i-Marbella talked to one of the most talented girls in Marbella. This Parisian with an Andalusian heart told us a bit about her work, inspiration and also gave some tips and tricks to make our homes more cozy.

1. How long have you been living in Marbella?

It's been 4 years now, living here permanently. Although I was travelling between Paris and Marbella for 8 years.

2. Among other things you are decorator/furniture designer and photographer, but which passion was the first?

My initial passion is, above all creativity. Modes of expression are diverse, but my drive is to create harmonious universe using the elements, volumes, materials and lights through a special look. I started with furniture design, then shops and bars between Paris, St Tropez and Marbella as well as villas, pools and gardens. The drawing and the picture is always with me, the brush or camera are just instruments that must be accompanied by a learning to achieve a complete mastery of technique. But what matters is what one has in mind, the idea, inspiration and energy.

3. As a decorator, what styles are you most comfortable with?

Creativity involves the diversity and harmony, when they work together they are timeless and don't need to be classified. In music for example, you might like pop, jazz and classical and be very consistent in your taste. The ability to adapt to an environment is important. A good chef should know how to improvise a recipe and adjust to what's in the fridge. Where inspiration is involved, of course the quality of materials is essential and will have a successful impact on the results. Decorators and most aesthetes in general evolve as the fashion trends, which is a sign of renewal and cultural evolution and that is good.

4. What do clients request when decorating a room?

In any space, the right decoration must meet the following conditions: be practical, comfortable, pleasant and sustainable. It is in the technical part where the distribution of spaces, the creation of forms and volumes, the choice and arrangement of materials and architectural elements, the use of natural light entries get involved. Then it is essential to create the soul of the place by defining a consistent style. For a livingroom, for example, the atmosphere should be relaxing and warm because it is a place to gather with family, friends, for a drink, read or watch a movie on a comfortable sofa. All the elements are involved in setting the atmosphere: furniture, accessories, lighting, and textiles.

5. Do you prefer indoor or outdoor decorating?Why?

The exterior is continued to the indoor decoration and as far as possible it has to be treated in its global character, because window frames are a changing picture depending on the lights that adorn the walls.

Moreover, in a region such as Andalusia, where we have an exceptional climate, we use more outdoor areas, gardens, patios and terraces that become open living spaces.

6. What tips and tricks do you recommend to readers to renew any part of their home without spending much money?

Decoration is the art of mixing elements to create a nice atmosphere.

Always take space in its entirety and then everything depends on the talent of each one. The easiest thing is to keep a sober and neutral base for walls and floors and go for more creative and colorful furnishings, carpets, curtains, cushions, cups, etc. It is less expensive than to change the whole decoration.

If you renovate an old furniture and if it is an antique, you have to take it to a professional. If it is a piece of furniture without much value, then after sanding, you can choose colours and the desired effects from the palettes available in stores. A matte finish with wax is often very refined, it reinforces the tonality and protects the wood.

7. What does a decorater's house look like?

Everything depends on the decorator, but personally, I like the open spaces of nature and light.

The artist's studio is a place for inspiration. For decoration, a sophisticated blend of sleek furniture and decorated with ethnic touches of antiques in order to bring a soul to the place, and a little history. Because the houses must be alive and tell a story.

8. Tell me three things that should be in a bedroom, for example.

- A spacious and comfortable bed

- 2 table lamps with variable light

- 2 bedside tables to decorate the bed and have your favourite books on.

9. As a photographer you have created a line of digital photo frames dedicated to various themes including cars. Why did you choose this one?

As a decorator and photographer I created several themes:

Cars, nature, architecture, travel, animals, sports etc. The one of cars I made because I love the design and lines, especially retro and antique cars as an art object and collections representating an era.

10. What was the hardest photo to take? 

The hardest was on a sailing boat during a big storm. When the waves pass over the decking when the ship is inclined, and when you have to protect your camera and of course avoid falling into the sea. The most interesting photos are not the most accessible ones.

11. Do you think Marbella is a good inspiration place for decoration and photography?

Marbella is a magnificent place for its exceptional light. It is a place of great diversity when you discover the region with amazing nature, landscapes, mountains, sea and land, endowed with lush vegetation and architecture with influences from different cultures, with arab or contemporary architecture and the typical farmhouses etc. It is a real pleasure to live here!

To see more of her work visit the website: http://iconegallery.com/