The creative also champions floral art as an author, who has written over ten coffee table books and pocketbooks, the most famous of which is Tropical Colors: The Art of Living with Tropical Flowers. Apart from conducting workshops around the world, Sakul also educates people about floral design through his YouTube channel, where he shares how-tos on basic and modern flower arrangement, as well as his journeys to the world’s floral destinations.

In late 2023, his work was highlighted in an installation titled Flowers, River & Possibilities at the lobby of The Peninsula Bangkok, where he was an artist in residence. The installation used flowers to spotlight the Bangkok enclaves that extend along the length of the city’s Chao Phraya River.

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Laura Cheung creates opulent elements that bring spaces to life. With her home decor brand Lala Curio, she infuses wit and glamour to traditional Asian design, offering, for example, wallpapers embroidered with birds, butterflies and flowers, intricately patterned cloisonne tiles and a chinoiserie jewellery cabinet inspired by midcentury modern style.

In January 2024, Cheung brought Lala Curio’s latest wallpaper creations to Paris Deco Off. In private viewings during the interiors industry trade show, she unveiled Dancing Palms, which featured swaying palm trees with tie-dyed leaves and hand-embroidered sequins, as well as Lucky Charms, a dreamscape of creatures nesting among vines and blooms. Beyond decor, she also offers bespoke design services for private residences, from Hong Kong to the Hamptons, as well as collaborations with brands like perfume house Creed, for which Lala Curio created a Year of the Dragon wallpaper featuring 888 hours of hand-embroidery work.

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“In my opinion, architects and designers should live many lives before embarking on a career in design. The life experiences brought to bear on design are irreplaceable,” said Lim In Chong, the award-winning landscape architect who started his journey in the world of gardens in his 40s, to Tatler in 2022. Also known as Inch, the creative is involved in all manner of greenscapes, as well as architecture, interior design and master planning projects through his multi-disciplinary design firm Inchscape.

Inch has created green spaces for Hong Kong Disneyland, the Tropical Spice Gardens in Penang and show gardens in France and Japan. In 2023 he launched Inch: Gardens of Imagination, a comprehensive collection of his works featuring 28 gardens, landscapes and architectural and interior designs, as well as essays on the master of scenography’s philosophy and life. Inch is recognised around the world as a leader in the landscape industry and has received numerous awards for his work, including four gold medals at the prestigious Japan Gardening World Cup.

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Omar Khan’s custom rugs can be described as dramatic, ornate, tactile and abstract. A bamboo silk piece echoes a gum tree’s peeling bark, while a tapestry-like creation depicts a flock of cranes whose graceful necks reach for flowering branches. For a previous collection called Mystical Marking, Khan even applied the power of iconography—in shapes, symbols and images—to inspire, protect and heal. “Over the years, my design process has evolved significantly,” Khan told Tatler in an interview in 2023. “While I used to follow patterns and trends, I now design from a place of authenticity, aiming to tell a narrative that breathes life into each piece.” 

The richness of his designs can be traced to his multicultural background. Khan, who is of Chinese, Dutch, Egyptian, German and Pakistani descent, has lived in Singapore (where he was born), Malaysia (where he grew up), the US (where he studied) and Hong Kong (where he worked). These varying perspectives are poured into Omar Khan Rugs, which has created bespoke pieces for luxury hotels, resorts and boutiques around the world, as well as private clients. 

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For Sarah Chen, beauty is found in the harmony of body, mind and spirit. In a 2021 interview with Tatler, the founder of Mandarin Florist shared how she makes sure to care for herself, her two children and her flower business every day. This holistic approach to living is evident in her work, where the creative gives prominence to finishing touches that complete a space.

Using the language of flowers, Chen amplifies the mood of spaces. To emphasise the elegance of a marble hallway, for example, Mandarin Florist installs a spray of white phalaenopsis orchids. And for a cosy home vignette, seasonal flowers such as citrus roses and orange tulips arranged casually in a shallow bowl make an appearance. The Taiwanese company, which creates custom arrangements for private homes, weddings, parties and events, offers even more accents that bring joy: a diamond-shaped watering pot that doubles as a bloom vessel, the Sphere Vase by Nachtmann from the German glassmaker’s award-winning collection and a chic water-repellant gardening glove in gold, silver or pink.

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“We want to create design-forward yet functional pieces that become staples in people’s homes, which can be passed on from one generation to the next,” said Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez to Tatler in 2023. The managing director of furniture firm Philux helps people tell their journey through tailor-made pieces with Filipino and European influences. Philux’s Stockholm Armchair, for example, combines ash wood with solihiya weave, while the M Round Coffee Table balances the strength of a Bianco Carrara stone top with a curvaceous base. 

In 2022, the conservation advocate, who has implemented ethical sourcing, upcycling and waste management in Philux’s operations, released her book Embracing Natural Design. Published by Rizzoli New York, the project started as a chronicle of Gonzalez’s design process, with the director writing notes about her spaces until it became a fully fledged guide on how to incorporate sustainable elements into a beautiful and mindful home. 

Read Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Tatler Asia’s Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia’s Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

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