Danielle Seipel Portfolio 2026

PORTFOLIO

SELECTEDWORKS 2023-2026

619 384 9956

dseipel13@gmail com

San Diego, Ca

about me.

Hello, I’m Danielle! A soon to be graduate of interior design from Mesa College with a background in event coordination and hospitality My experience in curating environments and orchestrating guest experiences has shaped my approach to design, giving me a unique sensitivity to how people move through, interact with, and feel within a space

This foundation has led me to a strong interest in hospitality and residential design, where creating meaningful, immersive environments is essential I see design as a balance of emotion and function, grounded in both creative vision and technical precision.

With experience in space planning, client analysis, and design documentation, I bring a thoughtful and detailoriented approach to every phase of the design process. As I begin my career, I am excited to contribute to a collaborative studio environment while continuing to grow as a designer.

CLASSICS: REIMAGINED

London, England

2. CHAPTER HOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR

San Diego, Ca

3. CONCOURSE JEWEL

San Diego, Ca

NEXT HYBRID OFFICE

San Diego, Ca

Paris, France

Ca

01. CLASSICS: REIMAGINED

LOBBYENTRANCE RENDER

concept.

CARNATION, LILY, LILY, ROSE byJohn

1886

This design was a grand prize winner of the Material Bank Fall 2025 Student Design Competition. The project challenged designers to reinterpret a master artwork through a material-driven commercial space. Iwanted to highlight a lesserknown artist so I chose this piece by John Singer Sargent for itswhimsicalness and storybehind the piece.

preliminarysketches.

With the architecture up to my discretion, I played around with different figurations that centered around this central courtyard like seating and design process.

The primarychallengewas translating the fleeting, atmospheric quality of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose into a cohesive boutique hotel lobby while thoughtfully specifying over 25 unique materials. Each selection needed to contribute to a unified narrative of twilight, softness, and light, while remaining appropriate for a high-traffic hospitality environment The challenge required balancing variety and creativity with restraint, ensuring the materials felt layered and intentional rather than overwhelming ordisjointed.

final renders.

This concept explores howfleeting twilight, soft illumination, and biophilic forms can be translated into a contemporaryhospitalityenvironment Through layered lighting and a refined material palette, the design reimagines the painting’s quiet, luminous magic as an immersive and transportive spatial experience.

LOBBYBAR HOSTSTAND RENDER

LOBBYBAR BANQUETTE SEATING RENDER LOBBYBAR RENDER

02. CHAPTERHOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR

co

Chapterhouse is a modern salon inspired by the literary parlors and coffeehouses of 18th-century Europe. It invites guests to linger among books, botanicals, and candlelight. By day, it’s a haven for readers and thinkers; by night, a gathering place where conversations deepen and spirits (both literal and poetic) are stirred Every corner tells a story, every glass a revelation, every visit a newchapter.

BARAREARENDER

adjacencymatrix design concept.

There were several key decisions to consider when designing this space. It was important to have that ” wow ” factor as soon as you walk in and see the libraryinspired bar.To ensure guests have a unique experience each time theyvisit, I provided a wide range of different seating options.There is no ”best seat in the house” and this gives guests another reason to come back. Every decision was made with consideration of how the guest and staffwill move through the space.

bubble diagram. mood.

site plan. The materiality, color palette, and spatial sequencing reinforce the idea of unfolding chapters. The variety of seating creates a sense of wonder for guests to desire to return and experience the space in a different seat than the last. The server pass hides necessary tools and equipment for staff as well as creates a circulation path for them to access the dishpit, handwashing station, and kitchen line which helps with table turnover.

barelevations.

final renders.

The material palette is layered with bits of whimsy, from the House of Hackney upholstery and wallpapered columns, the patterns and botanical motifs mix together to create a sense of romantic maximalism. The antique mirrored backsplashes behind the bar add depth to enhance the atmosphere, while a gilded ceiling treatment by Arte brings luminosity and warmth to the private dining space.The palette draws from a double complementaryscheme of deep reds, brassy ochres, muted greens, and dusty blues, shifting from light and botanical bydayto moodyand immersive bynight.

EXTERIOR RENDER

MAIN DINING RENDER

BOARDING GATE LOUNGE RENDERING

concept.

This design was submitted as part of the Robert Bruce Thompson Annual Student Light Fixture Design Competition. The project challenged designers to design a luminaire forthe boarding gate lounge that is welcoming, comfortable and unforgettable. My goal was to capture the essence of the golden age of aviation by creating a gate lounge that feels warm, cinematic, and inspiring. I designed an airport pier terminal with a variety of comfortable seating that features integrated lighting and a geometric gate counter and gate threshold to invite passengers in to build excitement for their flight experience.

BANQUETTE LAMPRENDER

final renders.

The lounge is designed to feel more like a living room than awaiting area, blending midcenturymodern influencewith a balance of geometric forms The boarding gate lounge features a jewel-toned green carpet, deep redwool upholstery, and blue boucle swivel chairs, aswell as polished cement pillarswithwood and brass accents, and terrazzo floors forhigh trafficwalkways.The lighting reinforces this atmosphere through multiple layers of illumination that support comfort and function

BOARDING GATE LOUNGE RENDER

COMMUNALTABLE LAMPRENDER

spec sheets.

The luminaire collection includes brass lamps positioned between banquette benches and a brass library-inspired lamp at the tall communal tables These fixtures provide diffused lighting for waiting and conversation, as well as focused task lighting for reading, working, or charging devices. Together, the fixtures transform the boarding gate lounge into a welcoming destination within the concourse and encourages passengers to linger, recharge, and reconnectwith the romance and anticipation of travel.

level access with strong natural light and proximity to community amenities. San Diego’s mild climate allows for indoor/outdoor connection, an important design opportunity for the Work Café

Accessible entry+ parking Existing lobby, restrooms, and structural core to remain

concept.

The design concept emphasizeswellness at the core ofwork,weaving together spaces forcollaboration, focus, and rejuvenation Ahospitality-inspiredWork Café anchors the office as a social hub,while theWellness Studio offers opportunities forrestoration.Transparency, flexibility, and digital connectivity shape the flowof the space, ensuring the office is not just functional, but a living embodiment of “TechnologyforMindful Living ”

concept.

When designing this space for the owners, it was a priority to not only utilize high quality natural materials wherever possible, but also to create a space that evoked calmness and space for each to feel inspired. This home, especially being nestled in a bustling city, should not only feel like a safe haven to retreat to but it aims at celebrating the quintessential Parisian aesthetic.

hand renderings.

concept.

The guesthouse is part of a single family desert home located on a hillside property near Joshua tree. There were a couple facets that were really important to the couple; theywanted the space to feel light and modern, a space that’s perfect to host guests as well as disconnect from the hustle and bustle, they wanted a spa-like bathroom with a steam shower, and a hidden projector forthe ultimate theaterexperience

We went with a neutral color palette to set a calm foundation and pulled in earthy accents of green and blue desert hues The design offers a tranquil space to relaxaswell as entertain as the familyembraces theirnew desert lifestyle but still offers the flexibility for this space to transition for future use as a guesthouse. The mood board further demonstrates the chosen color palette; sandy taupes, sky blue, luxurious green velvet, rich deep earthyreds, andwarm browns.

kitchen elevations. floorplan.

OFFICE / MUSIC ROOM RENDER

3d renderings.

To achieve the look of these renderings, it was vital for me use IES light profiles and an HDRI image for a realistic desert background. Balancing the use of smart materials from the Enscape Material Library as well as inputting our selected materials all worked togetherto help drive thevision of the space.

PRIMARYBATH RENDER

PRIMARYBEDROOM RENDER

THANKYOU

DANIELLE SEIPEL

619 384 9956

dseipel13@gmail com

San Diego, Ca