Ghislaine Van Loosbroek Viñas

Blogger, Business leader, Consultant, Designer, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Foodie, Idea generator

Born in the Netherlands and raised in South Africa, I count myself lucky from an early age. Lucky to have been exposed to 2 cultures while growing up. Our Dutch life at home and my exposure to the rich culture, incredible surroundings and a wonderful life in South Africa. Having to move back to the Netherlands at age 18 due to the instability of the country I found adapting to Dutch life difficult after having been ripped away from a life I loved in the southern hemisphere. I moved to America in 1985 and I found American life exciting and fun. After having lived in the Netherlands for just one short year I knew quickly that the USA felt like home. After studying interior design at Philadelphia University I moved to New York City. This city intrigued me from the minute I stepped foot onto the dirty sidewalks. I feel lucky that I have always been confident. I realize now that confidence is a gift that has proved to be very useful in my life. I've never really been that afraid of things. I'm not good at everything .... there are lots of things I am awful at, but I know what I'm good at and I'm a really hard worker and I'm driven. I started my interior design business in 2000 and since then have been able to work on projects that I am truly proud of. I know my strengths and find people to collaborative with in areas where I am weak. I enjoy working in teams so collaborations also affords a work style I enjoy. I have a short attention span and love thinking big picture and I prefer leaving to details to someone else I trust. I am lucky to be married to a talented graphic designer and even luckier to have two beautiful, healthy well adjusted girls.

I'm passionate about being happy and dont like negativity. I believe in the aesthetics of happiness and work hard on creating interiors in which people feel happy.

I am afraid of being mauled by a bear while strolling in the woods but I am not afraid of color. I am mystified about peoples fear of color and I often wonder where this fear comes from. I know that people innately love color, children love color but then we learn to fear it. I am disheartened by the overuse of beige and neutrals in peoples lives. Color is life.

Collaborator, Color Consultant, designer of furniture and interiors products, employer, fun seeker, interior design, Mother, stylist

I found out about TED from Paige West. She would come back from TED and tell me how she felt energized and renewed and she looked like she was ready to take on the world. She would share TED talks with me and introduce me to people who inspired her. I would see her take action, do good things and become involved. Then one day two years ago she said to me "I'm taking you to TED this year" and I was overwhelmed with excitement. Her generosity is insane. 2011 was my first TED experience and I was a little shy. This year I feel excited and curious and feel more confident about steering the experience little bit more. I appreciate TED on so many levels.

I think people who know me know what I'm good at. Here are some things I'm bad at - listening and being patient and I have a horribly short attention span. I am quick to judge.