Experience the rebirth of Sri Lanka with Dee Gibson
Introducing Deep Dive, our latest content series where we ask creative women about their areas of expertise in the destinations that they know best. Come along for the ride as we dive deep into the world’s most exciting destinations through music, food, fashion, design, and more.
Dee Gibson is an interior designer and self-described “accidental” hotelier. She is the founder of Kalukanda House, a boutique hotel in Sri Lanka that featured in Conde Nast’s 2024 Best Places to Visit and is part of the Hip Hotel Collection. We caught up with Dee to hear about what’s exciting in Sri Lanka right now, how female entrepreneurs and creatives are paving the way forward, and why you should be supporting small businesses on the island.
Tell us more about your work.
As an interior designer, I’ve spent over 20 years working on large residential projects in London for private clients. I love to create spaces that evoke an emotional reaction through spatial design, texture and color. There is a lot of thought that goes into designing a space that is both visually beautiful and at the same time emotionally moving and functional. I call this approach Emotional Design. In 2017, I put this into practice for myself, building a boutique hotel in Sri Lanka from scratch. I was designing while considering future guests and how I wanted them to feel. Designing guest experiences is similar to designing their homes; getting under their skin and understanding what they want from Sri Lanka drives the experience we offer them.
What led you to open Kalukanda House?
I am a British Sri Lankan born in London and I lived on the island with my grandparents when I was young. I always had a deep connection with it and when my own children (who are mixed race) were old enough, I took them to Sri Lanka to show them their heritage. Standing on the tarmac when we landed brought back so many sensations. I was flooded with nostalgia and a sense of belonging. On the last day of that holiday, we made an offer on some land, I wanted to put roots down but I did not expect them to run as deep as they have since that moment!
Since then, we have been listed in various publications as one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka and I am really proud of these achievements as an “accidental” hotelier and someone who is approaching the business as consciously as I can. My belief in Sri Lanka, the people we work with, my team and our overall approach to recognising and embracing talent in our offerings, is delivering what I want from my business—an emotional connection. I talk to every single guest that comes through our doors and I maintain that the intersection between design and travel can be found in a perfect sweet spot where “luxury” is redefined as a feeling: how we make our guests feel about themselves, their experience and the memories we help them bank for their lifetime.
What’s exciting you about Sri Lanka at the moment?
Sri Lanka has had a rebirth after the Covid pandemic and other local issues. Coming out of the other side now, I see a dynamic, creatively pulsating layer of society that is innovating and driving new ideas. Sri Lanka is known for historic architecture and ancient kingdoms steeped in culture, but there is a present culture that is not talked about and that is extremely exciting and one I want to show to people. The island is very much in the 21st century despite what you might read sometimes.
You’re passionate about female entrepreneurship. What does that look like in Sri Lanka right now?
I’m a passionate supporter of women in business, but I realised in the last year that nobody is talking about them outside of the island! Women in every creative industry you can imagine are innovating products and ideas, blending them with heritage, and taking the island into a very exciting future. I set up HERA Project X to shine a light on as many women as I could find so that those looking in from the outside see a clear and true picture of who Sri Lankans are. There are women using blockchain technology in heritage craft industries to ensure fair trade and equitable pricing, and creating catwalk-ready jewelry from sea glass and sustainable materials. Architects, artists, textile designers, photographers, gallery owners, writers, comedians - and many many more - all these women are using their art forms for progress and as a rhetoric to right wrongs that they see and write their own stories.
You’ve combined all of your passions into an upcoming retreat. Can we hear some more about it?
The HERA Project X Retreat in June is a brand new concept in retreats, combining travel and wellness with cultural exchange. Alongside delicious food, massages, yoga, and gong baths, we will be providing daily opportunities for creative female leaders from the West to meet their Sri Lankan counterparts to share ideas and stories. I like to call it a special blend of curation and creative abandon. Using my same design approach, I’m tailoring the retreat to the participants. I want to see emotion in the room so that everybody goes home with new friendships, creative inspiration, and a deeper understanding of Sri Lankan culture. We also partner with local projects championing female causes such as protecting abused women, providing mentoring and education opportunities, and developing confidence.
What small businesses should we support when we visit Sri Lanka?
I would ask you to look out for businesses that are working with a circular economy in mind and with social impact. There is a great deal of talent in Sri Lanka and discerning business owners with a conscious mindset are working with these talented people to provide high levels of service and product to their clients, and supporting communities. Money makes the world go round, but I think we are in an age now where we must think about who we give our money to. How wonderful to know you can have the trip of a lifetime and be doing some good with no extra cost to yourself. It may be that community help is provided by procuring craft skills and giving back resources to help progress in education or life skills. Can we choose hotels that have these missions in place so that we are part of this circular machine? Find out about the initiatives, find out about the people and most importantly, find out for yourself in person about the truth of the island. Of course, I would also say, support as many women as you can - they are working to support their families and their communities and are often the un-celebrated members of society (worldwide). I can vouch for them, it is why I set up HERA Project X. As a female founder myself, I greatly appreciate them. I often think that travelling and staying in places run by the founders is a fast route to getting really close to local culture. Big chains serve a purpose but the smaller places get you up close and personal and you are looked after with so much care. A female-owned business you must check out is HOPE Market in Ahangama (book ahead). This is where you can actually experience lace-making or basket weaving.
Tell us your favourite hidden gems on the island.
I absolutely love sitting in our gardens at Kalukanda House. Surrounded by an incredible golden rock, we have endemic birds including peacocks, kingfishers, and sometimes eagles alongside monkeys and other wildlife. Tall ancient trees surround us and we planted frangipanI for scent…yet we are only 2 minutes from the beach. It is a secret garden, nobody expects our little oasis in this spot. Venturing out, I love:
Galle Fort Hotel - go for the mango lassi
Malabar Hills - for sunset drinks
Wijaya Beach - to swim with turtles (go early before too many tourists arrive)
Tiki Bar - a lovely restaurant owned and run by a local chef. They serve the most delicious fresh tuna steak and salad
