Known for blending luxury with individuality, actress-turned-designer Anouska Hempel is a singular talent. The former Bond girl made her mark on the hotel industry in 1978 when she opened the Blakes in London—a new kind of lifestyle hotel that Hempel describes as a home away from home. From the Hempel Hotel in London and the Six Senses Duxton in Singapore, to her latest, the Monsieur George in Paris, Hempel says her designs flourish because of the people who populate the space. It makes sense for someone who says she loves every aspect of the process. “You don't start out making money,” she says, “you start out being the artist with a dream and then go and do it and hope for the best.”

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.