From TV Dreams to Design Reality
Semiha Goktepe, a Turkish interior designer based in Terneuzen, Netherlands, traces her passion back to The Block on TLC. “I was fascinated by space transformations,” she recalls. By 14, she was experimenting with design, and after graduating from Eindhoven, she turned that curiosity into a career. Today, through her company Semhora Design, she crafts interiors for homeowners and businesses—from budget-conscious renovations to luxury penthouses—always ensuring the result feels like “a second skin” to the client.
Design Philosophy: No Signature Style, Just Signature Stories
Unlike many designers, Semiha refuses to impose a personal aesthetic. “I listen to my clients, whether their taste is very neutral or playful and full of creative chaos. I immerse myself in their aesthetic and try to truly understand who they are,” she explains. “My goal isn’t to impose an aesthetic but to uncover theirs—to design spaces that feel authentically theirs.”
What remains unwavering in her work? An obsession with detail. “I don’t chase trends or confine myself to a single design movement,” she says. “My process is intuitive, but always intentional. A well-designed interior should feel like a second skin—natural, comforting, and unmistakably personal.” For Semiha, great design isn’t just visually appealing; it’s layered, personal, and emotionally resonant: “I believe in the power of contrast: simplicity and expression, calm and tension.”
Inspiration: From Travel to Emotion
When it comes to inspiration, Semiha draws from diverse sources—travel, people, art, materials, and emotion. “Traveling allows me to discover new cultures, color combinations, and forms that broaden my perspective on design,” she shares. “I also draw inspiration from the people I meet. Their stories, habits, and way of living shape how I translate a space to reflect who they are.”
Art and materials are equally vital. The texture of fabric, the character of wood grain, or the interplay of light on surfaces can spark entire concepts. “Above all, emotion drives my process. A space shouldn’t just function or look beautiful—it should feel like something: calm, energetic, warm… That’s what I strive for.”
First Meet Coohom: The Critical Saver for a Struggling Project
Semiha vividly remembers discovering Coohom during a challenging project. At the time, she used SketchUp and Twinmotion for renders and walkthroughs, dedicating four grueling days (seven hours daily) only to abandon the approach due to inefficient results.
Frustrated, she sought better solutions online and found Coohom through design communities and TikTok. Testing it with random furniture pieces, she was stunned—the rendering quality exceeded expectations, and the time saved was dramatic.
Today, Coohom is essential to her workflow, particularly for final renders after space planning in other programs. She highlights three key features:
·A comprehensive furniture library, eliminating tedious model searches.
·An integrated rendering environment, allowing seamless design-to-visualization switching.
·Professional 2D floor plans that elevate client presentations.
For Semiha, Coohom restored balance—reducing technical hurdles while boosting deliverable quality. It helps clients visualize their spaces with unprecedented clarity and efficiency.
Transformation Triumph: A Penthouse Project to Remember
Among Semiha’s proudest projects is the redesign of a newly built penthouse in Terneuzen with breathtaking sea views. This living room and kitchen transformation embodies her core values: bold aesthetics paired with intelligent functionality.
The project began with architectural challenges—awkward walls and a confusing layout. Initially requesting mid-century modern, the clients, through Semiha’s guidance, realized their true affinity for postmodernism. Her final design resolved spatial issues, complemented the building’s architecture, and, most importantly, reflected the clients’ personalities. Their reaction said it all: they were stunned, barely recognizing their own space.
For Semiha, this penthouse captures the magic of design—when clients see their reimagined space and can’t believe it’s theirs. Combined with Coohom’s visualization power, the project became a perfect marriage of creativity and technical execution.
Advice & Future: Start Simple, Dream Big
For Coohom beginners, Semiha advises: “Start simple. Design a small space first and explore the platform step by step. This way, you’ll learn without feeling overwhelmed.”
Looking ahead, her philosophy evolves: “I want to surprise people with designs that go beyond beauty—to create interiors where emotion, experience, and personality converge.” Professionally, she dreams of collaboration: “I’d love to work with other creatives and brands, and someday launch my own studio—where creativity, freedom, and client connection thrive.”
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Semiha Goktepe’s journey—from a teenager inspired by TV makeovers to a designer reshaping interiors with emotional depth—proves that great design transcends aesthetics. By prioritizing her clients’ narratives over trends, harnessing inspiration from the world around her, and leveraging tools like Coohom to bridge creativity and execution, she turns spaces into intimate, authentic experiences. For Semiha, the magic lies in that pivotal moment when a client steps into their transformed space and thinks, This is unmistakably me. And with her eyes set on the future, one thing is clear: her story—and the stories she designs—are only just beginning.
