Inside Alexis Dupont’s Cinematic World of Interiors, Craftsmanship, and Maison Ming

For Alexis Dupont, design has always been an extension of his memory, culture, and the rituals of everyday living.

Currently based in Hong Kong, the French designer has built a design practice defined by cinematic interiors, layered storytelling, and a personal dialogue between East and West.

“My career is truly an extension of my upbringing and my formal education in France, where I studied interior architecture,” Dupont says. “This discipline exists beautifully at the intersection of pure architecture, interior design, and decoration.”

His European approach to interior architecture continues to shape his work today, and Dupont considers spaces immersive experiences designed around human emotion and scale. He credits much of this sensibility to his childhood in France, where he grew up surrounded by abundant sources of inspiration.

“My parents were deeply passionate about local architecture, old books, flea markets, and museums,” he says. “Growing up immersed in such a rich tapestry of cultural elements meant that my career naturally expanded into a practice that embraces all these interconnected disciplines.”

Today, Dupont’s world revolves around two complementary ventures housed inside a restored 1943 four-story shophouse in Hong Kong’s Tai Hang neighborhood.

The first is Alexis Dupont Interiors, his architectural and interior design studio focused on high-end residential projects. The second is Maison Ming, a collection that reflects his fascination with craftsmanship and heritage.

“Alexis Dupont Interiors is the core of my architectural and interior design practice, where we focus on high-end, narrative-driven design for private clients,” he explains. “Maison Ming, on the other hand, is a bespoke furniture collection.”

If Dupont’s design studio shapes the architecture of a lifestyle, Maison Ming supplies its emotional texture. The collection includes uniquely crafted pieces that showcase techniques such as textured woods, cast glass, silk-and-wool tapestries, coconut marquetry, shagreen, and unlacquered brass, all of which are sourced around the globe from the finest makers.

“It is very much like haute couture for interiors,” Dupont says.

That fashion-like sensibility runs throughout his aesthetic. His interiors are elegant and luxurious, but without excess; he layers historical references with contemporary restraint.

“I would describe my aesthetic as cinematic, narrative-driven, and seamlessly balanced,” he says. “I don’t subscribe to fleeting trends. Instead, I aim for a quiet luxury that feels both acquired and timeless.”

Among all his projects, however, the most personal remains the Tai Hang studio and Maison Ming showroom itself. Transforming the 80-year-old shophouse into a creative sanctuary became a professional milestone—one that he is particularly proud of.

“Preserving its original fireplace, Parisian-style balcony, and Siamese-inspired windows while injecting contemporary vitality was a true labor of love,” he says.

The space also embodies Dupont’s multicultural design philosophy. French in upbringing but deeply inspired by Asia, he sees his work as a constant exchange between different histories and aesthetics.

“Culture and heritage are the very bedrock of my design philosophy, specifically the dialogue between East and West,” he says. “Growing up in France gave me a deep appreciation for classical proportions, romance, and the elegance of European design. However, I have a profound love for Asian culture and the multicultural fusion that defines Hong Kong.”

Even the name Maison Ming reflects this duality.

“Ming embodies the dualities of sun and moon, brightness and obscurity,” he explains.

His multifaceted sensibility is perhaps what resonates most strongly with clients and visitors. Dupont says some of the most meaningful recognition comes from people’s emotional reactions to his spaces.

“When visitors step into our Tai Hang studio and tell me they feel transported to the sun-drenched landscapes of southern France or a tranquil jungle, that emotional resonance is an incredible honor,” he says.

For Dupont, the true thrill of design lies in the fleeting moments when architecture and emotion align perfectly.

“Simply watching the sunlight dance through the original wooden shutters of a historic home, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow, is thrilling to me,” he says. “Breathing new life into old bones and seeing a client react to a home that perfectly reflects their own personal narrative—that is an unparalleled feeling.”