Interview: Elena Romanova

Interview with Elena Romanova Interiors

Why should people appoint an interior designer instead of managing their own project? A good interior designer will guide you through a confusing myriad of choices, help you understand your own interiors style, what works and what doesn’t work in your home. A good designer will not just save you time but also money through helping you to avoid expensive mistakes. You will not regret this decision!

What type of projects get you most excited? I get involved with a huge variety of projects. Colour and wallpaper consultation, small-scale refurbs for sale, all the way to full complex refurbs. I love transforming tired and unloved properties into something my clients would enjoy living in, something that reflects their lifestyle and design preferences. I especially enjoy working with clients who trust me and get excited about the project as much as I do.

Who or what have been your major influences and role models? My style is always evolving, I work in a variety of styles (since all clients and their homes are different). However, I would like to think there are always some underlying common influences and threads. I personally get most excited by designs that have individuality and soul. I love colour and pattern, I love mixing and matching, I love interiors that have been thought through, I love interiors that feel current and timeless at the same time. I love the restrained playfulness of Turner Pocock, the edgy coolness of Suzy Hoodless and the timeless sophistication of Ilse Crawford and Rose Uniacke.

In developing a style for a client’s property who takes the lead? It is paramount to listen to the client and try to understand how they live, what they like (and what they don’t like!). However, over the years I have come to realise that my job as a designer is to give my clients what they need which is not always the same as what they think they want. You cannot just “copy paste” another homes décor this into your own home. It might have to do with the way you live, or the architecture of your house, or the light your rooms are getting. I believe it is my job to listen and guide you through a myriad of choices to a solution that would best meet your specific needs. I challenge my clients a lot but I always do it in a constructive and positive way to make sure they understand why I am suggesting what I am suggesting and buy into it. After all, this is why they have hired me in the first place. Whatever the challenge, the chances are I must have seen it or done it before.

Is there a project that you are most proud of? Oh, there are so many.. I always give my all to each project I get involved in. I guess the projects that give me most satisfaction are the ones where we went for a full transformation and where we got on the same wavelength with the clients. The projects where the clients were engaging, responsive, trusting and open-minded. And I also love the clients who are brave and happy to be challenged! I had a client in Richmond who I helped to completely transform two houses over the course of a few years and we had so much fun – colour, amazing wallpapers, interesting lighting.. It was magical!