Galina Maly Interior Design have been shortlisted for 3 Global Categories in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021. Read more about the Founder & Creative Director below:

Name: Galina Maly
Company: GM Interior Design
Position within company: Founder & Creative Director

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
I knew I would be an interior designer since I was a child. My favourite
pastime growing up was making paper houses for the paper dolls I drew
constantly. I ended up at Parson’s School of Design in New York where my passion for all things design only grew. I joined my wonderful professor Wid Chapman’s architecture studio after graduating, then worked at Rockwell Group in New York and HBA in London before going on my own. I’ve enjoyed working in the hospitality sector immensely but starting my own family led me to smaller scale residential projects which has quickly become my passion.

How would you describe your personal design style?
My design style is constantly evolving. Each new blank space provides an opportunity to refine my design aesthetic, to challenge and expand my boundaries and give shape to imagination. If there’s a common thread in all my projects I would say it’s creating an interior that is both warm and luxurious. Somebody once described my style as dreamy elegance and I
liked that a lot.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
I think most designers would agree with me when I say that inspiration can
come from anywhere. For me it’s most often the intricate beauty and patterns found in nature and the rich traditions of decorative arts. I travel a lot and every trip always has a big influence on me.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general
sense?
Meaningful Design – design that is focused on well-being and spirituality.
This past year has been perfect for editing our lives and our homes and
getting back to basics. It’s easy to lose sight of what really matters and recently there has been a lot of focus on trying to rediscover that. Our interiors are no exception. Our home reflects who we are and how we want to live. This statement is truer than ever.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and
beyond.
– Sustainable and as ecologically minded as possible.
– Humorous. No-one wants to be bored inside their own home, and if that’s where we are spending most of our time, now is the time to add a vital dose of life and laughter to our interiors and make them less serious.
– Timeless. Gone are the days when interiors were heavily following trends.
– Flexible. Never before the world of design has seen such creative use of space. We’ve all adapted to the confinement and turned bedrooms into offices, kitchens into conference rooms and backyards into Olympic parks. A flexible interior is key going forward.
– Original. We are still going to be looking at design as a way to add a little glamour to one’s existence. But I feel that going forward it will be more and more about things that truly resonate with us (as designers, as clients) and less about following trends. More about quality, less about shock value.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Honour your house and have respect for its integrity. Don’t try to make it something it’s not meant to be. I love helping my clients tell the story of their home by researching its history if it’s a historic building, celebrating its original features or, if it is a new-build, taking the surroundings as inspiration, local culture and craftsmanship.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
For me this was an incredible and rare opportunity to reflect on my own ideas and experiences as in my busy everyday life this is something I never allocate time for.

What projects are you currently working on?
I am lucky to have a couple of local projects going on but really longing to resume and start some very exciting projects abroad once travel restrictions are lifted. A small boutique hotel on a private island in Europe is one project I particularly look forward to.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The Seaside Penthouse was challenging as I gave birth to two of my children while working on it. In the end though I have fun and fond memories of the experience. I remember the first big meeting when my son was just a couple of weeks old and all the teams and the client flew to London to meet in my dining room, and I took breaks every two hours to nurse the baby… The second baby born during the project had to fly to Israel with me and spent a day strapped to me on site. My children love hearing these stories and looking at photos and feel very proud to have been involved.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
My Moleskine sketchbook where I do all my sketches and take notes, and my Mac Air that I use for quick informal presentations to clients, and Photoshop which has been my favourite tool since college.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Continuing to educate myself and my clients on the importance of sustainability. It can be tricky especially in the luxury sector.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession? My sketchbooks and my portable hard drives. They contain my whole life!
Your favourite holiday destination? Any small town or village packed with local folklore. I love wandering through the old streets, discovering small local cafes, shops, and cosy squares. I come back from such trips with pockets and head full of inspiration.
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Hotels: Haus Hirt in Austria / Limewood in New Forest, England / Bulgari Hote in Milan
Restaurants: Petersham Nurseries in London / Palomar, London / Nobu 57, New York
Bars: Artesian Bar at The Langham, London
Your favourite book, film & song? My favourite book is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Favourite film – “A Hunting Accident”, a 1970s Soviet romantic drama. My favourite song is Over the Rainbow by Eric Clapton, but whenever I am in the mood to draw I listen to Lana Del Rey.
Your favourite food and drink? Sushi and matcha latte.
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? Getting creative with my children. Sometimes we work on the same project together, other times everyone is doing their own thing gathered in the same room. Art filled afternoons are my favourite and most therapeutic.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? I would be a children’s books illustrator for sure. Illustration is another one of my passions and writing and illustrating a book together with my children is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while.

Galina Maly Interior Design, shortlisted in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021. 

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