Five Minutes with Dani Dazey

You began in apparel graphic design, working with pattern and colour for fashion brands. What made you want to take that into interiors?

I’ve always believed that the spaces we live in should make us feel something, just like the clothes we wear. I started in fashion because I loved creating prints and bold graphics, but over time I realized I was even more excited about designing the environments people experience every single day. A home has the power to completely shape your mood, your creativity, and how you connect with the people around you.

In many ways, interiors became a much bigger canvas. Instead of designing a print for a dress, I could create an entire world through wallpaper, textiles, paint, furniture, and color. It felt like the natural evolution of my creative process.

Your work has such a joyful and distinctive visual language. Can you talk a little about the creative process behind a new pattern?

I’m inspired by absolutely everything. Vintage textiles, botanical illustrations, old hotels, travel, flea markets, architecture, even grocery store packaging. I collect inspiration constantly and let it simmer until ideas naturally begin connecting.

When I design a pattern, I usually start by thinking about the feeling I want it to evoke rather than the motif itself. I ask myself, “What story does this room want to tell?” Once I have that emotional direction, I start sketching elements, experimenting with color palettes, and layering details until it feels playful, balanced, and full of personality.

I love patterns that reveal something new every time you look at them. The little details are what make a space feel collected and personal.

For your Vlaze kitchen, you chose Reseda, a colour named after the mignonette plant. In the Victorian language of flowers, mignonette symbolises inner worth. I wondered whether that idea speaks to your philosophy of maximalism. You’ve said that “no one really wants to live in a white box.” Do you think colour and pattern allow people to express something more authentic about themselves?

I absolutely love that symbolism. I’ve always believed our homes should be a reflection of who we are, not just what’s trending. Color has an incredible ability to communicate personality, optimism, nostalgia, confidence, or even a favorite memory. Those things are deeply personal.

To me, maximalism isn’t about adding more simply for the sake of it. It’s about surrounding yourself with things that make you happy and creating a home that feels unmistakably yours. I think people often underestimate how much their environment affects them emotionally. Walking into a colorful room that reflects your personality feels completely different than walking into a space that could belong to anyone.

That’s one of the reasons I loved choosing the Reseda green for our Vlaze kitchen. It feels vibrant yet timeless, playful but sophisticated, and it ties in perfectly with the colorful character of our home. Because the enamel finish is so beautifully made, the color has a richness and depth that elevates the entire space. It truly feels like an extension of our indoor kitchen rather than just an outdoor cooking area.

Has having an outdoor Vlaze kitchen changed the way you cook or entertain?

Completely. We were already people who loved hosting, but having a fully functioning outdoor kitchen has made our backyard feel like another room of the house. Instead of everyone gathering inside, people naturally gravitate outdoors, and cooking becomes part of the experience instead of something hidden away.

It’s also changed our everyday life. Living in Los Angeles means we can use the space year-round, so even a simple weeknight dinner feels a little more special. The kitchen has become a destination rather than just somewhere to prepare food.

And from a design perspective, I love that it doesn’t feel like a typical outdoor kitchen. The enamel finish, the craftsmanship, and the beautiful Reseda green make it feel like a true piece of furniture. It adds as much visually as it does functionally.

For someone in mostly grey England, inspired by the colour and sunshine of Palm Springs but still a little nervous of pattern, where would you suggest they begin?

I’d tell them to start with one thing that makes them smile.

People often think embracing color means committing to an entire rainbow overnight, but it can be much more gradual. Maybe it’s painting a front door, adding colorful dining chairs, choosing patterned cushions, or investing in a beautiful outdoor kitchen in a color that brings joy every time you step outside.

I also think outdoor spaces are the perfect place to experiment. Gardens naturally have color, texture, and life, so bold design feels very at home there. Once people experience how much happiness those choices bring, they often become much more confident bringing that same personality indoors.

The goal isn’t to recreate Palm Springs exactly. It’s to create your own version of joy, wherever you live.