By: Joshua Finley
Interior designer Rob Bowen has spent over 20 years cultivating his creative vision into award-winning spaces. With a global clientele and projects spanning from Australia to New York, his firm Rob Bowen Design creates transformative living environments.
Early Artistic Inclinations
Even from a young age, Rob felt pulled toward creative expression. Born in Florida but raised in Central America, he divided his childhood between Belize and the Sunshine State. Surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles, and siblings, building and design permeated his upbringing. “Before I knew it, I was designing everyone’s house. That’s kind of a passion. This is what I did in high school and parts of college,” Rob reflects.
Though he felt the pull of design, Rob initially majored in business and communications. He explains, “I always figured if I was smart enough in business, I could always do design later.” After graduating, he began dabbling in real estate development, creating spaces for people to work and thrive. This allowed him to dip his toe into the world of design.
His foray into full-fledged interior design arose serendipitously. After being featured in a local paper for his uniquely modern home, clients came knocking at his door for the “Rob Bowen look.” As Rob describes, “That day, I got a call from someone saying, ‘Hey, we’ve been looking for someone like you. We want you to do our house.’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not a designer.’ They said, ‘Yeah, whatever you are, call yourself whatever you want, but whatever you did for your place, come do for us.’”
Cultivating a Design Philosophy
Two decades later, Rob has crafted a design methodology that keeps his projects fresh and engaging. He believes collaboration and contrast fuel great spaces. “I want to capture designers before they’ve been taught what’s wrong with design. I want to see that raw energy, that raw creativeness,” he explains. “I don’t like people to say ‘yes’ to me all the time, because that’s not who I want. I want someone to challenge me.”
This collaborative give-and-take extends to his trusted roster of contractors and artisans. “Here’s what I’m thinking, but if you can make this better, let’s do something special together,” he encourages them. He also prioritizes clients with strong opinions and insights. As Rob notes, “If clients don’t have a strong point of view, it’s very difficult for me to do my job.” He spends extensive time learning clients’ aesthetics, lifestyle and vision to create a bespoke environment.
Crafting Bespoke Client Experiences
For Rob, the client experience reigns supreme. He states, “Design is not about me. It’s about the client. This is not my house, it’s your house.” His favorite projects are when clients reflect, “I never envisioned myself living in something like this. You have taken what I wanted and elevated it.”
This entails going beyond furniture selections into a multi-sensory experience. Rob indulges in elements like signature scents, specialized lighting schemes, and commissioned artworks. He explains, “It’s a full departure from reality when they get home. It’s fun.”
To keep projects feeling fresh, he avoids outright repeating designs. “We never really try to repeat any single piece whatsoever and if a client sees a piece in a home and they’re like, we really love that piece, we try to change it enough that every person feels like they have one of a kind piece.”
Expanding His Creative Universe
In addition to his prolific residential work, Rob has embarked on hospitality projects like his popular downtown St. Petersburg restaurant, Social Roost Kitchen & Bar. He also moved into a new, highly-curated studio space for his design firm. The office exemplifies his trademark style with bold lighting, high ceilings, and artistic flourishes around every corner.
When asked about his dream design project, Rob demurs. He takes each client and space as a new creative challenge. However, he does have interest in expanding into product design collaborations. Rugs, lighting, and furniture lines could lend his aesthetic to a wider audience. As Rob notes, this allows him “to put a stamp” on everyday elements of living environments.
Regardless of the project, Rob prioritizes spaces that provide joy and connection. He reflects that his proudest rewards are happy repeat clients. “That’s one of those moments you kind of just tap yourself on the back. I guess we did a good job,” he smiles. After twenty years learning global tastes and trends, he sees each new commission as a chance to spur self-discovery. As Rob muses, “How does it feel when you walk in the front door?” That sensorial experience remains his true passion.
To learn more about Rob Bowen and his approach, visit his website.
Published by: Holy Minoza
