Cassandra Walker, Interior Architect and Designer, Melbourne

Tell us about yourself and what you do?

I am a Residential Interior Architect and Designer. I love getting to personally know my clients to create a truly unique interior for them. The way we use our homes and environments is crucial to our wellbeing. It brings me so much joy to create timeless and perfectly tailored interiors.

Why did you want to become an interior architect?

I have always loved playing with drawings and plans of homes. I remember even as a little girl drawing over the top of plans my Dad would bring home from work.

What would be your dream project to work on?

I am dreaming of designing and building a complete Passive house. Entirely designed, built and manufactured here in Australia with Australian materials.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

Contemporary and Australian bearing a timeless aesthetic with an holistic appeal.

Favourite memory in your career so far?

Oh that’s tricky, there are actually so many. I don’t think I can pick one, I'd say generally meeting so many amazing people doing amazing things, particularly of recent in relation to my Passivhaus training. There are so many knowledgable people willing to share.

You're passionate about sustainability and regeneration, how do you integrate that into your projects?

Thats another tricky one. I am finding there is still a lack of education around possibilities here and many are scared by this. It's a daunting process to renovate or build without the added layer of sustainable and regenerative homes. I find most of my clients pop it in the too hard and too expensive basket at the moment, which I totally understand. I am undergoing my PassivHaus training at the moment and hoping to come out of this armed with knowledge I can simplify and pass onto my clients.

What’s your creative process?

I firstly listen as I need to understand everything about the way they live. Personal, social and family rituals are noted so that we can design the perfect fit for each unique client. I then find inspiration for that project. In books, our Environment, Online, and sometimes I go back through photo archives of places I have travelled. From here I sketch and ‘play’ to produce a concept design. This is presented to my clients. Then we go away and document/detail this for the builder/s. I really enjoy the construction process as I get to see my/our vision come to life, my clients responses are always the best part. Some projects I manage onsite others I hand over a construction package. It really depends on my scope.

A fun fact about yourself?

I drive my husband crazy with my home organisation and love reformer pilates, that’s two sorry.

What kind of flower brings you the most joy?

Peonies, as they remind me of my wedding day.

What do you hope to achieve in 2021?

Totally cliche but a better balance of family and work. Both make me so happy.

find more of Cassie’s Work here:

Website

Instagram

ILENIA MARTINI, CREATIVE CONSULTANT, BERLIN, GERMANY

Tell us about yourself and what you do?

I am a creative consultant and I run Neni Studio which is a visual communication agency that I co-founded in 2017. Neni Studio works with international design and lifestyle brands to create digital communication strategies and content aimed for social media.

How did you get into photography and creative consulting?

I got into photography pretty early on in life. Mine is one of those stories where one of the parents introduces the medium. For me it was my dad, who with both film cameras and 16mm film recorded my childhood from basically birth to age thirteen.

I had mixed feelings about turning it into a career, so I experimented within the field, assisting other photographers and then becoming an editor and ultimately went to film school where I graduated as DoP (Director of photography for Film).

Fast forward to 2015 where after seven years in New York, I relocated back to Europe for a job as Head of Creative for a Design brand called Hem - where I worked until 2017. In the meantime the work I had done for them got quite the traction and started receiving requests for work outside if the brand and that’s when I decided to consult. It was a natural transition.

What’s your creative process?

It’s messy - that’s for sure. It doesn’t really follow any specific rule but one thing is constant, I write everything down on paper, and I sketch a lot - from concepts to ideas that come to mind. You’ll never find me without a pen and a notebook.

A fun fact about yourself?

Ah, I don’t know if this is fun, but for sure for me it is.
I have a thing for pens and paper, well, stationery in general.

When do you feel most inspired?

I feel like inspiration is a muscle that needs constant training, so I constantly work on it. From reading/flipping through books about architecture, typography, art, photography, to watching films with incredible cinematography. I usually dedicate a couple of hours to inspiration and research each week, no matter what project I am working on.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

I would say ‘experimental’. I like to mix colors and patterns in a subtle way and I stay away from matchy-matchy pairings for both work and personal style.

How do you think COVID has affected the creative industry?

It’s a change that has caught everyone off-guard and nobody had the time to adjust gradually to this new way of living.

Here in Europe, I am in Sweden, it’s still a work in progress. Digitalization hasn’t come naturally to the creative industry but I see, very happily, that the ones who embraces this shift rather than resisting it have been thriving. One big change that Covid brought is expose different mediums/possibilities, look at NFTs for instance - perhaps if Covid hadn’t hit, it wouldn’t have had such positive reactions from both art and creative industry in general.

Who are some other creatives that inspire you?

I am always keeping an eye out on the fashion and art world. I am constantly inspired by Gabriela Hearst and Lucy Chadwick.

What kind of flower brings you the most joy?

Ah, this is a tough one because I love flowers. I feel like I have to say roses because I have a huge rose tattoo on my arm.

They are so underestimated and there’s so many beautiful variants that you’ll never have the same experience twice!

What do you hope to achieve in 2021?

Some renewed energy to step outside my boundaries - I’d love to try new paths!

You can find more of ilenia’s work here:

Website

Instagram

Corina Koch, Interior + Photographic Stylist, Sydney, NSW

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you're passionate about?

I’m an interior & photographic stylist who produces content for brands, homes and publications. I’m very much addicted to my job and enjoy daydreaming about working when I’m not working. I’m really passionate about the creative process - the best jobs have always the ones where you are given the opportunity to take the lead.

How did you get into interior design?

I’ve always had an interest in interiors but I actually began in fashion and chose to study visual merchandising, which covered fashion, interiors and props. So I grew more of an appreciation for interiors through that. When I started work experience at an interiors magazine, it was a very quick dive into the interiors world and I’ve been hooked since.    

What's been a memorable project so far, and why?

My first magazine cover. I guess it was a milestone moment for me and it was a really big deal as I truly had started from rock bottom and put in years of hard work to get to that moment. And when I heard the news, it was just a wonderful surprise and acknowledgement of how far I’d come.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

Oooo, so tough. It’s forever evolving but I would say it’s a fusion of vintage finds paired with unique contemporary pieces and handmade artisanal objects. It’s feminine, can be a bit rouge and is heavily influenced by fashion and textiles.

What kind of shapes, texture, or colours are you drawn to?

I love my neutral colours and use them for all my bigger furniture items as a foundation of the room. I tend to go more gaga over unusual shapes and textures, things that wiggle and twist, velvets, thick knotted weaves, stripes and oriental prints.

Who are some other interior designers or creatives that inspire you?

There are a lot of people's style I admire, even if it’s not to my own taste. But it’s the risk takers that I really appreciate, the Kelly Wearstlers of the world. You can tell it’s authentic and she always pushes boundaries- which I find incredibly exciting.

What kind of flower brings you the most joy?

Anything that feels like I’m in a romantic garden, like Dogwood or miniature garden roses still on the branch. I love the mix of leaves and flowers.

What do you hope to achieve in 2021?

I really feel 2021 has been critical for me in my career journey. I’ve taken some risks and have really learned to understand who I am as a brand, to embrace my true aesthetic, which in turn has helped me undertake my next steps. I have a special project in the works - I’ve never been so excited about something in my life. But you’ll have to wait and find out.

A fun fact about yourself?

It’s not so much fun, but it’s probably important to be documented. I really hate coriander. I can smell it if it’s in my food and will not eat anything it touches. I can even taste it if someone has just “removed” it as a garnish. Super freaky!

You can find more of Corina’s Work here:

Website

Instagram