The FDG Founder
Fatima Silva, Principal
Founder and principal of FDG Design Group, Fatima Silva is an internationally recognized interior designer. Her South African roots, Portuguese heritage, and Hong Kong experience influence her unique approach of constantly exploring and drawing inspiration from history and architecture—creating synergy between collected pieces or simply the excitement to create. This is the ethos that underpins every project she works on.
Fatima’s projects span the globe, from Hong Kong, London, New York, Miami, Aspen, Hawaii, Mexico and beyond. She strives to create authenticity in each project by establishing a distinct style that is true to the location, lifestyle and natural environment.
Fatima received her academic training in Interior and Graphic Design, which is the foundation of her carefully crafted design.
The Team
Natalia Severdia, Principal
Natalia Severdia specializes in Hospitality Design, building from a foundation based on a Master’s degree in Travel and Tourism as well as Foreign Cultures and Arts. This allows her to design with a unique perspective of understanding the culture of the environment. Her European background gives her a unique perspective and creative edge.
Natalia has worked on design and implementation for brands such as Four Seasons, Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Kimpton, to create designs that are memorable, functional, and environmentally conscious. Her signature projects include Wellness and Spas that transform visitors’ experience, drive revenue, and are considered a destination on their own.
Karen Huang, Associate
Karen is a Brazilian architect & designer born and raised in São Paulo. She began her career early on, working with one of the largest real estate development company in São Paulo, while still in architecture school. Driven by her love and eyes for details, after graduation, Karen decided to fly overseas to specialize herself in Interior Architecture & Interior Design, at University of California, Berkeley.
Her first job in United States as a designer was at a well known high end architecture & landscape company, where she was able to fully immerse herself in the hospitality world. In 2018, Karen joined FDG Design Group where she has been able to complete stunning residential & hospitality projects and work with incredible clients.
Eric Lacroix, Job Captain
Eric LaCroix prefers to take a thoughtful, holistic approach when collaborating on interior design and architecture. Understanding that the needs of the client are tantamount, Eric enjoys the creative problem-solving process of translating the client’s conceptual desires into tangible results. Eric possesses a background across several disciplines of architecture and interior design, including commercial, healthcare, both single- and multi-family residential design, as well as real estate development. His diverse experiences have contributed to a greater comprehension of integrated design, and his innate curiosity results in a persistent proclivity for further continuous learning.
Antonia Widodo, Senior Designer
Antonia discovered her passion for interior design through her love for textiles and art from her native Indonesia. As FDG Design Group’s Senior Designer, she brings experience from her time as a junior designer at Hart Howerton and as a freelance designer with a wide range of clients. Her design aesthetic is inspired by her travels around the world, and of course, designs stemming from Indonesia. She graduated with the Highest Distinction in Interior Design from the California College of the Arts in 2018 and winning an award from the Angelo Donghia Foundation during her time there.
Adam Nuru, Architectural Designer
Architectural designer with a passion for creating beautiful and functional spaces. Adam has developed a keen appreciation for the uniqueness and diversity of different architectural techniques and environments from his background & travels. Living in San Francisco's Bay Area for nearly a decade, he graduated from the Academy of Art University with a bachelor's degree in Architecture & has three years of professional experience honing his skill in the single - family residential sector. He takes an analytical approach when collaborating with teams on various projects to ensure that client satisfaction is accomplished. Awards from his time in university include the SF Design week and SFHDC everyday heroes awards. His Interests and hobbies include technology, product design and photography.
Zoe Qiaoyu Zheng, Architectural Designer
Zoe Zheng is an architectural designer with roots in Southern China. Zoe began her architectural and design calling in the vibrant landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Architecture from the Academy of Art University. Zoe's professional journey thus far has included work within residential and commercial projects. She is excited to continue honing her skills, exercising her creativity, and collaborating with the diverse team at FDG. For Zoe, working closely with clients to exceed expectations and realize shared visions of future spaces drives her to continue learning new skills and to face new challenges. She has quickly assimilated to the office and has made many meaningful contributions to existing projects as an architectural and interior designer.
Bora Kim, Designer
Bora Kim is an experienced Interior Designer with projects ranging from residential, commercial and hospitality sectors. She earned her Masters in Interior Architecture from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She started her career with high end residential projects, then worked at architecture and furniture design firms such as Hart Howerton and CRI expanding her portfolio to include large resort projects and commercial interior spaces. Creating unique interiors that have a positive impact on her client's lives, her experience has enhanced her ability to pinpoint business needs and work under a variety of budgets, styles, and timeframes to create beautiful designs.
Juliet Tutko, Designer
Juliet Tutko, originally from Ukraine, began her journey as an architect but soon realized that design was her true calling. Juliet’s design philosophy revolves around minimalism, mid-century style, and national cultural influences, which reflect her European taste and vision.
For Juliet, design is concentrated on helping people experience more comfort and ease in their living spaces. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to merging aesthetics with functionality, Juliet crafts spaces that exude elegance and simplicity.
Linda Thao, Designer
Linda is an American-born designer, with a heritage in Hmong. She started her career designing at FDG. Incorporating sustainability into her designs and working within local communities influences Linda’s creativity and work ethic. Her passion for design stems from her desire to promote the end user’s well-being in all spaces she helps curate. As part of the FDG team, Linda has experience working on high-end residential and hospitality projects.
Prior to starting with FDG Design, Linda completed an internship with Design Si and The Rebuild Paradise Foundation to help provide affordable floor plans for survivors of the 2018 Northern California Camp Fire.
Maria Barker, Junior Designer
Maria’s experiences abroad provide her with a strong international perspective as well as a creative foundation for her passion for design. Her worldly travel experiences has allowed her to develop a strong passion for learning about other countries and specifically their art, cuisine, and architecture. She began her career in the construction industry working in residential permitting and decided to pursue a career in Interior Design.
Maria received her Bachelor of Arts in Art History with minors in European Studies and Italian Language in California. She decided to continue her Interior Design education abroad, focusing on Retail and Commercial Spaces in Florence, Italy.
Steven Barrera, Junior Designer
Junior Designer, Steven Barrera, originally from southern Arizona, comes to FDG with a background in community advocacy. Heavily influenced by artists who celebrate the desert in their work, Steven is encouraged to find symbiosis between interior projects and their geographical surroundings.
A boutique firm where he can learn elements of design on the job, Steven enjoys the collaborative work environment at FDG. Having worked in all stages of the design process from schematic design to installation, Steven brings his expertise to any project he works on.
Steven holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of Arizona.
Rachel Lee, Junior Designer
Rachel, a Korean American designer, brings a dynamic blend of creativity and a fresh perspective to FDG. Her passion for design stems from her appreciation of architecture and the form of art.
With a B.S. in Interior Design, she possesses a keen eye for detail and a passion for staying ahead of design trends. With a commitment to learning and an innate flair for harmonizing aesthetics with practicality, she is eager to contribute her innovative ideas and learn from every design challenge.
Lauren Dunn, Junior Designer
Coming from San Bernardino, Southern California, Lauren Dunn joins the FDG team with a strong vigor and advocative approach to designing human-centered interiors. Lauren takes pride in her inveterate affinity towards the world of art and aesthetics, but it wasn’t until college that she garnered a passion for the anthropological and holistic aspects that can improve the quality of life for different communities. Lauren credits her initial love for interior design to her mother—who would collect design catalogues—and to her innate passion for humanities.
Lauren is completed her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at San Francisco State University, where she mentored first year students and advocated for social equality. During her junior year of college, she interned at the HEWN Showroom at the San Francisco Design Center—where she gained a stronger sense of industry knowledge and assurance of her career path. Thus, Lauren intends to continue exploring all facets of the design industry throughout her career because she believes there is always something new to learn.
Sloan Fisher, Intern
Sloan Fisher recently graduated from Tulane University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in Design through the Tulane School of Architecture. During her time studying design in New Orleans, she immersed herself in the city known for its historic preservation, which she gained an understanding and appreciation for.
Growing up in Chicago, Sloan’s mother was a fashion designer and her father, who had a passion for interior design, was the owner of a construction business. Her deep love for design was shared within the family and she describes her love for design, “It is what fuels me”. Sloan has had experience working in multiple realms of design, including, interior design, fashion design, and jewelry design. She has a deep understanding for how design correlates to evoking emotion, especially when it comes to how a space can evoke emotion. Her curiosity for the world and the art within it brings an enthusiastic approach to her work ethic.