Zalina Giometti Shares Her Experiences Working with Wallpaper as an Interior Designer
In a recent and exciting collaboration, we partnered with interior designer Zalina Giometti for an inspiring wallpaper project that showcased our Petite Garden Party Peel and Stick Wallpaper in Blue Lagoon.
Zalina Giometti is an award-winning interior and workplace designer with an impressive portfolio that includes projects for tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.
Eager to learn more about her expertise, we turned to Zalina for her insights into her experience as an interior designer and working with peel and stick wallpaper.
Learn more about Zalina's design philosophy, her favorite design spaces, and the timeless allure of using wallpaper to transform interior spaces.
Design Roots and Residential Freedom
Zalina's roots in design trace back to her childhood in Russia, where she witnessed her mother's transformative touch on custom-built homes.
After designing office spaces for tech giants, Zalina discovered her true passion was in residential projects.
"I get more freedom and creativity
in designing homes,"
she reveals.
Zalina's enthusiasm for using wallpaper in homes takes center stage when she discusses her favorite space to apply wallpaper – the bedroom. She highlights the transformative power of custom mural wallpaper, emphasizing how it quickly adds character, depth, and aesthetics to a space.
The Power of Color and Balancing Trends with Timeless Designs
Her approach involves a deep dive into the client's lifestyle, hobbies, and overall story during the initial consultation. For her, understanding the client is crucial when it comes to crafting spaces.
Zalina’s focus on creating homes that mirror the personal stories, passions, and memories of her clients allow her to create designs that stand the test of time.
Looking into the emotional impact of colors, Zalina highlights her role in evoking emotions and moods. She uses color theory principles to create visually appealing and harmonious spaces, aligning the color palette with the desired aesthetic.
As for interior design trends for 2024, Zalina predicts a surge in artisanal work and a continued emphasis on personalized spaces. Vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces are set to steal the spotlight this year, echoing the trend of using homes as canvases for self-expression.
The Rise of Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Keeping the conversation on emerging trends, Zalina contributes the popularity of peel and stick wallpaper to its convenience and versatility.
Peel and stick wallpaper is often chosen for its ability to add personality and style to a space with minimal commitment. Our wallpaper at Tempaper & Co. is steam and moisture-resistant, making it an ideal choice for bathrooms and high-humidity areas.
Wherever you are applying wallpaper in your space, Zalina encourages ordering samples to test patterns and colors in the actual space before committing to a full installation. Learn more about the importance of wallpaper samples here.
Transforming a Kid's Space with Wallpaper
Zalina shares her recent wallpaper project, transforming a little kid's space with our Petite Garden Party wallpaper. The choice was driven by the client's love for the outdoors, rainforests, and parks. The blue lagoon color of the wallpaper perfectly captured the essence of Tijuca forest in Rio de Janeiro.
Zalina praises the efficiency, great designs, and quality of our peel and stick wallpaper, making it her go-to when selecting wallpaper. The result? A room that instantly came to life, exuding playfulness, character, and modernity.
The young client's reaction – thumbs up and plenty of smiles – stands as a testament to the magic of wallpaper in a space.
Zalina's insights into interior design, her preference for timeless creations, and her recent collaboration showcase the power of design to shape spaces into unique, personalized havens.
Read our Q&A with Zalina below:
Tempaper: Who inspired you to become an interior designer, and how did you get started in the industry?
Zalina: I grew up watching my mom (who is a physician with a passion for interior design) design our custom-built homes in Russia. I was always inspired to see her bring spaces to live and totally transform them. When my tennis career came to an end, I decided to follow my passion and become an interior designer to be able to bring spaces to live for people to enjoy and live beautifully. After graduating from Art Institute of Houston, I was hired by Smithgroup where I designed office spaces for tech giants Google, Microsoft, and Facebook throughout the country. Later on I found out that I enjoy working more on residential projects because I get more freedom and creativity in designing homes.
Tempaper: Where is your favorite place to apply wallpaper in a home?
Zalina: Definitely in the bedroom! I can't stress enough how the room changes completely with a custom mural wallpaper that adds so much character, depth, and aesthetics to the room in such a quick and easy application.
Tempaper: What do you enjoy most about the design process, and how do you approach creating a unique and personalized space for your clients?
Zalina: Nothing is more rewarding than seeing interior space being used to its full potential both in function and aesthetics. My favorite part in the design process is the design development phase, where I get to dive into a creative process to solve a design problem that the client is facing. That includes space planning, creating mood boards, 3d renderings and picking out furniture, finishes and fixtures. Knowing the client's lifestyle, hobbies and their story overall is crucial in creating unique and personalized spaces. So the first thing that I do during my 1:1 consultation is to get to know the client as much as I can.
Tempaper: How do you balance incorporating trends with creating timeless designs?
Zalina: Honestly, I'm not a big fan of trends because they come and go. I'm focused more on creating homes that reflect personal stories, passions and memories into a space that mirrors the essence of its inhabitants.
Tempaper: Why do you think color plays such a powerful role in interior design, and how do you help clients choose the right color palette for their spaces?
Zalina: Well first off, colors evoke emotions and moods and that's pretty powerful. For example, warm colors like red and orange can create a sense of warmth and energy, while cool colors like blue and green can convey calmness and serenity. So, understanding these emotional responses helps designers create the desired atmosphere in a space. Another important aspect when working with colors is to apply color theory principles, such as complementary or analogous color schemes, in order to create visually appealing and harmonious space.
Tempaper: What are the best design trends that are catching your eye for this year?
Zalina:
1.) Artisanal work that showcases the incomparable skill of human hands and touch in design. Vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces will continue to steal the show in 2024. 2.) Personalized spaces, one of the most important trends is about not being on trend. We will continue to see/use our homes as a canvas to express ourselves.
Tempaper: Peel and stick wallpaper has become increasingly popular. How do you see this trend evolving, and what advice do you have for clients considering using wallpaper in their homes?
Zalina: Peel and stick wallpaper has indeed gained popularity for its convenience and versatility. I envision it evolving in advancements in materials and adhesives making it more durable and flexible options and even suitable for high-moisture areas like bathroom and kitchen. Peel and stick wallpaper can be a fantastic way to add personality and style to a space with minimal commitment. I would suggest ordering a sample first. This allows you to see how the pattern or color looks in your space before committing to a full installation. If you are unsure about covering an entire room, consider using peel and stick wallpaper as an accent on a single wall. This allows you to experiment with patterns and colors without overwhelming the space.
Tempaper: Why did you choose this particular print for the space and how do you feel about the new space?
Zalina: 5 years old client loves spending time outdoors in the rainforest and parks. Recently, he traveled with his family to Rio de Janeiro and wanted his room to have the feel of Tijuca forest with green colors and a lot of foliage images. I knew that the most efficient way to create the feel and look that the client wanted is to use peel and stick wallpaper. From my previous work with Tempaper and their great designs and quality of wallpaper, I knew where to look. Since the room had to be modern yet playful, I needed a wallpaper to have colors, foliage images and have a light modern look to it. Petite garden party wallpaper in blue lagoon color was perfect for this project, it had it all! We've applied it to the main wall, and it did wonders to the space. It brought the space to life instantly, adding character, playfulness and pulling the room together. My little client could not believe the room he walked into, as a result we got thumbs up and a lot of smiles!