We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Nataliia Pleshkova ("NP").
Nataliia Pleshkova is a recent graduate from the interior design program at UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, California. At the moment she works as an interior design freelancer in Miami, Florida and specializes in residential interior design. She brings her passion for interior design history into her projects and often draws on historical references and reinterprets them in terms of current trends, needs, materials, and modern technologies in interior design and furniture production.
Nataliia Pleshkova Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Nataliia Pleshkova.
Nataliia Pleshkova Design - Roentgen Nightstand
Designer Interview of Nataliia Pleshkova:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
NP : I am a recent graduate from the interior design program at UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, California, where I spent two years. At the moment, I am making professional transition from accounting to interior design to follow my passion and work as an interior design freelancer.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
NP : I bring my passion for interior design history into the projects and often draw on historical references and reinterpret them in terms of current trends, needs, materials, and modern technologies in interior design and furniture production.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
NP : My most favorite design is Roentgen nightstand that was inspired by the works of David Roentgen, German cabinetmaker who was famous for the creation of mechanical furniture with secret drawers and compartments in the 18th century. Even thought the design of the nightstand is simple, it involves the owner in the process of unlatching and expanding it outward into the room to access a set of hidden drawers, which offer additional useful storage space and protection for personal belongings. Thus, historical reference is reinterpreted in terms of current trends, needs, materials, and modern technologies.
DI: What makes a design successful?
NP : A design is successful when it properly provides solutions to real problems while recognizing available budget and aesthetically fits to the surrounding context.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
NP : When judging a design as good or bad, first of all I consider whether it is provide a clear solution for the problem.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
NP : The design inspiration may occur as a result of traveling to new places, being exposed to a different culture or aesthetic, spending time in a beautiful natural setting, studying history of interior design and architecture and even conversations with people.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
NP : I live in historic Art Deco area in Miami Beach where I have learnt that the restoring historic buildings is a process of integration of the future with respect to the past despite all the challenges. It is not only is crucial to retaining the nation's heritage and history, but it is also environmental and practical.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
NP : Usually I develop all designs myself.