Meet Mariekke

We recently met blogger and interior designer Mariekke. After working for 10 years in public communications, Marie Froideval trained at the prestigious Ecole Boulle and then set up her own interior design studio. In this interview, she shares some of her secrets with us! How did your passion for interior design come about? What are your sources of inspiration? How did your passion for interior design come about? What are your sources of inspiration? It's a family thing! My mother loves second-hand goods and dragged me from one second-hand shop to the next as a child, not to mention the time we spent together decorating the family home! It seems I've caught the bug ;) Combined with this family passion, ten years working in the graphic arts still have a strong influence on my work today, both in terms of drawing and colour. How would you define the style of your interior? How would you define the style of your interior? My home is mixed and colourful! Lots of little vintage pieces of furniture, from different styles and eras, lots of photos and litho on the walls and a collection of light fittings of all kinds, one of my passions. [caption id="attachment_7825" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Furniture designed by Mariekke to be found here to be found here [/caption] What are the latest design pieces you've bought? What are the latest design pieces you've bought? A re-edition of Volther's J110, which is now my office chair. And my Frigidaire, an original! Who are your favourite 20th century designers? Do you have a favourite iconic piece (lounge chair, egg chair, tulip, barcelona....)? Who are your favourite 20th century designers? Do you have a favourite iconic piece (lounge chair, egg chair, tulip, barcelona....)? I tend to be more interested in lighting than furniture, or in seating - I'm very passionate about seating. Fortunately, the size of my Paris flat limits my purchases. But for some time now, I've had my eye on a Togo armchair. As soon as I move house :) Before becoming an interior designer, you worked as a project manager in communications. What triggered your career change? Before becoming an interior designer, you were a communications project manager. What triggered your career change? The overwhelming desire to create! Not to mention the fact that I never envisaged doing a job that I wasn't passionate about, another family obsession. For 10 years, public relations was a great motivation for me to get up in the morning, but the day it stopped being a great motivation, I started to think about another profession, and decorating was an obvious choice! What were the stages in your career change? What obstacles did you have to overcome? What were the stages in your career change? What obstacles did you have to overcome? As soon as I had my new job in mind, I went fishing for information and set myself the goal of going back to school to learn at least the basics. I set my sights on the course taught by GRETA in conjunction with the prestigious École Boulle, and I wasn't disappointed. It's great! And as soon as I had completed the course, I launched my freelance business. I've just blown out the first candle at Studio Mariekke and my order book is already full for the first few months of 2017! I don't see the elements as obstacles. My job as a project manager has taught me to anticipate every possible scenario, and that's what I've done all along the way, and still do today, and I think that's one of the keys to success. Not the only one of course, but one of the essential ones. When you think ahead, you already have the answers to any problems, so you don't waste as much time. What advice would you give to someone wanting to change direction and become an interior designer? What advice would you give to someone looking to change direction and become an interior designer? There are a lot of us out there, but when you prepare things properly, everything goes smoothly - I'm proof of that! Are your customers mainly private individuals or professionals? Are your customers more private individuals or professionals? Both! No private clients so far, but my experience in a number of companies gives me an original vision of office spaces, and one that's as close as possible to what's at stake for the occupants. Finally, I'm more than qualified to deal with issues relating to commercial spaces and the associated communication challenges! I like this 'double-hatted' aspect that links my old activity and the new one. What is the style of your interior design? Would you say there's a common thread? What is the style of your interior decorations? Would you say there's a common thread? Obviously, I listen to my customers' needs and I stick to what they want. However, even if everyone's style is very different, I have a particular taste for working volumes through colour and graphic lines. The last three years spent working with talented graphic designers have given me a lot of inspiration, and I'd like to thank them again for that. Can you tell us more about your future projects? Can you tell us more about your future projects? I've got a few on the drawing board: the complete restructuring and decoration of a small flat in the 18th arrondissement; the styling and furnishing of a guest house in Essone; the decoration and furnishing of two flats in Boulogne; the imminent inauguration of a studio-showroom in a ceramics workshop... The projects are diverse in terms of their issues and styles, and it's great that no two days and no two projects are the same! 1 - Suspension "Radius" Føg et Morup, Eric BALSLEV - 1960 Suspension "Radius" Føg et Morup, Eric BALSLEV - 1960 | 2 - Wool kilim rug with floral motifs - 1970 Wool kilim rug with floral motifs - 1970 | 3 - Polish poster for the film "Rocky", Edward LUTCZYN - 1978 Polish poster for the film "Rocky", Edward LUTCZYN - 1978 | 4 - Vintage cocktail armchair in oak and velvet fabric - 1950 Vintage cocktail armchair in oak and velvet fabric - 1950 | 5 - Wall coat rack in metal - 1950s Wall coat rack in metal - 1950s | 6 - Pair of Doria Leuchten table lamps in brass and glass - 1960 Pair of Doria Leuchten table lamps in brass and glass - 1960 1960 | 7 - Pair of Tatra Nábytok armchairs in wood and grey fabric - 1960 Pair of Tatra Nábytok armchairs in wood and grey fabric - 1960 | 8 - Cherry wood storage unit with mirror - 1950 Cherry wood storage unit with mirror - 1950 Discover the work of the talented Mariekke by clicking here! Discover the work of the talented Mariekke by clicking here! Discover the work of the talented Mariekke by clicking here!

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