Islyn Studio Inc.

05/12/2026

Uchi DC is now open!

Located in Washington’s Golden Triangle, our second collaboration with was designed as a restaurant deeply connected to the rhythm and character of its neighborhood, warm, intimate, cinematic, and quietly transportive.

Inspired by New Formalist Modernism and the expressive geometry of mid-century architecture, the space unfolds as a carefully orchestrated journey through layered thresholds, hidden corners, and atmospheric dining rooms. Rich tones of crimson, jade green, walnut, and muted gold create a sensual backdrop shaped by soft light, tactile materials, and moments of concealment and discovery.

Rather than announce itself loudly, Uchi DC was imagined as a place that feels found over time, immersive, romantic, and deeply personal. Every room was designed to bring guests closer, to the food, to one another, and to the experience itself.

We’re incredibly grateful to Hai Hospitality and the many collaborators who helped bring this project to life.

Now open in Washington, DC.

Photography by .jess.laird and

WashingtonDC

05/11/2026

At Uchi DC, even the most private spaces are part of the story.

Layered mirrors, glowing paper lanterns, saturated color, and walnut surfaces create an atmosphere that feels surreal, dreamlike, and cinematic.

Each bathroom becomes its own discovery, wrapped in vivid tones of green, red, blue, or orange, drawing guests deeper into the restaurant’s immersive universe.

Throughout the space, moments of concealment and surprise shape the experience, allowing every room to unfold like a scene within the larger narrative.

Opening tomorrow, May 12.

Photography by .jess.laird

05/11/2026

Tomorrow, DC opens in Washington’s Golden Triangle.

Our second collaboration with begins with a moment of quiet arrival.

The reception space was designed as a threshold, warm walnut paneling, softened light, geometric forms, and a restrained material palette that slowly separates the restaurant from the pace of the city outside.

Inspired by the rhythm and refinement of the neighborhood surrounding it, the experience unfolds gradually, intimate, cinematic, and quietly transportive.

Follow along as we continue to share each area of the restaurant in the days ahead.

Opening May 12 at 1700 M Street NW.

Photography by .jess.laird

WashingtonDC

05/11/2026

04/23/2026

Late this summer, we have a new hotel project opening in Greenport, NY with , The Oyster Estate.

Our hearts have been completely taken by this small coastal town on the North Fork, its roadside farm stands, briny oysters, wildflower fields, wineries, cherry blossoms and birding.

We’ve spent our days riding bikes to a sunset swim at 67 Steps Beach, then warming up back at The Oyster Estate hot tub, and our evenings shooting pool and hearing stories of mermaids at Whiskey Wind, in a town that still feels undiscovered, as wild as it is free.

We can’t wait to share this place with all of you, and are deeply grateful to our partners at Blue Flag for trusting us to bring it to life.

04/08/2026

It’s almost ramp season which has us dreaming about a soon needed visit to our project .kingston in the Hudson Valley 🌿

03/26/2026

This Women’s History Month we are celebrating the incredible team behind Islyn.
We are honored to receive the Dezeen Jobs Top Companies Award 2026, which recognizes studios around the world creating inspiring, inclusive and forward thinking workplaces.
The timing feels a bit like kismet.

Our studio is made up entirely of women, an extraordinary group of designers who believe the way we work is just as important as what we create.
For decades, the design and hospitality industries have normalized burnout as the cost of creativity. We believe the future of design requires something different.

At Islyn we are building a studio rooted in trust, curiosity, mentorship and respect for life outside of work. When people feel supported, they create their most thoughtful and imaginative ideas.

That philosophy also shapes the clients we choose to work with.

We are inspired to collaborate with more founders, especially women, who believe design can help reshape industries and communities.

Most of all, we are grateful for the remarkable women who make this studio possible every day.

Happy Women’s History Month from all of us at Islyn Studio!

03/11/2026

We’re excited to share a first look at concept renderings for our newest project, Dune House, opening early this summer in Atlantic Beach, Florida!

Created in collaboration with , this beachside hotel is imagined as a love letter to the Atlantic, a place shaped by surfing, skate culture, magic sunrises, sea turtles, and the quiet wonder of a bohemian beach town that still feels a little untapped. Salt in the air, boards under arms at sunrise, and stories that get better with every retelling.

Our studio developed the interior design and branding, building a world where every object, texture, and detail carries the spirit of the coast.

Here, every object, every experience, every dish and drink is a key to a memory. Each holds a story about where it came from, what inspired it, how it was made, or what it means. The hotel will bring together a café, retail shop, spa, poolside tiki bar, an ice cream counter, and Coastal Farmer, a new restaurant concept from Sage rooted in fresh seafood and regional farms.

These concept renderings are just the beginning. We’re incredibly grateful to Sage Hospitality for the collaboration and can’t wait to welcome everyone once construction is complete.

Until then, follow for more glimpses of what’s taking shape by the sea.

11/13/2025

After a whirlwind week, I’m deeply honored and immensely proud to share that Islyn Studio has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 100 Hospitality Architects and Designers for 2026.

To say this is a career highlight would be an understatement.

When I founded Islyn eight years ago, my dream was to help reshape the hospitality industry from the inside out and to build spaces that are as empathetic and enduring as the people who inhabit them. This recognition from Forbes is more than an accolade, it is a reflection of the passion, persistence, and purpose that fuel our studio every single day.

From the very beginning, we have been guided by a few simple but powerful beliefs; that we design in service of feeling, that women deserve to thrive and lead in this industry, not burn out from it; that our clients and collaborators should be kind, curious, and as devoted to their craft as we are; and that design, at its best, can create community, spark emotion, and leave a legacy of substance.

The journey here has been anything but easy. From navigating the pandemic to growing through constant change in an ever changing landscape, our team never stopped believing in why we do what we do.

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”

To our extraordinary team, clients, and friends who have supported and encouraged us each step of the way, thank you. This moment belongs to all of you.

And thank you to the Forbes team, it is about time we had a list dedicated to hospitality designers. We will keep pushing big ideas, chasing the sublime, and designing a more thoughtful world, one project, one story, one space at a time.

Here is to what 2027 will bring. And congratulations to all the incredible studios on this year’s list.

With sincere gratitude,

Ashley Wilkins
Founder and Creative Director
Islyn Studio

06/05/2025

Its 87° in New York today. For those who don’t know, the spectacular Manhattanhenge is tonight. The city feels electric — golden light slicing through the grid, the skyline glowing...

It’s the perfect night to discover Leonessa, our new rooftop bar at the Conrad Hilton Downtown. Operated by Ariel Arce, it’s a place for Italian aperitivos, sun-warmed conversations, and the kind of views that make you fall in love with the city all over again.

Drinks start at golden hour. Stay for the sunset.