New year, new goals, they say. We reply: new year, new blog! At Unika Interior, we have one mission: to make interior design accessible, affordable and sustainable. We believe interior design shouldn’t be a luxury, but a service that every person who wants to feel better at home should have access to. This is why we have created this business in 2020, and for this same reason, we are launching this blog today: the first of our many new projects in 2021.
We believe there is no better way to start this interior design blog with a 10 questions interview with our Art Director, Interior Designer (and of course, Co-Founder) Beatrice De Franceschi: the creative brain (and hand) behind all our projects. We hope you can find true inspiration in her words.
1 – Tell us about your background and your job
I graduated in Product Design in Verona, Italy, and after that I quickly felt the urge of knowing more about different cultures and challenging my skills elsewhere. The plan was to stay for only three months but after a while, I decided to stay longer and I got a photographer job in Dublin for an online fashion magazine. I then decided to move to Copenhagen driven by the high standard of Danish interior design. I’m now working as a stylist, photographer, and interior designer for a Danish brand of furniture and lighting. And, of course, I lead the Art Direction and Interior Design at Unika Interior
2 – What do you love about interior design? What made you choose this career?
I’ve always been a creative person since I was a child. I decided to follow the interior designer career when I realized that on my days off and weekends what I loved the most was turning my bedroom inside out to find a cozier way of living and adding new stuff found in markets. It’s a way for me to feel relaxed and switch off my mind from everyday life. This is the same message I want to convey to help people to feel better at home.
3 – What’s your favorite interior decor style?
My favorite decoration style is the Mediterranean style, inspired by the design of Southern European countries. Coming from a warm and colorful country, this is the style I feel more comfortable with. I love to use natural materials such as wood, stones, and ceramics for example. I like playing with accessories in a Mediterranean-style home. My favorite vibe: simple pieces with a rustic vibe.
4 – What is your favorite color palette?
I like colors inspired by the nature which surrounds us. I like the lavender shades of the sea, the beige colors coming from the sand, and the terracotta and olive inspired by the Mediterranean craft elements like ceramics.
5 – What are your favorite design items?
I have a strong passion for dining chairs. I like to mix and match them using different colors and materials. I think they are an essential item of home styling.
6 – Which interior designers inspire you in your job and style?
One of my favorite design and architect reference is Mar plus Ask, an architecture studio based between Valencia, Mallorca, and Copenhagen. I admire the way in which they merge Scandinavian and Mediterranean interior styles.
7 – How can someone understand his/her own deco style?
Definitely doing deep research and browsing ideas through lots of magazines in your free time. Your style should come out in a pretty natural way once you choose the colors and inspirations you prefer. I spend many hours reading interior and travel magazines because I find many inspirations for my projects there. It also depends on your personality and your lifestyle. Our style test is designed to understand these two elements to find the right home decoration style for everyone!
8 – What is the first thing to understand before decorating a space?
Before starting decorating your room ask yourself what is that you are missing and decide on your room’s functional needs. After that, create an inspiration board and decide which style you want to go for. We all know that there are many great ideas out there and thousands of possible different directions, so take your time with this. Another important aspect of decorating your space is the light. Lighting is a very important factor in changing the mood of a room. It can create the perception of the room is much larger than its actual size.
9 – What are the 3 main dont’s when choosing furniture?
1. Don’t buy a piece of furniture just because it’s a “great deal”
2. Don’t forget to get a piece that is stylish but also functional
3. Don’t push all the furniture up against the walls
10 – How do you like to work with Unika’s clients?
I love working with different clients because I always get a different challenge and every project is different from the one before. I like to understand what each client wants to achieve, show it through my sketches and renderings, and eventually make him/her truly feel at home. Especially nowadays, our home is the place where we spend most of our time: we must feel comfortable, loved, and secure in its holy space.
Do you want to work with our amazing and inspiring interior designer? We know, we wanna do it too (wait, we actually do!). Feel feel to contact her via our website to start your home project and finally create the space you’ve always wanted.
Interview by Lilly, Co-Founder, Marketing Lead & Brand Ambassador.
Discover more about us.