David Oldroyd, principal and owner of internationally renowned design firm ODADA, joins Design Milk for Friday Five to share what keeps him centered, inspired, and more.

When David Oldroyd was a pre-med student, he envisioned the dream house he would own someday. Ever curious, he enrolled in an introductory design class and soon ended up on a path that transformed his life. ?I found myself studying for fun through the night and knew something was up,? Oldroyd says. ?I gambled on a semester off from medicine and only took design courses. I have never looked back.?
Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, founder of ODADA, hired Oldroyd in 1990, and for more than two decades they collaborated on a variety of projects from corporate offices to showrooms and residences. Based in San Francisco, Oldroyd is now principal and owner of the firm, which is known for a clean, sophisticated aesthetic. David Oldroyd
Oldroyd?s own inspirations take many forms, yet his love of classical music, nurtured by his parents, is a mainstay. His mother encouraged him to practice, while his father taught him to hear the ?sound? of snowfall. Visuals are just as resonant for the designer and his clients, so he will often sketch something that catches his eye on the back of a business card, or take a snapshot with his mobile phone. Certain pieces ? from the pre-Instagram days ? still remain vivid in his mind. ?As a child I was mesmerized by the swirling patterns of hand-braided cotton area rugs, woven from the las...