New York-based design studio Champalimaud Design has appointed Courtney Brannan and Jun Chun as principals. The globally acclaimed firm, renowned for conceiving and reinventing some of the world’s eminent hotels, have promoted both designers from their positions as senior associates following years of exceptional work at the studio.
Courtney Brannan has grown the identity and reputation of Champalimaud Design over more than a decade working with the firm. Her innate sense of style and keen eye for detail have shaped many of the studio’s notable residential and hospitality projects. Experiencing and absorbing a location as she crafts its unique storyline, Courtney’s in-depth research imbues every project with a distinctly personal perspective. A particular favourite of Courtney’s is the Beverly Hills Hotel Bungalows.
Of the 23 renovated bungalows, five are themed after legendary Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Here she captured each celebrity’s story by taking cues from their own homes and lifestyles. Drawing diverse inspiration everywhere from art museums to culture magazines, Courtney stays on the pulse of hospitality design by discovering local hotels throughout her travels. She continues to refine her own work by observing how guests interact and engage with different spaces. Courtney’s portfolio includes such prestigious collaborations as The Beverly Hills Hotel, the St Regis, Jakarta, the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, and the Hotel Bel-Air.
“My style is full of personality. I love to weave history and locale into an authentic story that feels fun, artistic, and contemporary,” says Courtney.
Jun Chun is a distinguished interior designer known for his enchanting take on the luxury lifestyle. His work at Champalimaud Design represents an effortless combination of refined taste and technical expertise.
Jun first worked alongside Alexandra Champalimaud on a townhouse in Notting Hill, England. He has since helmed some of the studio’s most spectacular projects domestically and abroad, envisioning large scale hotels like the Halekulani Hotels and Resorts in Hawaii and Okinawa.
Immersed in the art world growing up, Jun instills in his work a rare sense of empathy and curiosity. His cultivated passions for art and travel inspire environments that vividly portray local culture through fine detail. This approach is expressed most recently in his design for the Conrad Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Constructed in layers of visual and tactile poetry, Jun brings each musically inspired space quietly to life.
“My style is clean and well-balanced. For every project I consider the space as a series of rituals, not only decorative objects, while I translate intangible ideas into tangible elements,” says Jun.