What sparked your interest in interior design?
I always adored other peoples’ houses and beautiful decoration and I enjoyed helping my parents decorate our house when we moved from Ukraine to Germany. I was quite involved and made some decisions on my own room that turned out very well. In Germany, it wasn’t a popular career choice to be an interior designer, but I was interested in developing this skill a lot.
You work on international projects for a variety of clients. What has been your favourite project so far?
One of my favourite projects so far was in Germany, working with a celebrity client. It was an old villa with high ceilings, and old fireplaces; very charming and classic architecture. The design and furniture was very modern and it was a big contrast in decoration. I love going to Germany as it’s my home country and working there is great.
And what has been your most challenging?
My most challenging project was in Nairobi, Kenya, a few years ago. It was a lot of fun but the design and the use of colours was very different from what we would usually use in Europe. We used a lot of bright colours and strong fabric designs and a mix of modern and classic furniture and finishes. In the end it all looked amazing but in London a design like this would not work just because of the light and the weather differences.
How do you juggle running your design showroom and studio at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre with your showroom in Mayfair?
I have amazing support from my great team that have worked with me for many years. Of course it is very challenging but also a lot of fun. The showroom and the design studio are very connected in terms of work and projects, so luckily they go hand in hand.
Who or what inspires you?
I get inspired by many things; successful and creative people, traveling, art and from reading books. I always keep my eyes open and I like to listen to other people’s experiences and discover new things, so I can get inspired.
Who is your favourite artist?
I love old artists and at the same time modern contemporary – they both inspire me and we can learn so much from them. It’s difficult to say names, but Old Masters and Impressionism are a couple of my favorite epochs in art. At the same time I love Frieze and the ideas behind some of the most absurd ideas to express art today.
What was the last exhibition you saw?
I just visited MoMa in New York – it is always very inspiring to see the evolving collection of modern and contemporary art.
How would you describe your style?
My style is very eclectic; I like to mix things and be unordinary. Working in one style becomes too boring for me; I need to bring out the personality of the person out or a story of the project. I like to mix new and old, antique and contemporary, to show the contrast and to break the rules sometimes.
What’s the most important room in your home?
The most important room in my home is the kitchen; it’s the heart of the house. It has to be comfy, with a small wow factor but also practical at the same time. I love cooking and to entertain my friends.
What’s on your bedside?
A couple of books that I read at the same time or need to look inside for inspiration, a bottle of water, an eye mask and fresh flowers.
What is your favourite piece of furniture?
My Baxter sofa in the living room – I love cuddling there after a long day.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of my company and my team, the way we work and how much we have achieved already in the last years in terms of different projects.
What are you currently working on?
We have started to work on some new project developments like the Battersea Power Station and Holland Green. I am also working on residential projects in Belgravia and a large office refurbishment for a private company in Mayfair.
