Your work, your style, and even the way you live all share a strong, instantly recognizable visual DNA. How would you describe it and where do you find the inspiration that shapes it?
Thank you, that’s very kind. I would say my visual DNA comes from my education back in Ukraine and then also listening to myself constantly. I’m not trying to be “less digital,” but I do consciously try to find beauty in history and predominantly offline. My main sources of inspiration are museums and books; novels, stories, and art books. Whenever I feel stuck or uninspired, I go to a museum. Any museum, anywhere. I can spend hours just looking at small details, staring at parts of paintings. I try to reflect this inspiration in my work, especially in my use of light. That’s something I am deeply inspired by.
We are very curious about daily well-being and how we can create spaces that nurture it. What does well-being mean to you, and how do you carve out small moments for it throughout your day?
About two years ago, I made a very conscious decision to take better care of myself and my body. For me, well-being means being able to say no. I don’t have children, so I allow myself to have very quiet evenings after busy days. Sometimes I cancel dinners or events just to be alone, to read or to paint. That is extremely important to me.
At home, I avoid big lights completely. We only have floor lamps everywhere. It’s actually funny because in our bedroom, you can barely see anything and with 99% of my wardrobe being black, getting dressed in the evening can be a challenge. Warm lighting is everything for me, it really helps my nervous system.
In both my apartments in Berlin and Paris, I always have space for a yoga mat. Movement, stretching, and some kind of activity are essential for me. Decluttering has also been a big journey. I love messy spaces, but they have to be the right level of messy; otherwise, I get overwhelmed and then suddenly have this urge to throw away half of my wardrobe or kitchen. Every three months, I try to declutter one part of my flat and give away or sell things.
As a creative, how do your surroundings influence you and how do you shape your space to support your needs?
For eight years, I had a studio in Berlin that I loved deeply. It was my safe space, my creative bubble. But last year I let it go because most of my work moved to Paris. Now I work from home again, and I have created small working corners in both cities. In Berlin, I have this vintage glass desk that everyone told me was impractical, but I love it. It makes me very inspired to work on it and just feels put together especially on the days where I don't feel like that. I also love working from the couch, especially when I am selecting images from the shoot or putting together moodboards for shoots.
What role does design and material play in creating mood and energy in your space?
I love design, but I am not obsessed with it. For me, beauty has to meet functionality. If a design piece is uncomfortable, I would never buy it. Materials matter a lot, they need to be durable. I would love a white couch, but I have a dog, and I do not want to clean every five minutes. So practicality always wins. Feeling comfortable in your home is everything. Especially in Berlin winters, when it is so gray outside, my home becomes a sanctuary and I often try to invite friends over and I love to organize small parties, especially when it is too cold or the weather is bad, making my flat cosy with all the candles and have my girlfriends over is everything. Even in my tiny Paris apartment, I try to make it as cozy as possible. And I love vintage and second-hand finds. I was already schlepping a chair and a vintage cupboard I got for 40 euros up my 4th floor in Paris.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone designing their first home, what would it be?
Give yourself time. Do not rush to buy everything at once. Live in the space. Observe how you move, where you like to sit, where you read, and where you relax. Let the home tell you what it needs. Also, notice how light falls throughout the day. This really helps you understand where furniture should live and potentially the size of it. For us, our Berlin home is a constantly developing project, where we take time to find the perfect pieces.
You recently welcomed the new Torio sofa from Noah into your home, what do you love about this furniture piece?
Choosing it was a funny story, I was on shoots in Paris while all the color samples arrived in Berlin. My husband and I ended up FaceTiming at 8am to see the colors in natural light. I wanted something crazy like pink, yellow and green because our previous couch was gray. We ended up choosing a more subtle shade, and I am so grateful, it fits our space perfectly.
It is incredibly comfortable and modular, and since we love hosting, being able to rearrange it for parties is amazing. Two couches facing each other was always on my inspiration boards and now it can be a reality. It is easy to move, does not scratch the floors, and I already tested how easy it is to clean the fabric from stains - it is practically indestructible.
We know you divide your time between Berlin and Paris, what draws you to these two cities and do you want to share your favorite places in both cities?
My husband lives in Berlin, and my work is in Paris, so I go back and forth constantly.
Berlin gives me ease. Friends, art scene, open-air parties, summer energy and people-watching. As a Ukrainian, Berlin also became important when my mom and granny were here during the first two years of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Paris is a beautiful lady who inspires you on every corner and It is where I worked so hard to be and work with incredible people and brands. I love how I can be a different version of myself there; more chic and more expressive.
Favorite spots in Paris on the day off:
If it’s sunny it’s mandatory for me to go read in the Palais Royal near the fountain or people watching at Cafe de la Poste. Drinks and a light dinner at Le Mary Celeste or on the weekend there is weekly vintage markets. Coffee at Cafe Nuances in the 2eme is also an option, book shopping at San Francisco Books in the 7th eme, and Gargen of Rodin Museum for a nice weather reading in the park.
What do you think are the differences between Paris and Berlin, also from an interior and design perspective?
Berlin feels more brutalist with it´s Bauhaus, concrete, gray, 60s vibes. Paris feels more aristocratic, whimsical and elegant. I love how Paris is now borrowing Berlin’s brutalist energy and you see young fashion kids dressed very Berlin-style, it always makes me smile.
Berlin is more extreme. Paris is more classic. And I love combining both. You see it in our home - brutalist le Corbusier chaiselonge that belonged to Nikolaus‘ father lives next to the antique pieces collected over 15 years. Sometimes I buy something thinking it will never fit and then somehow it fits perfectly. We mix everything: old cupboards, vintage lamps and market finds. I am not a minimalist in the way my spaces look, and also never in the way I dress, it’s just not my true self. I love this unfinished symphony of styles.
The non-perfection and messiness is important, for me the interiors must feel alive and lived in. In the world where we are constantly surrounded by perfection on the screens and also in the rise of AI, I feel we need to fill our homes with care for our well-being. We must keep it fun, keep the unorganized bookshelves, get that crazy vase or a hideous chair, anything that makes you smile is worth it.
All pictures by Anna Daki.