10 Questions With… Rowena Gonzales

Sea Breeze penthouse. Photography by Simon J Nicol Photography.

The bustle of the busy Tsim Sha Tsui commercial hub in Hong Kong is silenced upon stepping into the cozy cocoon of Liquid Interiors. At the entry, a trio of baskets are depots collected by Hong Kong Recycles and hint at the ethos of the interior design firm. Within, a vase of fresh carnations offers a cheerful greeting while leafy plants dominate every window ledge. Off to one side is a meeting room with a standing height table underneath a multi-branch chandelier, with swathes of off-white linen drapery masking the studio’s library behind two walls. In the heart of the space is the sit-stand desk of Liquid’s founder Rowena Gonzales.

Born in Montreal to Filipino parents, Gonzales believes that sustainability and wellness should be part and parcel of every project. After her five-year-old nephew Luka Ferraro became a cancer survivor, she witnessed how her sister attempted to boost his immune system through nutrition, sleep quality, electromagnetic fields and other factors—and she realized that good design can encourage healthier habits. After relocating to Hong Kong in 2006, she established Liquid Interiors in 2009 with the aim to create sanctuaries for clients. Armed with LEED AP (ID+C) and WELL AP designations, she is passionate about living authentically.

Gonzales shares her wellness approach with Interior Design alongside a few of her favorite projects and insights into a community of entrepreneurial women in the city she has made her home for the past two decades.

Rowena Gonzales. Photography by Steven Ko Photography.

Rowena Gonzales Transforms Spaces Into Wellness Sanctuaries

Sea Breeze penthouse. Photography by Simon J Nicol Photography.

Interior Design: What inspired your love for design?

Rowena Gonzales: My dad is a fixer-upper kind of guy. He worked as an electrician and could fix anything: a toaster, a computer, a desk—and I would help him. As a kid, I was passionate about creating my own environments for entertainment. I took cardboard boxes, cut out windows and made them my own. I also grew up doing a lot of art including exploring woodworking and sculpting. My parents encouraged my creativity; choosing a career in interior design made sense.

ID: What were your takeaways from Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan) University?

RG: With Asian parents, it was important for me to attend a university. Ryerson has the best interior design program in Canada. It was tough though. I learned how to connect with clients and to stand up for my design. The solution may be amazing, but it needs to be pitched and communicated. Paul Mezei, one of my instructors, focused on the ethics of design and taught that it was our responsibility to show clients a better way.

Rendering of Red Hill residence. Image courtesy of Liquid Interiors.

ID: How did you end up in Hong Kong?

RG: After I graduated in 2004, I was at HOK in Toronto and found myself working on the same plan over and over. I knew that I wanted to do something more creative. I also worked at Optima Design in Montreal. While there, I learned how to be a good boss who trusts and believes in the designers I work with.

By 2006, I was done with the cold! I had friends in Hong Kong and love its mountains and oceans. At that time, there was a huge expat community in the city and it was so easy to connect with people right away. I worked for a couple of years at HBA and CL3, but got laid off at the end of 2008 during the financial downturn. At the time, I was freelancing. If it wasn’t for that, I may not have had the guts to start my own studio.

ID: Why specialize in residential design?

RG: When I was at Ryerson, I never thought that I would design people’s homes because I didn’t want my work to be so personal. Compared to Canada, I found many renovations in Hong Kong to be toxic and people were not as interested in wellness—it was just about aesthetics. I was one of the pioneers in the city to emphasize sustainable projects, and did one of the first office projects using bamboo wood veneer and carpets made from recycled plastic bottoms.

My sister’s work with a naturopath inspired me. Homes should be places for rejuvenation, where people can charge their batteries to 100 percent. It is my goal to improve the health and wellbeing for my clients, and I found that residential design was the best avenue to do it. Homeowners understood that and were more willing to invest in their residences. When I set up Liquid, it wasn’t part of corporate culture or valued as much—but it is getting better now.

Living room inside a multi-generational Indian family home. Photography by Steven Ko Photography.

A view of the dining room in this multi-generational Indian family home. Photography by Steven Ko Photography.

ID: Tell us more about Liquid’s recently completed home for an Indian family.

RG: It is a 6,000-square-foot residence meant for three generations. The family is in the jewelry business, and during the pandemic, the isolation took its toll on them. To encourage wellbeing and happiness, we incorporated many social and play areas that support multi-generational interactions. We imagined the space to be like a jewelry box, with Shanghai Art Deco details and pendant lamps that reference their heritage within the living area. It has a very hotel-like feel, while the bathrooms have a spa quality to them; they are mini sanctuaries for wellness. The home also includes a number of sustainable features including professional grade air purifiers, energy efficient VRV air conditioning systems, water efficient bathroom fixtures and eco-leather in wardrobes. There is a lot of natural daylight.

ID: You recently won an award for one of your residential projects?

RG: Yes, we won Gold in the Sustainable Residence category at the Home Journal Awards 2024. The residence was for a couple who recently became empty nesters. I love working with empty nesters because they can finally express who they really are through their space. Prior to our renovation, there were a lot of stairs in the home. We eliminated them as the couple was getting older, and we emphasized the connection to the surrounding greenery of the New Territories.

Marmorino, a natural mineral plaster, was used on the walls to help control humidity and purify the air. Other low VOC materials include palm eco-gypsum board in the ceiling to help with insulation, as it is better than regular gypsum board. We specified a sintered stone in the bathroom; it has fewer seams due to its large sheets and is non-porous and resistant to stains and bacteria, making it more hygienic. We moved the office from the back of the home to give it the best views with lots of natural light. Working from home during the pandemic was a seismic shift for residential design. We included an outdoor exercise area with lounge and bar so that our clients can enjoy a stronger connection with nature.

Shatin Empty Nester home. Photography by Simon J Nicol Photography.

ID: How does BEAM Plus complement WELL and LEED practices for Liquid?

RG: All of these standards equate health with the environment we live in and are science-based. BEAM Plus Interiors– Residential is a label for greener homes that is not as complicated as WELL or BEAM. And it works well for Hong Kong because it looks at dense environments and sub-tropical climates—standards that are not addressed in the U.S. I am excited to be using this local system and am using it with contractors for more local involvement. My goal is to be a leader in sustainable practices for Hong Kong and create more awareness of it. I intend to reach out through schools and communities.

I want to emphasize that I couldn’t be where I am without my amazing Liquid Interiors family of designers, administrators, marketing experts, stylists and our CAD team in the Philippines. Everyone has a personal connection to wellness in design, which creates such a warm and inclusive atmosphere. I love working in Hong Kong and how it allows me to connect to my roots by employing wonderful talents in the Philippines.

ID: How did you get involved in the Women’s Entrepreneur Network?

RG: When I first started Liquid, I didn’t know any other women who started their own companies. There are a lot of groups for men that talk about business, but groups for women in Hong Kong tend to be more social where they mainly talk about their kids. Through the Women’s Entrepreneur Network, I found my community of businesswomen. We all help each other, talk about business challenges, and it provided mentorship for me early on.

I am on its board and recently hosted a two-day retreat in February at the Auberge Discovery Bay, where about 16 people attended. Everyone brought their business plan and we talked about how to elevate it. In the end, it got everyone thinking bigger. And it was a great getaway to be at that seaside resort hotel.

Women’s Entrepreneur Network retreat. Photography courtesy of Liquid Interiors.

ID: What’s next for Liquid?

RG: We are working on the children’s playground, library and entertainment spaces for the Ladies Recreation Club in Hong Kong; we are pursuing LEED Silver for the project. As these types of jobs usually go to big firms, we are proud that they chose us.

We just started on a luxury home in the south of Hong Kong island. Our client is very spiritual and conducted a Roman Catholic blessing of the space. It brought a different sort of energy to the team. It is also for a multi-generational family, and they love gardening and connecting with nature. I love working with this client; they get how important health and wellness are, and are very into sustainability.

I hope to expand to Dubai, and to address the growing market for our aging population. My mom stays with me for a few months every year to escape Montreal winters, and it’s great having her for these extended visits. Seeing design through her eyes has been fascinating. It made me realize how important it is to maintain connections later in life, and I want to help older people prepare for aging in place.

ID: What are you up to outside the studio?

RG: I love being in nature and live next to a beach in Ma Wan, an island in the west of Hong Kong. I always run in the forest; it helps to ground me. In February, I ran my first mountain marathon in 12 years. My husband, Jeff, prefers to mountain bike but we hike as a family with our nine-year-old son Mateo and five-year-old daughter Mila. I recently started reading a book outlining the bugs of Hong Kong with my kids, and we head out on weekends to explore and search for them together.

Rendering of Ladies Recreation Club. Image courtesy of Liquid Interiors.