Laura Gonzalez
“You shouldn’t be afraid to do what you love and follow your own path.”
INTERVIEW
My parents would always take me to museums and auctions when I was young. I quickly acquired a taste for pretty things, and when the time came to decide what path I wanted to follow in life, I went for architecture and developed a strong interest in interior design. Right after I graduated, in 2008, I founded my agency. I was very young, and I will always remember my very first project: the Bus Palladium club in Paris.
I find inspiration in everyday life and in my surroundings, but I do admire the work of Renzo Mongiardino, Madeleine Castaing, Dorothy Draper, and Jacques Grange, to name a few. I value fabric very much: its texture, its colors, and patterns. As a matter of fact, I had Pierre Frey wallcoverings in my bedroom when I was a child. I’m a maximalist! I like warm, colorful interiors that catch the eye and trigger a smile.
Probably my renovation of Bus Palladium, because it was my very first project, and it paved the way to many more great opportunities. It has been ten years now, and for the occasion, I’m publishing a book with Rizzoli New York that looks back on this enriching decade.
I like the variety of projects that my job provides. I love the diversity and the novelty that each and every one of them implies. Each client has specific requirements that challenge my approach to interior design and make me go out of my way to find new ideas and new solutions.
Indeed, it is something I look up to, in fact. I do think it is important to remember and celebrate heritage and what we have, while updating them so that they stay relevant. Hence why I usually reupholster old pieces with contemporary and quirky fabrics.
I pay a lot of attention to the combination of colors, patterns, and textures. It takes time and many tries to achieve a symbiosis between all the elements, but this is part of the reason why I like what I do: going beyond myself.
Character: a cohesion of patterns, colors, and fabrics that create a specific and unique atmosphere.
That the ideas you have for a project might not actually work. You have to be ready and open to drift away a little from your initial plan.
That you shouldn’t be afraid to do what you love and follow your own path. It required a lot of courage to take a stand and say, “This is my style, and I’m gonna do what I like”, but it is worth it in the long run. As much as I appreciate minimalists, this is not me. I like colour, patterns, and business in my designs.
Lively.
Don’t be afraid to do what you do and have your own style. Leave room for change and above all, try.
I bought a Little Petra chair by Viggo Boesen, and it just fits perfectly in my home. It’s extremely comfortable and soothing to the eye. I’m very much into seating solutions in general, but this chair is a favorite of mine.
BOOK – Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, which I read during the pandemic. It really opened my eyes and helped me get through this strange time.
FILM – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring by Kim Ki-duk. A contemplative film that I first saw when I was 20, and I was really struck by the portrayal of emotions over the course of the seasons.
Thank you so much Laura, for this lovely interview!
Share article :
