Guest experience & spatial narrative
Arrival, journey mapping, functional relationships, privacy, public gathering areas, guest-suite atmosphere and early-stage spatial priorities.
DESIGN FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF PLACELuxury hospitality
Luxury hospitality
design & strategy
Boutique hotel, wellness retreat and resort interior design direction for founders, owners and development teams who want a distinctive guest experience and thoughtful project delivery.
A DISTINCTIVE POINT OF VIEWA stay remembered
A stay remembered
for how it feels
SOMA Design Studio supports hospitality owners, developers and creative teams who want their spaces to express a considered sense of place. From the first moments of arrival through public gathering areas and private suites, our design conversation begins with the guest: what they notice, how they navigate, where they pause and what stays with them.
Our work combines spatial experience strategy with interior design direction, materials, furnishings and an understanding of how identity, comfort and operational needs meet. We consider daylight, biophilic connections, sensory comfort, privacy, durability, and a distinctive visual narrative.
Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, SOMA welcomes select hospitality inquiries across the United States and internationally. Local project architects and appropriately licensed professionals provide regulated design services when required.
Where appropriate, early spatial consulting can incorporate Vastu-informed orientation and zoning, biophilic design and longevity-related environmental considerations. Technical engineering, operational standards and code compliance remain with the qualified project team.
AREAS OF COLLABORATION01 / CONCEPT 02 / INTERIORS 03 / TEAM INTEGRATION
From vision to guest experience
Material & FF&E direction
Finish palettes, furnishings, lighting concepts, sensory character, craftsmanship and visual consistency across guest touchpoints.
Design coordination & clarity of scope
Concept reviews and design-intent communication for ownership teams, architects, interior specialists and procurement partners. A documented scope keeps responsibilities clear.
FOR OWNERS, FOUNDERS & DEVELOPERS
Start with the experience, then align the decisions
A clear early design brief helps the entire team understand what makes the place distinctive—before materials and room details are finalized.
Experience brief
Guest profiles, brand intent, arrival sequence, retreat rituals, privacy and operational priorities.
Spatial narrative
Concept-level room relationships, sensory character, daylight, landscape connection, materials and furniture direction.
Design team collaboration
Reference packages, interior design guidance and a clear handoff to project architects, specialist consultants and suppliers.
THE WORK BEHIND THE WORDS
Realized spaces & spatial studies
Hexagon Mountain House
Mountain A-Frame StaysRelevant founder work in guest-oriented stays and distinctive residences. These are not presented as completed hotel commissions.
RELEVANT FOUNDER PORTFOLIOGrounded in built
Grounded in built
spaces and stays
Selected completed projects include mountain short-term rentals and guest-oriented environments. SOMA’s hospitality retreat practice is an evolving consultancy offering; these projects are presented as adjacent experience, not as completed hotel or resort commissions.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Working with SOMA
Does SOMA collaborate with hotel and resort development teams?
Yes. SOMA welcomes select early-stage inquiries from boutique hotel, resort and retreat developers for spatial experience strategy and interior design direction, with responsibilities agreed for each project.
Can you work with an existing architect?
Yes. SOMA’s concept-level guidance can support a wider development team. Regulated architectural, engineering or licensed design services remain with the appropriately licensed professionals.
Do you accept international projects?
SOMA welcomes conversations about select international projects. Scope, on-site involvement, procurement and local professional requirements are determined with the client during project planning.
SELECT INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
An international outlook. A grounded working model
SOMA is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. For selected international briefs, we can begin with remote discovery, visual direction and concept-level interior consulting, then align scope, site visits and project responsibilities with an owner's local design team.
Our role may include guest-experience strategy, visual narratives, material and FF&E direction, and design-intent reviews. Local architects, engineers and other qualified professionals remain responsible for regulated documentation, technical approvals and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
The right creative collaboration depends on the brief, its timeline and the wider design team. Travel and on-site involvement are discussed individually.
Plan an international project conversation