Sonya Haffey
Sonya Haffey is the CEO of V Starr and has led the firm since 2009. When she joined the company, Sonya used her extensive experience from previous roles, as founder of her own design firm, to transition V Starr from being exclusively residential to including a strong commercial basis.
Sonya works with the team, on keeping V Starr running as a well-oiled machine. The team brings together their strengths to create impactful designs such as those at V Starr’s first hospitality project, the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami. Sonya has a signature whimsical outlook and passionate energy, an approach that shines through in the firm’s projects , including the Spa at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the West Half Lounge overlooking Nationals Park in Washington, DC, a lounge at Chicago’s Midtown Athletic Club flagship, and the V Suite at the adjoining Hotel at Midtown in Chicago in addition to a growing hospitality portfolio with full hotel projects and a host of multi-family properties. Recently, Sonya worked with her team to create V Starr’s first product collaboration with Wolf-Gordon, The Muse Collection.
Sonya attended Florida State University and, after graduating, studied interior design abroad in places such as London, Paris, Milan and Glasgow. She was licensed two years after entering the design world proving her passion for the field and desire to become a serious professional.
Sonya’s specialties are business development and relationships. She has a natural talent for space planning that has been proven during her years of experience.
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
The Architectural Imagination – Harvard University 2020
NCIDQ Qualified Designer 2002
Furniture Design Specialty – Living Divani – Lake Como, Italy 2003
Custom Kitchen Design – Boffi Kitchens, Milan, Italy 2003
BS Interior Design – Florida State University 2000
ID Study Abroad – Florida State University London, Paris, Milan 1999
SELECT AWARDS
2022 Florida State University Distinguished Alumni Award
2021 HIP Award – Hospitality Fabric – Muse Collection
2019 Hospitality Design Wave of the Future
2018 HD Gold Key Finalist Best Suite
2018 NEWH Gold Palm Best Guest Room
2018 NEWH Gold Palm Best Spa & Wellness
2007 1st Place Workshop/ Office Design – ASID Design Excellence
2005 1st Place Residence Under 5,000 sq ft – ASID Interior Design Excellence
2003 1st Place Product Design – DCOTA Night of the Stars
SELECT PREVIOUS PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Cucina Restaurant: Palm Beach, FL
Okeechobee Steakhouse: West Palm Beach, FL
Callaro’s Steakhouse: Lake Worth, FL
Gigi’s Restaurant: Palm Beach, FL
Jade Ocean Tower: Sunny Isles, FL
Artech Tower: Miami, FL
The Gallery Lounge & Club: Miami, FL
Vista Club Hotel: Orlando, FL
SELECT PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS
NeoConnect Be Well Series – August 2020
Hospitality Design – May 2020
Interior Design – 2020
Apartment Therapy – November 2019
InspireDesign – October 2019
CN Traveller – October 2019
InspireDesign – August 2019
HD Summit – May 2019
Business of Home – January 2019
InspireDesign – Fall 2018
HD Expo – August 2018
Palm Beach Post – July 2018
Hospitality Design – July 2018
Business of Home – June 2018
Office Insight – May 2018
Hotel Business – May 2018
Hospitality Design – May 2018
Hospitality Trendz – February 2018
Southern Living – 2018
Boutique Design – 2018
The Miami Herald Home & Decor – Dec 24 2006
The Miami Herald Home & Decor – Nov 5 2006
The Palm Beach Post – July 14/15 2006
Miami Home and Decor – Feb 2006
Florida Design, Vol 15 No. 3 – Fall 2005