We’re back with a new guest tastemaker for some quick-fire questions and a mini-curation of some fab Chairish finds!
This week, we are joined by interior designer-slash-Renaissance woman Victoria Ninette. A life-long lover of travel, she grew up splitting time between Connecticut and a small coastal town in Norway. After earning her interior design BFA from the Pratt Institute, Victoria continued to take a worldly and open minded approach to her design work. Throughout her career, she’s honed her skills in ceramics, Shibori, photography, and—of course—interior design.
In her work, Victoria constructs crisp, streamlined interiors that fully take into account her client’s needs and lifestyles. She prioritizes quality, handmade and vintage pieces—exactly what we at Chairish like to hear! Read on to learn about how seeing the world has affected Victoria’s work, what sort of hobbies she’s collected over the years, and a totally dreamy project she recently completed in Florida.
You have extensive travel experience. How does your travels influence your interior design work?
Whether I’m at the coffee shop around the corner in Southampton, New York or at the Chatuchak Market in Thailand, I am always trying to mentally uncover what makes the space memorable. How does the sound carry across the room? Why does this seat feel so good? How did they think to use that surface application there? I’m constantly observing, questioning, and learning. These experiences have helped build upon the grounding design principles that help define who I am and how I work in the industry.
What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home?
We recently moved into our new home and I’m still in the beginning stages of concept and planning. But, I couldn’t resist installing wallpaper in the guest rooms and on the risers of the staircase.
Who is your ultimate style icon, and why?
I’d say a mix of Lauren Hutton, Jane Birkin, and the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. I love the quality and timelessness of their style mixed with a bit of the unexpected, like a one-of-a-kind vintage find.
Do you collect anything? What sparked your interest in collecting that item?
Hobbies. Ceramics, whittling, hand pouring candles, cooking, embroidery, and Shibori to name a few. At one point I was dipping anything and everything into an indigo batch I brought back from Thailand. I love the fearlessness of trying something new and following my own curiosities.
What’s a current design trend that you hope doesn’t exist in 100 years, and why?
Design trends, generally speaking, can feel like rinse and repeat. Although they say imitation is a form of flattery, I find that lack of originality makes a space falls flat. I lean towards the ideas and design principles of tailoring each space to my clients needs, beliefs, and personalities. Sometimes you can’t find that piece you need right off the shelf, you have to make it or search antique markets, and that’s the je ne sais quoi that makes a space stand out from the rest.
Are there any upcoming projects you are excited about and would like to mention?
Yes, absolutely! I have a project in Coconut Grove, Florida where we touched every surface in the space. We used handmade tiles and custom paneled walls that seamlessly incorporated trimless doors. The powder room highlights a hand painted mural of local flora and fauna with colors we pulled from our overarching palette. Wegner chairs sit around a dining table while family heirlooms anchor large scale paintings.
