GINGER LUNT WALTERS, IIDA, ASID
“All art forms, from photography to architecture and fashion, are strongly interconnected and provide endless inspiration for interior design,” says Ginger. Growing up on Oahu, with a musician/realtor father and photographer mother, nurtured her creativity and love for Hawai`i’s natural landscape, architectural history and blend of cultures.
Ginger believes that the quality of the environments people spend time in are essential to their physical and mental well-being. With projects of any size, she shows that both creativity as well as strong management and organizational skills are essential to making design projects successful.
Prior to starting her own firm in early 2018, Ginger worked at Philpotts Interiors for nine years where she was honored to be mentored by inspirational designers and develop her own voice and aesthetic. During her time there, she was a part of award-winning residential and hospitality design projects.
PRINCIPAL INTERIOR DESIGNER/ FOUNDER
TIARE DREHER, IIDA
From a young age, Tiare explored her creativity through many forms including visual arts, dance and fashion. Her passion was nurtured by her family’s native Hawaiian heritage and she was continuously inspired by Hawai’i’s verdant landscape. After attending college for interior architecture in Oregon, she came back to Hawai’i to contribute to the design community.
Over the last 16 years, Tiare has been involved in a variety of design roles that had her working on a broad range of projects from luxury residential development and hospitality to commercial and high end residential homes. Prior to joining Tantalus Studio, Tiare was the Senior Director of Design for Ward Village, at the Howard Hughes Corporation, where she managed the interior design process for multiple luxury residential towers and collaborated with world-renowned interior designers. When she is not designing, Tiare loves to cook and host dinner parties at her Kailua home for family and friends with her husband and 3 young children. She also enjoys yoga, going to the beach and discovering new coffee shops.
PRINCIPAL INTERIOR DESIGNER
CHRISTIAN HASTINGS
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Christian has fulfilled his passion for creativity through different outlets, from visual arts to music, and eventually finding himself in architecture school, fueled by an excitement to create inspirational spaces and design for the betterment of communities.
He obtained a Master's degree in Architecture from the New School of Architecture & Design and has spent over a decade working in the field in Hawaii and California. He has worked on a variety of project types; from historic, institutional, commercial, but mainly in the high-end residential niche.
After 5 years at an award-winning residential architecture office in the Santa Barbara area, he returned home to Oahu and decided to make a change from architecture to interiors. He began working on a variety of hospitality projects, then focused back on residential with an opportunity to work at Philpotts Interiors for 2+ years. He continues to be inspired by architecture that provides a sense of place and encourages one to notice and interact with their environment.
PETRICE GOTO AGTANG
SENIOR DESIGNER
Growing up, Petrice developed a deep interest in architecture, photography, and art, spending her time exploring museums and cultivating a thirst for knowledge. This early passion led her to pursue a degree in Environmental + Interior Design at Chaminade University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 2017. During her time at the university, she actively engaged in community service projects, including a notable trip to the Philippines where she collaborated on the design of a youth learning center.
Upon graduation, Petrice joined Philpotts Interiors as a junior designer, where she gained diverse experience working on residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, contributing to high-profile projects like the Sheraton Waikiki Renovation and Sky Ala Moana Condominiums. Afterwards, she honed her skills further at Looney & Associates over a span of five years, specializing in hospitality design. Petrice’s ability to foster strong relationships with clients, consultants, and industry partners was instrumental in her success, driven by her communication skills and passion for design.
Outside of work, Petrice loves to travel and spend quality time with her husband, dog, family, and friends. She prioritizes self-care through Lagree fitness classes and frequenting design boutiques and coffee shops.
JODIE EMERSON
Growing up in Hawaii, Jodie always loved art as a child. She would spend her time drawing and enjoyed taking art classes.
Unsure about a career in arts, Jodie ended up getting her Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In 2002, she moved to San Francisco with plans to get her Masters in Tax. During her time living in San Francisco, she found herself drawn back to the arts, specifically in interior design.
She visited showcase homes and design shows for fun. Jodie stopped taking tax classes and started taking interior design classes. She received her Certificate in Interior Design and Interior Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked for several high-end residential interior design firms in San Francisco and Honolulu, including Philpotts Interiors.
Jodie’s experience as a CPA combined with 10 years working in interior design firms allows her to handle both the creative and technical aspects of interior design.
PROJECT DESIGNER
NATALIA NEWBURY
Natalia comes from the San Francisco Bay Area with a background working in high-end residential interior design, shaped by more than four years of experience at NICOLEHOLLIS, an AD100 design firm. During her time there, she contributed to projects across the country, collaborating with leading architects and luxury vendors, cultivating her high-end design capabilities.
Growing up on a wooden boat, Natalia developed a connection to natural materials and intentional living from an early age. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from San Francisco State University, following an Associate’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the Santa Rosa Junior College. Her multidisciplinary background complements her design practice, allowing her to approach projects with an intuitive eye and a thoughtful understanding of the people who inhabit them.
Drawn to Hawaiʻi through her travels and project work, Natalia has developed a deep appreciation for the islands. Inspired by its natural beauty and culture, she brings together her Bay Area design background and island influences to create elevated and refined interiors that feel personal to each client.
INTERIOR DESIGNER