Detalhes & Design is a furniture showroom and interior design studio based in the Portuguese town of Castelo Branco. Run by a creative couple, Andrea Malta and Nuno Vaz, Detalhes & Design have worked on projects all over the country, and shared some of the best furniture design in Portugal in their very showroom. Today we share the exclusive interview and get to know more about the philosophy of the owner.

Being in love with our work is always the key to achieve better results. Are you in love with your job? What do you love the most about being an interior designer?

The reason why I got into interior design was because of my passion for decoration. The possibility of filling a space with life is really important to me, both from an observer’s as well as a creator’s point of view. I thrive when I set myself a real challenge, and that sense of gratification keeps me motivated. From a creator’s perspective, it comes down to my client’s satisfaction, that also keeps me excited.

Do you have a favorite project or a favorite story behind one of your projects?

Difficult question! Each project always has something special about it. It’s like asking which one of our children we love the most?! Each project is a story in itself, and each story marks us in some ways more than other. Designers are formed in those stories, and that’s why I believe all projects are special.

How important is a good chemistry between you and your clients to achieve better results?

Really important. One could say that it is the cherry on the cake, because without chemistry, one can’t do anything. When a potential client searches for us, they will already have an idea of our work, and probably identify themselves with our work for various reasons, leading them to contact us. But for us, the relationship starts from scratch, as we don’t know who the potential client may be, even if they already know us, or of us. This means it is fundamental to know how to listen and understand each client, making them a source of inspiration.

This is how every story starts, much like the throwing of dice that starts a new adventure.

The relationship between client and designer really helps determine a project’s success. When we feel that we are getting our message across as designers, and that our clients trust us, everything becomes easier and it’s possible to dream and create a good project.

To conquer such a demanding audience, is truly important to be informed about the latest trends on the field. How do you do this?

Staying up to date with trends is vital. The rate at which the industry sees innovation is incredible, and highly attractive. That should be the essence of the creative process, to never feel full satisfaction after completing a specific job, and strive to improve on every project.

On the other hand, we live at high speed that it sometimes becomes difficult to observe the world around us. Much of the information we collect comes from visiting the industry’s key tradeshows, as well as the constant search for specific trends, in terms of inspiration or actual products recently launched on the market.

I reckon the ideal solution is to travel, either on a personal or a work trip. Each destination has a source of inspiration.

How would you describe your style? Do you have any personal “signature”?

Style is what defines us as creators of environments. It’s something inherent in the creative process, and without realizing it, we’re marking a determined style. And if the style is “forced out” we simply wouldn’t be honest about it, and that way nothing works.

My style comes from the combination of everything that keeps me motivated as a creator – the conquering of beauty in any form, elegance as a creative touch, a constant sense of romance, as well as the perfect contextualization of colour as a fundamental element. This is what defines my style, which subconsciously is defined as my signature in each project I take on.

All artist have some kind of inspirations, and interior designers are no exception. So, what or who really inspires you?

Inspiration is a lever for creativity. Without inspiration, a blank canvas becomes truly difficult to fill. Our client really sets a base in terms of our main inspiration, and often it comes down to fulfilling expectations. Therefore it becomes our job to know how to visualize and materialize their inspirations.

When I start a project after visualizing and understanding the clients wishes and ambitions I feel like Alice in Wonderland when she falls into the dream world, which is really defined by beauty. In terms of other arts, I really do identify myself with Jazz, with the Art Nouveau movement, and its accentuation of curves and romantic details.

Is there an international project you’d like to be a part of?

I do feel prepared for a new challenge. Maybe working on the interior of a luxury yacht with a Jazz theme (why not?!). Decorating a Barcelona hotel influenced by Gaudi’s work.

Choosing the right piece for a design set might seem an easy task. However, it takes a lot of time and attention to find the perfect match. What advice do you have for those who do not know how to start a challenge like this?

The right piece ought to be seen as final detail almost, with the main purpose of really capturing the observer due to the synergy it creates with the other elements found in the environment, telling the story that is created within it.

I have fallen in love with certain design pieces, that due to a given project’s concept went from what would be considered a finishing touch, to the role of lead character. It’s about how it can be appreciated and made special in a given context, as well as the challenge of observing an object, not only as a simple object, but as an element that transmits emotions and other sensations.

That is the reason that leads us to love or dislike a given space, or that we feel right or wrong in a specific environment – it’s the emotions that the various elements pass on.

Which are your favorite brands, those that can never be missing in your projects?

The brands I work with really vary depending on the type of project and concept defined by the client. In any case, there are certain brands with whom I identify myself with, because with them, I know I can reach my creative ambitions and fulfill my expectations.

I do prefer to create pieces, and have a team of professionals that really stand out in their distinct specialties, and that have what it takes to give life to these creations.

Apart from that, I do really like to be surprised by the brands that make a memorable impression, and that give me a strong will to get the right project to fit them in.

What’s special about our Mondrian sideboard and why did you feature it in your project?

The Mondrian is one of those memorable pieces. It’s impossible to forget because we look at it several times as if it were the first time we laid eyes on it. At every glance, we discover a new detail. Plus, it’s shape is filled with character, as if each drawer and each door had a secret, or a story to tell – like the sum of a lifetime’s worth of experiences in one object.

Choosing the Mondrian fit the project perfectly – a classy yet sober space with a noble feeling. Just like the Mondrian, a noble piece filled with class.

See another exclusive interview HERE!