Whether it’s as a flamenco dancer or interior designer, Kelly allows her expressive nature & intuition to guide her. She uses all available senses in her creative process and shares her energy with her clients.
As an avid flamenco enthusiast are there any aspects of this discipline that overlap with design?
It’s very connected when I think about it. For instance, you need to understand the environment you’re working in – for example, the size of the space and especially how it feels to be in it. As a dancer you need to feel it in your body before you know how to bring the space to life. It’s the same with designing interiors.
There’s a lot of colour, passion, movement, and confidence in flamenco. I think that’s reflected in the interiors I design.
“It’s something I really love about Venko, the connection we build with clients is a focal part of our process. You can’t do everything over a video call!”
Looking back, is there a Venko project you’re most proud of?
It’s a current project actually. Working with ARB 4×4 Accessories on their new purpose-built head office continues to be an amazing challenge as the client wants something really special. I have loved designing all the vertical spaces like the ceilings, voids, and suspended features. We have collaborated with a variety of specialist consultants to control the detail of every element and ensure the space will feel effortless and crisp.
ARB are a fun client to work with and have been hands on throughout the process. We have tried to ensure they have every opportunity to see, touch and experience everything beforehand – It really helped us make the right decisions together in the end.
That sounds like your own process, wouldn’t you say?
It wasn’t enough to show a render or a sample. They really wanted to see an example and experience what each line on the page meant. I think that’s fair enough, as designers we take for granted our abilities to visualise.
I really enjoy the face-to-face and hands-on design approach with ARB. They are a very engaged client, and every decision felt very personal to them. It’s something I really love about Venko, the connection we build with clients is a focal part of our process. You can’t do everything over a video call!
The new ARB Head Office will embody their passion for delivering on their philosophy of ‘quality, reliability and practicality above all else’. Our design reflects the spirit of the great outdoor adventure; facing challenges with grit and passion and continuing to reach for the new. Our design approach has been to cultivate the ARB values into the built environment inspiring their people to continue to endeavour to ‘raise the bar’.
What do you think is the most important element of any interiors project?
Natural light. We’re dealing with humans, right? People need to feel and see the sun. It’s how we feel comfortable or safe in a space. It’s our connection to the outside world. I try to bring as much of it through the space using form, materiality, and colour.
One last question, after a long week what’s your go to guilty pleasure?
Take-out and sitting on the couch.
What’s your go-to take-out?
Sushi and chips.
Sushi and chips? Really?
Yeah hot chips. Go to almost any restaurant and you can get a side of chips. Being born in Venezuela, it’s my favourite part of now being an Australian. I was thrilled to get my citizenship in late 2022!
The Drill
- Matte or gloss? – Matte
- Complimentary or monochrome? – Monochrome
- Burgundy or Terracotta? – Burgundy
- Large format or mosaics? – Mosaic
- Mural or sculpture? – Mural
- Work from home or in office? – Both (50/50)
- Coffee or wine? – Coffee
- London or Paris? – Paris
- Beach or snow? – Beach
- Night in or a night out? – Night out