Home is Where the Art is

When Hawaii Home + Remodeling chatted with Julia Sorensen Shaw in late May, the president of INspiration Interiors was gearing up for a busy summer. She and her INspiration team were set to celebrate their exclusive new Incanto Italia furniture line with a stellar soirée. After that, they planned to visit some of Europe’s most influential design houses for first-looks at the latest home furnishings, accessories and trends.

Guiding INspiration into a new era is a daunting task — but Shaw’s artistic eye and impeccable personal style make her perfect for the job. She was 5 years old when her father, Thomas Sorensen, opened the first INspiration store, in Pearlridge, in 1997; now Shaw looks forward to carrying on the family business.

“Working at INspiration has allowed me to learn and grow in a safe space,” says Shaw. “Our sales teams are supportive and passionate about what they do.”

INspiration Interiors founder Thomas Sorensen (left) and Julia Sorensen Shaw stand in front of the company’s flagship Honolulu Design Center location. Shaw currently serves as INspiration’s new president and is expecting her first child this year.

Julia (foreground) shares a vintage photo with her father Thomas (center) and brother Daniel.

That collective passion has made INspiration a trusted local retailer for authentic European home goods and knowledgeable customer service. Sorensen paved the way in 1979 when he started importing furniture from his native Denmark to the Islands. ScanDesign and ScanLine were his initial retail ventures in Honolulu offering contemporary furnishings, teak pieces and office seating.

“He saw that there was a lack of European furniture options in Hawaii and found that there was a demand and market for it,” says Shaw.

INspiration was a dream for Sorensen, who envisioned a showroom with bold color options and avant-garde designs for style-savvy homeowners. That showroom — the flagship Honolulu Design Center — opened in 2007 as a community gathering place that mixes refined shopping with art gallery ambience. INspiration brought the brand’s specially selected, price point-friendly furniture and décor to West Oahu in 2017 with its Kapolei store.

Giving back to the community is part of INspiration’s mission. Shown here is Sorensen hosting an event with members of the Boys and Girls Club.

The INspiration team regularly travels to furniture fairs abroad, exploring the latest trends and pieces in home design.

Shaw brings her own flair to the enterprises started by her father. Inspired by Sorensen’s hard work and visionary ethos, she studied art at the University of San Diego and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute. She and her husband, Kimber, a professional photographer, joined INspiration in 2018.

The couple has assisted with operations, social media, website design and more. Her paintings and sculptures and her husband’s photographic works can be seen at the Honolulu Design Center and are available for purchase. “Kimber’s work is clean and striking, and my art is more abstract,” she says.

Shaw is a seasoned artist and her husband Kimber (below) is a professional photographer. Their work can be seen and purchased at the Honolulu Design Center.

Shaw keeps an eye on international trends, with Hawaii’s lifestyle in mind. “Bouclé, earth tones, greens, white oak, organic shapes,” are currently on her radar, and brands like Incanto Italia with chic convertible sofas and sectionals, and Flexform with sleek seating and storage, exemplify INspiration’s keen curation of high-quality pieces.

“We hand-select all the furniture that we sell,” says Shaw.

Each floor in the Honolulu Design Center showcases furniture and décor at different price points and styles. “LOFT at INspiration Interiors” on the third floor spotlights ultra-luxe European designer brands such as Moooi, B&B Italia, Kartell, Møller and more.

The clean lines of European furnishings are popular with Island homeowners. Shown here is the ETNA Italian platform bed, available at INspiration.

INspiration is the exclusive Hawaii carrier of contemporary furnishings by Incanto Italia. Shown here is the chic Incanto Italia Mira i861 reclining leather sectional.

The BDI Ripple storage credenza exemplifies INspiration’s thoughtful selection of pieces that blend functionality and design innovation.

INspiration also offers furniture for keiki. This Cabin bed by Danish brand LIFETIME has a rope and a climbing ladder on one side, and a slide on the other.

She says it’s an honor to continue the family’s commitment to community service and creative ambition. Her and her husband, who are anticipating the birth of their first child this year, pay their good fortune forward by supporting multigenerational vendors abroad and the ohana they’ve built locally among INspiration staff.

“Some employees have been here since 1997 and they’re like family to us,” she says.

INspiration Interiors was voted as the winner in the 2024 Hawaii Home + Remodeling Readers’ Choice Awards, in both furnishings and outdoor furnishings categories. Shop INspiration online at inspirationinteriors.com and learn about its 120-Day Peace of Mind Guarantee, warranties and delivery services.

Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.