10 moments that moved the needle: Wimberly Interiors turns 10

Wimberly Interiors launched in 2011 with a fundamental belief that the disciplines of architecture and interior design are equally important and impactful – that WATG and Wimberly Interiors are partners and peers, and that one is not more significant than the other. While WATG’s interior design studio had existed for decades, it now deserved to stand alone in order to continue to work collaboratively with WATG, and to expand its opportunities to work with other equally talented architecture firms. This new, more official studio needed a leader who could not only sit at the same table as other managing directors, but who could be a strong voice among them. Enter: Margaret McMahon.

When Margaret came from outside WATG to serve as Wimberly Interiors’ Global Director, it caused a seismic cultural shift that required this experienced and well-recognized industry leader to recalibrate her own expectations and work hard to build trust with senior studio leaders, many of whom had been at WATG for years. In hindsight, Margaret now claims she might have taken a more sensitive initial approach, and yet she also acknowledges that new leaders are almost always brought on board to make tough decisions, implement change, and push teams in new directions.

Fast forward through ten years, and Wimberly Interiors’ family-like culture is stronger than ever.

Fast forward through ten years filled with significant global growth and many accomplishments and accolades, and Wimberly Interiors’ family-like culture is stronger than ever, with higher levels of employee satisfaction than any other WATG division, according to internal surveys.

“Through the global pandemic, we’ve all relied on each other more than ever, and we are even stronger because of that,” according to McMahon, who – along with Operations Director Joshua Leveque – has had recurring conversations with every team member since March 2020. The conversations are often not about work, but rather about genuinely connecting and caring for each other, asking how things are going, and really listening to each team member’s response. “No one works for me,” Margaret specifies. “We all work together. I just happen to be the one representing the team to the CEO and other managing directors.”

“No one works for me,” Margaret specifies. “We all work together.”

As she walks her dogs each day, Margaret calls Rachel Johnson, fellow Senior Vice President and leader of Wimberly Interiors’ London studio. The two senior executives balance each other with their complementary personalities: Margaret’s endearing yet direct style of communication and Rachel’s more reserved approach. Together the two have helped to keep Wimberly Interiors’ global studios connected, especially during a difficult pandemic. They’ve hosted virtual happy hours, magic shows and escape room events to keep their teams entertained. But more than anything, they’ve communicated frequently and clearly, learning along the way how to balance remote team members’ needs for more, or sometimes less, in order to stay interested and engaged. Rachel’s mantra of “don’t worry about something you have no control over,” is supported by Margaret’s own: “don’t create a problem where there isn’t one.” And it’s certain these leadership philosophies will carry Wimberly Interiors forward for another ten successful years, and more.

On the occasion of Wimberly Interiors’ tenth anniversary, we take a look at ten pivotal moments – the personalities and the projects – that moved the needle.

1. Margaret McMahon is hired as Global Director and Wimberly Interiors is born (2011)

Signifying a strategic shift, and formally recognizing the importance of interior design as its own discipline, WATG’s interior design studio – at least as we know it – closes. Margaret McMahon, a born-and-bred New Yorker and former Managing Director of Wilson Associates, is cherry-picked to reposition the brand and assemble a new team across offices in California, London and Singapore. Margaret accepts, but on one condition: a standalone New York studio must open. Wimberly Interiors is born.

2. The move to Beverly Hills (2012)

Margaret’s desire to build a more dynamic team also comes with the need for a more dynamic location. The current team vacates WATG’s Irvine, California, headquarters, and merges with the Beverly Hills-based SR3. Wimberly Interiors Beverly Hills opens, creating two standalone US studios – West and East Coast – to complement the London and Singapore operations. Today, Wimberly Interiors is based out of a new, shared space with WATG in Downtown LA.

3. Wimberly Interiors’ first project, The Bentley Suite at the St. Regis New York opens; wins Gold Key award (2012)

Launching Wimberly Interiors into the world, the iconic Bentley Suite at St. Regis New York opens. The recipient of a Gold Key award, the project goes on to play a significant role in establishing the personality and style of the new interiors brand, and legitimizing it as an entity. A result of the suite’s success, St. Regis goes on to commission a further two Bentley Suites – Istanbul in 2015, and Dubai in 2016.

4. Margaret McMahon is inducted into the Hospitality Design Platinum Circle (2013)

Hospitality Design magazine awards Margaret McMahon a coveted Platinum Circle designation, honoring excellence in hospitality design and celebrating her lifetime achievement and commitment to the industry.

5. Margaret McMahon is appointed to WATG’s Board of Directors (2015)

Cementing the evolution of Wimberly Interiors in the WATG corporate matrix, Margaret McMahon becomes the first interior design team member to join the Board of Directors.

6. Wimberly Interiors’ first new build, Hotel 50 Bowery, opens in New York City (2017)

Joie De Vivre’s first New York City property, and Wimberly Interiors’ first new build and boutique, lifestyle-branded hotel, opens in China Town. Bold, eclectic and vibrant, Hotel 50 Bowery’s design pays homage to the destination’s past with an original concept true to community and location. Incorporating elements of Chinese culture and the surrounding streetscape with bespoke street art, a gritty, industrial design emerges – laden with bold reds and golds on the lower level, and an airier, lighter palette the higher you ascend.

7. Wimberly Interiors’ design of the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Grand Suites wins Global Best Suite and Europe Best Suite at the AHEAD awards, as well as a Gold Key (2018)

Onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, three new Grand Suites – led by Rachel Johnson, Studio Director of Wimberly Interiors London and one of the original WATG interior design team members – make their maiden voyage in Europe. Shortly after, the suites take out the pinnacle of the AHEAD awards – Global Best Suite – alongside Europe, Best Suite, and a Gold Key. Following the success of the Grand Suites, Rachel and team are invited back to design three more, which launched in summer 2021.

8. Josh Held is hired as Director of Entertainment (2019)

Ushering in a new era of design, industry disruptor Josh Held joins the New York office as Vice President and Director of Entertainment. Bringing a new, theatrical and edgy design aesthetic to the team, Josh begins collaborating closely with Margaret McMahon and the global team to up the ante on Wimberly Interiors’ restaurant, lifestyle hotel, gaming and nightclub designs.

9. Deepu Mahboobani is promoted to Studio Director of Wimberly Interiors Singapore (2021)

Since joining Wimberly Interiors Singapore as Project Director 2019, Deepu Mahboobani has played a key strategic and creative role in the operations, perception and direction of the brand in Asia-Pacific. Cementing her contribution to the region, Deepu is appointed Studio Director.

10. A record year for Wimberly Interiors, as 2021 sees 12 new openings for 10 years of business

Wimberly Interiors’ tenth anniversary – 2021 – is matched by a milestone twelve project openings. And they’re diverse, too, covering restaurants, residential, transport, and hotels both lifestyle and luxury, in urban, beach, desert and mountain destinations. Following on from what was a difficult year globally, in the wake of a pandemic, these results are a testament to the strength of the brand – its steadfast, fearless leaders, and the trust and vision of its clients.

Project openings:

1. Nusr’Et Steakhouse, Beverly Hills, California
2. Kempinski Hotel Jinan, Shandong, China
3. China 618 Chang’an sales center, Xi’an, China
4. The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida
5. Hotel De Coronado Phase 1, Coronado, California
6. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Vienna, Prague and Budapest Grand Suites
7. Viceroy Kopaonik, Serbia
8. Fairmont Taghazout Bay, Morocco
9. Eighteen Islamabad, Pakistan
10. ZED West at El Sheikh Zayed, Cairo
11. YOTEL Washington DC
12. Hilton Tahiti, French Polynesia