Hello Monaco magazine HelloMonaco 2018#04_Summer_Autumn_WEB | Page 111

Made in Monaco
HelloMonaco : Could you tell us a little more about yourself ? Where do you come from ; where did you study ? Sabrina : I was born here of Italian parents and grew up and studied business in Monaco . I worked in the fashion industry for approximately 10 years and then decided to open my own design business with my sister , who used to be an art teacher . My daughters were born here as well , studied abroad and then decided to come and work with me . I could not be happier working with own my family in my own hometown !
HM : How did you come to the fashion business ? S : My mother used to design and produce haute couture dresses for the Riviera ’ s chicest women at the time and my father was a tailor for the most notable gentlemen . I have always loved fabrics and colours and trends ! I was managing a fashion store in Monaco , then opened my own boutique specializing in selling clothes and small deco rative items : Sabrina Fashion Deco .
HM : Why did you quit the fashion industry and devote yourself to interior design ? How exactly did you manage to leverage your previous knowledge and apply it to interior styling ? S : I started selling decorative items in my fashion store and realized I loved it . I always did the interior design for my own houses and even helped my friends ; it ’ s more a matter of taste than knowledge . Interior design is more about art ; it is not a science !
HM : Why did you decide to establish your interior deco business in Monaco ?
Sustainability is more a subject for naval and home architects , but I try to make my company more sustainable . We created our company fabric bags for the deliveries in order to save paper and cardboard and I just bought an electric car for all our deliveries . Every little contribution helps .
S : It actually started with exterior design because I could not stand seeing plastic chairs onboard all these beautiful yachts and in the gardens of these great villas or on their terraces . There was such a huge difference between the quality of the furniture inside and outside … it was shocking ! So , I started a store with beautiful outdoor furniture and all the accessories you need around a pool or onboard a boat : beach towels , baskets , sun umbrellas , lanterns … I opened a lifestyle store , which was then the exact opposite of all the traditional shops one could find at the time , and that were selling pretty dull furniture !
HM : How could you describe your style ? S : Contemporary , fresh , always neutral tones with touches of colour — but always elegant .
HM : You are involved in all types of interior deco , from yachts to chalets . What is your favourite thing to do ? In which venue can you experiment the most ? S : Some clients have very original requests or sometimes just let us do what we want . It ’ s always fun but we must NEV- ER forget the space itself and where it ’ s located . Nothing is worse than a chalet look in a Villa in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for example !
HM : What kinds of fabrics and materials are your favourites and why ? S : I LOVE wallpaper — and it has made a huge come back this year . I like printed and colourful fabrics , but they have to be comfortable — I always choose the ones that have a soft feel . Sight is an important sense in design but touch matters too ! It can all look perfect but if it ’ s not comfortable , it can ruin your experience in a space .
HM : Apparently , colours and patterns are very important for you . Where does this inspiration come from ? S : From fashion , sea , landscapes , flowers … and things I see while I travel around .
HM : How often do you launch your new collections ? S : Designers generally launch their furniture and fabric collections at the Salone del
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