOUTH SECTION

SOUTH ELEVATION

OUTSIDE IN APARTMENT

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

This project is set in a top floor apartment unit of a downtown Los Angeles high rise. The only requirements for the space were that the exterior walls had to fit into a 50’ x 30’ rectangle. The rest was completely up to me. This entire project was to be executed by hand in graphite.

DESIGN THINKING

My intention for this apartment was to create a spacious and natural escape from the busy streets below. There are very few green spaces in L.A,, so I wanted to emphasize nature inside and incorporate plants and other natural elements as much as possible. The color scheme in the loft includes lots of neutrals, earthy greens and rich wood tones and I imagine the space to feel modern, yet organic in its materials and flow. Throughout the loft, there is an angular motif that helps encourage movement from room to room. Adding floor to ceiling windows in as many places as possible allows for plenty of natural light and stunning views of the city skyline.

OUTSIDE-IN APT. ELEVATION 1

SCALE: 3/8 = 1’-0”

OUTSIDE-IN APT. ELEVATION 2

SCALE: 3/8 = 1’-0”

AXONOMETRIC PLAN 1

SCALE: 1/8

RESTROOM ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE 1

SCALE: N.T.S.

= 1’-0”

GLAM & GLOW LIGHTING PLAN

RESIDENTIAL CONCEPT

This property is owned by a couple in their late 40s who purchased it as a home-away-from-home when they need to travel to Los Angeles for work. The wife is a music producer and the husband owns a successful fashion brand. They have several homes in many cities because they are constantly traveling the globe. They want their space to feel intimate and insulated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Both of them like to keep things simple, and of course on trend, so the apartment is rather minimal and the lighting will do a lot of the heavy lifting.

In both of their careers tone setting is crucial, so the lighting in this condo will be moody, yet versatile. There will be a lot of warm light hues ranging from 2500k-3500k with most lamps shifting from cool to warm as the day passes. The design will also have a decent amount of light contrast to add visual interest and give the unit an edgy feel. Track lights will be king in this design, lighting up walkways, precious pieces of art, and architectural details. As the ceilings are concrete, lighting the vertical will be the most important factor in creating ambient light throughout the space.

LoftEmily Senes

Fulbright

ENTRY KITCHEN

Linear LED toe-kick light under storage cabinets helps guide people through the space and accents the built-ins.

Track lighting illuminates the vertical shining warm diffused light on the cabinet walls. This serves as ambient light for the hallway and accents the texture of the cabinets.

Track lighting also incorporates pendant lights to shine diffused pools of lights into the hallway below and add visual interest

Track lighting shines pools of light onto the kitchen cabinets and counter tops adding ambient light into the room as well as accenting the design of the mill work.

Pendant lights incorporated into the L-shaped track lighting system hangs over the peninsula to add visual interest and create task lighting on the surface of the counter.

LED under-cabinet lights serve as task lighting for chopping or other cooking-related activities.

Toe kick LED strips serve to accent the peninsula and guide users through the space.

PRIMARY BEDROOM

Suspended track lighting will serve a multitude of purposes in this room. Directional lights will serve to light the wall and artwork hung on it bringing ambient light to the room and visual attention to hung pieces.

More diffused lights will be integrated to project light onto the seating areas and surrounding floor to bring a more even layer of light to the room

Several suspended pendant lights serve as decorative focal points in the room as well as add a layer of light onto the coffee table below.

Decorative sconces placed between the windows on the wall create a soft upward and downward beam of light accenting the verticality of the wall and the tall windows.

Thin pendant lights will extend down from the floating ceiling to serve as task lights when reading in bed.

A large pendant light will serve as a decorative focal point and a source of soft diffused light.

Floating ceiling will be equipped with LED cove lights to provide an even diffuse layer of ambient light in the bedroom.

Track lighting will light the walls and surfaces of the pieces of furniture placed near the windows. There will also be diffused lights integrated to light the walkway.

Decorative sconces continue from the living room into the bedroom hallway to guide you into the space.

HOTEL AMALGAM COMMERCIAL

PROGRAM

I was tasked with designing the common spaces of a boutique hotel. All walls, columns, and glazing openings could not be altered, but everything else about the space was open for my interpretation. The lobby was required to have a reception desk, a concierge, a bell hop desk, a gift shop, a bar area, two restrooms, and an office space. The hotel restaurant needed to seat a 100 guests, it also had to contain a host’s desk, a bar area, two restrooms for guests and one for staff, two waiter stations, a kitchen, and a terrace.

DESIGN THINKING

The history of San Francisco is rich and varied. As the city grew, new buildings in the Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne styles popped up all over town. As the hotel sits in the coastal Marina district overlooking this melting pot of architecture, the Amalgam was created to pay homage to all of it and the lobby and restaurant are just a taste of what’s to come. At this eclectic escape, the outside is intentionally brought in. From every angle see foliage intermingled with the bluish hues of the ocean and the rusty red that has made San Francisco famous. Grab a drink or a seat and take a breather from the whirlwind of travel before exploring the rest of the property. Walk through the curvaceous halls of the Hotel Amalgam and leave enriched by the beauty of the bay area.

MOOD BOARD

HOTEL LOBBY

NOTES

BUILT-IN PLANTER

BUILT-IN ROCK AREA

LUGGAGE CARTS

PULL UP COUNTER

BUILT-IN SHELVING

12’-0” RAMP DOWN

BUILT-IN SEATING

BUILT-IN COFFEE BAR

MARBLE & TILE COLUMN

FLOOR TRANSITION

WALLS & CEILING

ARCHWAY

SKYLIGHT

DROPPED CEILING

NANAWALL

CLERESTORY WINDOWS

WOOD BLOCK FEATURE WALL

COFFERED CEILING

HOTEL RESTAURANT: DAHLIA

BUILT-IN SEATING

COAT CHECK

BUILT-IN PLANTER

BUILT-IN BOOTH SEATING

WAITER STATION

PULL UP COUNTER

BUILT-IN BENCH

BUILT-IN SHELF

FOOD PICKUP STATION

BAUBLE CHANDELIER

FLOOR TRANSITION

WALLS & CEILING

ARCHWAY

TAPERED ARCH ENTRY HALL

SKYLIGHT

ART WALL NOTES

HANGING BAR SHELVES

NANAWALL

CLERESTORY WINDOWS

FRETWORK ARCHWAY

ARCHED WALL FEATURE

LOBBY ENTRANCE

RESTAURANT BAR ENTRANCE

RESTAURANT ENTRANCE ARCH DETAIL

LOBBY BAR & LOUNGE

RESTAURANT MAIN DINING

RESTAURANT BOOTH NOOK DETAIL

GALLERY DE TERRA COMMERCIAL

PROGRAM

I was tasked with designing a gallery space in a hypothetical warehouse downtown. This space only has existing exterior walls and is empty on the interior, so I was responsible for creating a flow through the gallery. The overall space measures 120’x80’ and is only one level. Within the confines of the existing walls, I was to include a reception area, a gift shop, two restrooms, a bar/lounge area, two small meeting rooms, a large conference room, three unique gallery spaces, a storage space, and green space incorporated in some way. The ceilings measure 20’ high and I have complete control over how both ceilings and walls are finished.

DESIGN THINKING

I wanted this design to be a reminder that we are the ones encroaching on nature, not the other way around. With increasingly less open natural space in the world, I wanted to create a place where nature and humanity can thrive together in unison. For this reason, green space is heavily integrated throughout the design, visitors can see a living plant from almost any place within the gallery. I also chose to incorporate mostly natural materials in the construction, utilizing lots of woods, stones, and sometimes recycled synthetic materials. My goal was to convey the idea that nature is beautiful and artful in its own right; nature itself is art as much as the actual pieces hanging on the walls.

2/2IA.12

AREA LOCATIONS

LOBBY

COAT CHECK

GALLERY 1

GALLERY 2

ATRIUM

LOUNGE/BAR

LARGER CONFERENCE ROOM

HUDDLE ROOM 1

HUDDLE ROOM 2

STORAGE

GALLERY 3

RESTROOM 1

RESTROOM 2

GIFT SHOP

POWER LEGEND

GALLERY

FLUSH FLOOR MOUNTED ELECTRICAL OUTLET

WALL MOUNTED DUPLEX OUTLET

WALL MOUNTED QUAD OUTLET

WALL MOUNTED GFCI DUPLEX OUTLET

FINISH LEGEND

LARGE OUTLINED PORCELAIN TILE

GLASS

POLISHED CONCRETE

MIXED TERRACOTTA TILE

OAK PLANKS

SMALL OUTLINED PORCELAIN TILE

TERRAZZO

PATTERNED CLAY TILE

CLAY HEXAGONAL TILE

TAN GRANITE

OAK PARQUET

GALLERY R.C.P. - PEN

SCALE: 1/8” =

1

AREA LOCATIONS

LOBBY

COAT CHECK

GALLERY 1

GALLERY 2

ATRIUM

LOUNGE/BAR

LARGER CONFERENCE ROOM

HUDDLE ROOM 1

HUDDLE ROOM 2

STORAGE

GALLERY 3

RESTROOM 1

RESTROOM 2

GIFT SHOP

COVE LED LIGHT FINISH LEGEND

BARISOL PENDANT LIGHT

RECESSED HEXAGONAL LIGHT

RECESSED LINEAR LED LIGHT

WOOD PANELS

SKYLIGHT

WOOD SLATS

HEXAGONAL A.C.T.

HARDWOOD

CONCRETE

HARDLID

Octagonal Skylight Atop Angled Wood Paneled Ceiling Wood-slatted Ceiling with Linear L.E.D. Integration

GALLERY ELEVATION 1 - GRAPHITE 1

SCALE: 1/4” = 1’

GALLERY ELEVATION 2 - GRAPHITE 2

SCALE: 1/4” = 1’

Dropped Ceiling Over Bar Area

Dropped Ceiling Over Reception Area

Steel Panels

Drywall Panels With Cove Lighting

DRAWING STUDIES

CLASS EXERCISES

TASK

The graphite illustrations on these two pages are drawn from a photograph of an interior that I felt illustrates my personal style. I had to render one image in one-point perspective and one in two-point to develop my eye for quick perspective sketches that I might make in the future.

SCALE:

SCALE:

ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE STUDY - GRAPHITE

N.T.S.

TWO-POINT PERSPECTIVE STUDY - GRAPHITE 1

N.T.S.

TASK

The quick sketches on the following pages were each executed in 10 minutes. I was required to do several of these a week in order to train my eye and hand to make quick sketches of architecture and interiors in the field.