um muses: nella

Dear Nella,

I am following your work with great interest since a long time, we have been working on exhibitions together, and I am so proud that you are now part of my muses journal ! I am so happy we met – you are a great source of inspiration for me.

Can you tell me a bit about your career and how you became so influential in the interior design world ?

Thanks so much, my dear friend Amèlie, for your kind words on my work and for having me on this wonderful journal series. I love to be one of your muses among all the other sensational souls. I love working with you on our various current and past projects. It’s so refreshing to witness someone else’s skilled approach from so close and I appreciate your great eye and never ending creativity.

I am passionate about my work as a multidisciplinary creative. I engage in curation, writing, digital strategy development, content creation, and set and interior design. I always had a knack for beauty. Even when I was a child I would adore great objects, art, literature, interiors, photography, a beautifully set up table, the ocean view, the light entering a room and so on.

When I worked as a cultural journalist, all my colleagues would ask me where to get beautiful earrings or interiors and so on. So I decided to bring an order to my screenshots of beautiful photography, fashion, interiors, places, art. I loved some Moodboard pages on Instagram, and realised, there was none in Germany that I was really thrilled of. So I decided to start my own. Just to share what I was passionate about.

Once I additionally decided to show my own home and purchases, people all over the world would constantly ask me what’s this, what’s that. And one day, I just wondered, if my audience would like me to bring all the amazing talents offline together, too. And the idea to accompany my online curation with an offline curation was born.

People immediately loved it, and I’m still somehow surprised that things I have always done and was appreciated for, found a global interest. It’s just very special when people approach me and tell me they love what I do. Because I love what I do and I couldn’t do it any different. That’s why I’m very grateful for everything that happened.

A couple years ago, I founded a gallery and showroom in Berlin-Mitte, where I also organize exhibitions and run expos. As an art director, I also happen to customize events to create unique experiences. With a double Ph.D. in literature, I sometimes translate books and write poetry. I’m glad I didn’t have to choose and specialize in a single profession. Fortunately, I have embraced the joy, excitement, challenge, and satisfaction of working across different fields.

Whats your favourite jewellery piece?

I absolutely adore my um cumulus earrings. I wear them whenever I want to feel glamorous and bold for dinner dates and club nights. Lately, I added the lacquered large stratus hoops to my personal selection, they are black and super minimal and really outstanding.

For everyday, I’m wearing my uncommon matters demi ring, my Brutal Bodies Wave ring, Kiki Dieterle stacking ring and Azulmalin Azul ring as well as Lie Studio Camille earrings. So I’m wearing a lot of rings. I’m also wearing my Cartier Tank wrist watch everyday, I only wear additional jewellery when on evening events. I love classy, but sculptural pieces.

Can you tell me how you feel when you wear our um pieces, what do they mean to you?

I JUST FEEL SPECIAL, ADORABLE AND HOT. What’s more to add?

How does Berlin as a city influence your style?

Oh, wow, I literally grew up and became an adult in this city. I always had a good sense for fashion, but being in a big city and seeing so many different styles had a huge impact on me. I’m very tolerant regarding style, as I ADORE looking at people with a great taste, even maybe even more when it does not match my personal taste. I think it doesn’t really matter what kind of taste you have, if it’s good and when people are kind hearted, they will recognise each other.

I know you love to read, do you have recommendations for a summer book we should not miss?

This summer, I started to re-read bell hooks, about love. It was very hot and I decided to unwind for 60-90mins per day, and enjoy reading in the sun. So many sentences are just so wise, yet so simple. I will forever love Han Kang, Your cold hands. Han Kang is one of my favorite contemporary writers, and there’s many of her books I literally breathed in, but the story between the two protagonists and how their encounters get more and more intimate, is absolutely touching. Sally Rooney, Normal People and Conversation with friends — the voice of our time. Otessa Moshfegh, a dark tale full of blunt honesty, I caught myself laughing out loud. Bernadine Evaristo, Girl. Woman. Other — queen! The narration is so smart and how each girl-woman-other is being portrayed through the eyes of the narrator, but also through the eyes of the protagonists, genius.

You are also a great collector of beautiful things, do you have a favorite piece?

Oh, damn, I do, but my heart is full and I have much love to share: Terpsichore Savvala, Latika Nehra, Milena Kling, Pablo F. Canivell, their sculptures are divine. I also love my pale mauve sunset painting by Max Rödel and the abstract painting by LeniaHauser in my kitchen. The Undigested chaise-lounge and vase, pure eye candy. My dinner table by my friends from Loes Beta, pfff! And the newest addition, the black leather Marcel Breuer D4 folding chair by PB0110 x Tecta. So chic, so simple, so comfy. I also adore Isamu Nocuchi and Ingo Maurer. Almost all my lamps are from them.

Lately I have been reading a lot about the sameness that has been crept into every corner of our lives ( especially in the fashion and music industry) - how do you think we can find authenticity and individualism again?

TBH Im actually not that strict about the concept of sameness. I can relate to it in some sense as it can make life easier. For instance, I looove my everyday uniform, and that I don’t have to think a lot. I get up, I’m getting dressed, and I’m off to work. Check. I also find sometimes the pressure of being unique can be quite challenging. I think, we are all unique in our own ways. If you like something on me and you buy it — what a great compliment. If people get inspired by my interiors and friends send me their apartment images, saying: Very Nella! I find that rather interesting and humbling. It’s a journey to develop your own style, we all have our icons, our inspirations and it needs time and expertise to develop a signature look or your very own style. So, if you don’t have the time or the skills, I won’t judge you. Quite the opposite, I will thank you for being inspired by me or my heroes and heroines. I draw a lot of inspiration by looking and observing and I really enjoy to make up my own mind and to create something I haven’t seen before. But as said, it’s what I love to do, and that’s not for everyone.

How do you protect your own creativity and prevent yourself from loosing focus or getting too much inspiration by others?

I think as long as you have admiration for other‘s creativity, and don’t envy their work, all is good. As soon as negativity comes in, you might feel tempted to copy because you don’t have confidence in your own vision and you can’t bare other people being successful. For your own sake, keep your eyes and your heart open, and you will be rewarded every fucking single day.