The Story Behind the Stripe: Our Family’s Design Philosophy

Some stories start with a sketchbook. Ours started with a suitcase and a zebra hide.

In 1987, our founder, mother, designer, and accidental icon returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa with more than just memories. She came back inspired by the landscapes, the energy, and yes, the unmistakable stripe of a zebra skin she found in a Johannesburg market. It wasn’t just a souvenir. It was a symbol. A reminder that nature has the boldest design instincts of all.

That zebra hide was draped over her living room bench for years. Guests asked about it constantly. But what they didn’t know was how it influenced every design choice she made after. It taught her that contrast could be elegant. That wildness could live comfortably alongside structure. That you could build a serene, modern space—and still surprise the eye.

From that single moment, Pacific Zebra Design was born.

A Family Legacy, Layered Like a Room

We are a second-generation design studio, and proud of it. What started in a home office in the Pacific Northwest grew into something more than any of us imagined. And today, the next generation carries the same vision forward: interiors that feel refined but personal, modern but rooted.

Our design philosophy has always been shaped by the balance we saw at home. Our mother had a fearless eye, but also a softness in how she layered her spaces. Our father, a woodworker by trade, brought texture, weight, and materiality into the conversation. Together, they taught us that good design isn’t just about what you see it’s about how it makes you feel.

This balance shows up everywhere in our work today. A room may start with a crisp architectural line, but we soften it with nubby linen, warm light, or handcrafted objects. We’re not afraid of a dramatic piece in fact, we welcome it. But it has to mean something. It has to tell a story.

And for us, that story usually starts with a stripe.

Why the Zebra?

Zebra print isn’t a trend to us. It’s a motif, a memory, a metaphor. It’s unexpected and refined. Neutral but bold. It brings movement into a room, even when everything else is calm.

You’ll find zebra touches in many of our projects. A pillow here. A bench there. Sometimes it’s front and center, sometimes it’s barely noticeable but it’s always intentional. It’s not about animal print for the sake of drama. It’s about honoring contrast. It’s about creating interiors that feel alive, never flat.

To us, the stripe represents confidence. It reminds us to take risks in design, to play with opposites, to celebrate the push and pull between tradition and edge.

The Pacific Zebra Way

Over the years, our style has evolved, but our foundation remains the same. We call it “modern luxury with soul.” It’s not cold minimalism or maximalist chaos. It’s layered, collected, curated. It’s homes that feel sophisticated but never stiff.

We’re obsessed with light and space. We use warm neutrals as a canvas, then build in rich materials—brushed brass, aged leather, natural stone, raw linen. We believe every room deserves a moment of surprise, whether it’s a sculptural chair, a custom millwork detail, or yes, a flash of zebra.

But most importantly, we believe in homes that feel personal. Your story, your history, your style. That’s what matters.

From Our Family to Yours

Pacific Zebra is more than a name. It’s a symbol of how we see the world: boldly, thoughtfully, and with a touch of the unexpected. We’re still a family-run business. We still obsess over texture and form. And we still get excited every time a client invites us into their home.

Because design, at its core, is about connection. Between objects, between people, between past and present.

So whether you’ve worked with us before or you’re just getting to know us, know this we bring more than good taste to the table. We bring history. We bring instinct. And we bring heart.

Thanks for being part of the story.