Aire continues its meetings! Discover how Ninon Petras studio arranged her apartment. She shares all her tips to create an interior that reflects you.
Can you introduce yourself and explain why you share an interior that reflects you?
My name is Ninon. I’m an art director in fashion for a company that makes clothing for law enforcement. We also have a men’s ready-to-wear brand. I’m a content creator on YouTube. I started my channel six months ago. It’s called Ninon Petras studio. I created this channel following the arrangement of my current apartment. I wanted to share my passion for decoration and layout. I’m a very creative person; I like having an interior that reflects me. I’ve been working in fashion for six years. I want to stay in a creative world while giving advice.
We live in Bagnolet with my partner, near Paris. We have about fifty square meters and a 10 m2 terrace. It’s not a tiny space. But there are two of us inside. That’s why We had to redefine the use of each room. We had to adapt and find solutions, especially with remote work. We created an environment that reflects both of us; we wanted an interior that represents us. That’s also important when moving in: Taking into account the needs and desires of all residents. That's what we tried to do by decorating and arranging the apartment.
Why did you decide to create a YouTube channel about organization and well-being?
I have always been interested in organization. Decoration is my first passion. I consider these two topics very connected. I think about these themes in my work, whether in fashion or decoration. I value clothing as much as interior design. I notice that we face the same challenges in stores and at home. I mainly talk about decoration and trends. But I also have many videos focused on tips to optimize small spaces and create an interior that reflects your personality. I address second-hand, mindful purchases, vintage, and pre-owned items. I find these topics relevant given the current context.
How did the idea of sharing the well-being of decor come to you?
I have always sought to share my knowledge and passions. I wrote blog articles for about ten years. Video is a new challenge for me. I would like to gain skills in this area and create a community. I’m happy; it’s starting to work. I get very good feedback!
We can find sources of information about storage and organization on the Internet. But I believe video is an interesting format that allows us to visualize and illustrate concepts. Decoration is something very visual. I think words alone are not enough to explain something. I like to show inspirations and examples I can find. That way, it’s much more understandable and relatable for the people listening to me. The video is more immersive.
How did you feel during the setup?
When we moved in, the apartment was completely empty. The kitchen was not yet designed. For each room, I mixed atmospheres, styles, materials, textures, and colors that we liked. We also studied the uses we would have in the apartment. I knew which room we would use more and where we would work. We are not used to eating in the kitchen. We eat in the living room. It’s important to know this in advance to decide on furniture and layout choices. I recommend this in my videos. : Redefine the needs and uses we have for each room. This is how we can optimize our layout and adapt it to our lifestyle. The interior must be adapted to reflect ourselves.
Where should we start when we want to rearrange our space?
When the space is already furnished, We need to define what suits us and what doesn’t. We also need to define what we don’t like or what doesn’t work for us. Then, we redefine the uses we have for all the rooms. The apartment or house must adapt to our lifestyle, not the other way around. We should not be subjected to the arrangement of things. Choices must be guided by the lifestyle we have. The flow of energy in the apartment is important. We must ensure to leave passage areas.
Once this entire phase of research and putting into words what we want to do is completed, You have to try to find an inspirational visual.We need to take the time to look for photos, put them together, and see what matches in terms of color. It’s easier to visualize this way.
Where do you look for your ideas and inspirations?
I’m quite creative. I always research new inspirations on the Internet. I’m always on the lookout for new design trends. I’m also subscribed to decoration magazines. This keeps me up to date on trends. I attend many design and fashion conferences thanks to my job. It inspires me and gives me ideas for content. I recommend staying open-minded, being curious, and being bold. I encourage daring to make unconventional choices and trying to take risks.
In your opinion, what is the first thing to do when you want to redesign your space?
We must start room by room. We need to study the uses we have in each room and each area. We have to ask ourselves what we do in each room, how much time we spend there, which place we pass through the most. This way, we can optimize and realize which furniture is cumbersome. Before even thinking about buying new things, we need to prioritize. We question what we already have and how we can optimize it.
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How did this process go?
In my videos, I show the shortened version: the decoration creation process. Then, I show the layout and the final result. These are quite long processes over time. I decorate the apartment for myself. So I take the time to do it.It’s not a contract with a client, there’s no deadline. Things happen gradually depending on what I find. I buy a lot of second-hand items. The creation depends on what I find.
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Interview conducted by Imane Charkaoui
Layout by Coralie Mottu
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