Who Is.. Linda Boronkay
It’s an undeniable love, an elegance as such, of a moment, a day or perhaps a night spent at any one of Soho House’s series of fabulous clubs around the world. As with most things in well working order though, beyond the scenes there is a strong, talented woman with a vision. Linda Boronkay, design director of the groups UK, Europe and Asia territories, is just that for the famed hospitality group. A woman with a fantastical dream that lives far beyond her aesthetically pleasurable designs, Boronkay joined the group in 2016 and has overseen the direction of the brands newest openings since.
Boronkay was born in Budapest where her love of design was cultivated at home from a young age; her father an architect and her mother the editor of a fashion magazine before eventually becoming an antiques dealer. Full of antiques and vintage pieces, her home was a solid starting ground for what her career would later become. She moved to Paris to study fashion at first and, travelled the world as a model before acknowledging that her heart was really in interiors, moving to London to pursue her career in the industry. Her job is a dream for many, something she has worked undeniably hard for and nurtured since winning the prestigious recognition of Britain’s Best Emerging Interior Design Award. Prior to undertaking her position at Soho House she worked with some of the world’s top designers and firms including Martin Brudnizki, global studio Woods Bagot, Tara Bernerd & Partners and Tom Dixon, each of whom she gained significant experience with and invaluable knowledge from at such high level of design.
Pioneering in her ability to create a feeling through the combination of the functionality and aesthetics of her creations, Boronkay is a busy lady, traveling the world to oversee the groups newest global openings. For Nick Jones, Soho House’s founder, deciding to open a new club for the brand is always about finding the right building rather than location. Each club has a history and the team begins every project through a conversation with a local historian to understand the buildings past, aiming to bring it’s natural characteristics to life in the redesign. Furniture is either bought vintage or custom made - something Boronkay is very much involved in from her experience of product design during her time with Tom Dixon. The design process is a lengthy one that sees her and her team take into account everything from the history of the building to the important aspects of comfort and functionality of the buildings various spaces, all while keeping the celebrated strong, distinctive style of Soho House very much in tact. And she does it seamlessly.
During her lengthy and successful career, the designer has developed a diverse and impressive portfolio in luxury hospitality and residential design. Some of her completed projects include work for Nobu, Jamie Oliver, Qantas, Morgans Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Capital Group, Lend Lease and of course Soho House. Spanning 4 continents and 10 countries, you’re bound to stumble upon a Linda Boronkay creation no matter where your travels may take you.