Purple Reign

Yvette Crosby radiates warmth and energy as she talks about her work as an interior designer. The Valley Isle resident brings a worldly perspective to curating spaces, drawing from her diverse experiences to create a mosaic of artistic passion. Hawaii Home + Remodeling spoke with Crosby to learn more about this stunning Maui project and how its thoughtful details can inspire your design choices in the year ahead.

You were born in Dallas and have had an international career spanning fashion to magazine publishing. What inspired you to transition into interior design on Maui?
My father was a grand adventurer, and he always looked for opportunities to live somewhere fabulous and exciting. Hawaii has always been a special place for my family — it’s where my mother and father met. No matter what I’ve done, the true path of my life has always been “interior” design — the design of my spirit and my soul. So, I find it fascinating that I ended up being an interior designer in one of the most spiritual, amazing, love-filled places on Earth.

What are some of your favorite details or features in this project?
One detail I really loved was the tile we used around the bar. It’s a curved area, so it wasn’t the easiest thing to execute. It’s a small mosaic in a beautiful ombré that serves as a backdrop for those bold purple chairs. I also love the way the office came together. The homeowner wanted it soft, feminine and contemporary. We kept it sophisticated and strong enough to balance with the living and dining rooms and all those bold colors.

How does the Makena project reflect your design ethos and style?
My projects are all reflections of my clients. One of my clients might like things very traditional, plantation-style and old Hawaiian, while another might want it super clean and white. The client for this Makena project wanted it very contemporary, with bold color and art; purple is her favorite color. Being able to combine interesting elements and create a sense of balance and flow in a space is really my ethos.

How can our readers get inspired by this project to freshen up their spaces for the new year?
The only thing that matters is what you love. You can look at this project as inspiration to think outside the box. What do you love in your space? Start with those pieces and build from there. This project is a statement of my client’s love for her life. Your space can reflect what you love, no matter how bold, wild or demure it may be. Don’t be afraid to go for it.

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.