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Furthermore, Barratt doesn’t view design as a source of
employment but rather as an everlasting devotion, her fondness
comes from how transformative it can actually be in someone’s
life. Ultimately, it is an omnipresent art form.
When it comes to inspiration, Barratt regards everything and
anything as a way to create new material. She can even find
insight on a piece of garbage or crumpled paper, and it truly goes
to show that an idea can appear at any given time as long as one
is susceptible to their surroundings. In the end, this perfectly
emphasizes the beauty of creativity.
To Fiona Barratt, it is not about imitating some other designer’s
style but developing your own sense of self and style as a person
and designer, as she explains, “I think it is important to look at
what is out there, but I think that at the end of the day, when
you’re a true creative you need to develop your own style.”
Viewing the subjectivity of each project, Barratt is incapable of
choosing a favorite because everything plays a factor in the process,
whether it is the client, the climate, or the parameters for a certain
piece. She also discloses that not every day is easy, and as a matter
of fact, she spends must of her time problem solving, however, it
is her passion for design that makes it all worth it.
Fiona Barratt Interiors is currently developing 14 projects
which are predominantly high-end residential, they are doing
a commercial penthouse in Hong Kong on the waterfront that
will be launched in 2017, and they also have multiple residential
projects in Beirut, Moscow, and London.
The modern designer reveals that her philosophy in life and in
design is to find a balance between being a working mother with
three children under the age of five and running two businesses.
Before she had children, she used to worry about deadlines and
precision, but now she has become more philosophic by learning
to accept the challenges of the world. One peculiar perspective
about the designer is that she runs her studio like a family, it is
important to her that the creative environment is nurtured, and
not pressured, so as to have the absolute best performances.
In reference to new designers, Barratt advises one to just focus on
themselves and to be prepared to face many obstacles and turn
negatives into positives. She encourages new artists by revealing
that “this will make you stronger, you have to be driven and
passionate, if you don’t love what you do, don’t do it.”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW //
Palace Gate, Fiona Barratt Interiors
Palace Gate, Fiona Barratt Interiors