In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Hanna Li draws inspiration from the world at large. The Los Angeles designer spent her formative years in China before moving to the U.S. and earning degrees at the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, and now regularly travels the globe for creative stimulus.
She crafted her current flat lay with a French countryside home in mind. “During the summer and fall, I relish my time in the South of France, a region for me that epitomizes self-discovery and celebrates the art of living,” she says. “This is a home where the beauty of the surroundings naturally elevates the spirit, inviting a sense of creativity and connection to the simple life.”
To evoke the scenery of the idyllic getaway, she employed everything from hand-dyed linen fabric to limewash-esque finishes. “Incorporating natural materials helps highlight the casual elegance of the Provençal landscape and practices of sustainable living,” she explains. “The color palette captures the warm blues of the Mediterranean sea, the scent of lavender in the air, and the golden light that bathes the rolling green hills.”
Here, the designer breaks down the details, from brass cabinet knobs to ceramic ceiling lights.
1. GOTTA GROW GARDENER’S BALM BY HUDSON VALLEY SKIN CARE
“This balm is so soothing to apply after a day in the garden.”
2. PREMIER MODERN NATURAL WOOD SHADES BY SELECTBLINDS
“A lovely affordable alternative to custom woven window treatments!”
3. OAK FLOORING BY RHODIUM
“This flooring comes in so many customized sizes and designs, which allows a lot of flexibility.”
4. JUTE CROSS RUG IN BLACK BY NORDIC KNOTS
“This rug looks perfect in any style of space.”
5. SILICON BRONZE BRUSHED FINISH SAMPLE BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN HARDWARE
“Rocky Mountain Hardware offers an infinite amount of custom designs, which are sourced from reclaimed products with a zero-waste process.”
6. TRADITIONAL SMALL PLAIN CABINET KNOB IN TUSCAN BRASS BY WATERSTONE
“This knob brings in a touch of traditional style while still feeling contemporary.”
7. TYE FABRIC IN AURORA BY ROSE TARLOW
“This is a soft linen fabric that is hand-dyed for an organic feel and a sustainable implementation. The pattern is well-suited for window treatments, giving interest to a limewash wall texture or against a sandy plaster.”
8. METEOR COUNTERTOP QUARTZ IN LIGHT BY EUROSTONE
“A natural-tone countertop made from 100 percent recycled mineral.”
9. VINTAGE CERAMIC CELADON BOWL AT CHAIRISH
“This old ceramic bowl was made from recycled clay. These were used for glaze tests, and now as an incense and sage burner bowl. We love the smell of a smoky natural interior.”
10. OLD STYLE ROMAN SHADE BY HARTMANN&FORBES
“This bamboo and grasscloth roman shade layers beautifully against limestone tiles.”
11. CONCRETE BASIN SAMPLE IN MINERAL BY KAST
“This is my go-to sink color because the tone makes it feel like you are bathing your hands in a lagoon. Its earthy, grounding texture and muted coating feel amazing to the touch.”
12. PATINA BRASS FINISH SAMPLE BY IN COMMON WITH
“Brass is a beautiful trim color that can help tie the fixtures and hardware of the home together.”
13. CERAMIC DISC SURFACE MOUNT SAMPLE IN GREEN CLAY BY IN COMMON WITH
“Such a stunning contemporary fixture to throw into a French countryside home as an accent.”
14. OIL RUBBED BRONZE FINISH SAMPLE BY NEWPORT BRASS
“Great for kitchen faucet and trims, as this patina ages very nicely.”
15. FLOWER COLOR GUIDE BY TAYLOR AND MICHEAL PUTNAM AT PHAIDON
“This encyclopedia really helped me understand floral terminology, and how to choose colors for my indoor arrangements.”
16. GREEK FOLKLORE FABRIC IN PLUM BY HARWOOD HOUSE
“This is a really fun, soft fabric I adore for pillows and seat cushions. It looks stunning against a heavy linen sofa, or a bed upholstered in the same color family.”
17. 35693 FABRIC IN 16 BY KRAVET AT FABRICS AND HOME
“We used this lovely fabric for a small rocking chair—it’s perfect for enjoying the Mediterranean summer breeze by a window.”
18. HAVANA WINDOWCOVERING BY HARTMANN&FORBES
“This shade provides a little contrast and texture to create a more lived-in feel.”
19. GOTTA GROW GARDENER’S SOAP BY HUDSON VALLEY SKIN CARE
“This soap will leave you feeling very much connected to your plants while providing your nail beds a good clean.”
20. CUSTOM CARRIAGE-GREEN TILE BY HANNA LI INTERIORS AND JOTHAM HUNG STUDIO
“This handmade tile is a sample we created with a local artist for one of our previous projects. It was used as an accent wall in a powder bath and is incredibly soothing to gaze at.”
