How do we change a clichéd reality into something that respects and adapts to the individual needs of the user? This question serves to guide the professional career of Katarzyna Denst – a graduate in Architecture and Construction who, after years of designing residential and commercial buildings, decided to focus on interior design. As a result, Denst Design Studio, which specialises in turnkey projects, was launched in 2020.
Balance between exuberant fantasy versus sound knowledge and practical experience
From an early age, Katarzyna Denst has manifested a strong awareness of the space around her. Even as a child, she would come up with ways to improve and enhance her living environment. She soon discovered that the technical mind was not everything, and that in addition to the practical solutions, she was also interested in the creative aspect. Two university degrees, followed by years of varied professional experience, have helped her find a space where she achieves her full potential. By running her own interior design studio, she skilfully uses both her imagination and her knowledge. It is all about developing creative concepts and then putting them into practice.
A love for challenges – open-minded in interior design projects for private investors
Katarzyna Denst considers the investors who she has the chance to work with to be her greatest inspiration, and she treats every project as an opportunity to discover her creative capabilities. Among the challenges that have particularly contributed to her professional growth, she singles out house projects – ones that require the coordination of many elements and therefore a lot of work. She admits that each of these types of interiors has given her a great deal of satisfaction.
From among the projects completed under her own label – Denst Pracownia Projektowa – she particularly remembers one. For the first meeting, a certain client brought a stack of trade magazines with their ‘dream’ solutions marked on them. The seemingly absurd challenge of combining otherwise stylistically disparate elements into a coherent whole proved extremely creative. The eclectic arrangement perfectly reflected the character of the investor, and the functional makeover made the interior even more unique.
What values and outlook guide your design work? What are your priorities in creating buildings?
Priority is always given to the people who will use the interior. It’s where it all starts. Around them, I build the layout and create the space and then decorate it with them in mind. I create functional interiors, not showroom interiors, so I make sure that they retain their charm over the years while still performing well in everyday life.
I have a knack for finding solutions to every design problem, optimising spaces and making life more efficient. I enjoy analysing functional layouts and planning new user-friendly versions. I don’t settle for mediocre projects. I always aim to achieve the maximum effect.
Do you have a favourite design style? If so, what kind?
I don’t limit myself to one kind of aesthetic – I like to combine different styles. More often than not, my designs are the result of many inspirations and the client’s taste. Some common features can be found, of course, but they are definitely not in one particular and well-defined style. I appreciate gentle minimalism, but I also like a touch of colour and decoration.
What materials and technologies do you most like to use in your projects?
I like nature – it’s where I get my energy and inspiration from, so I often refer to it in my designing process. As far as possible, I use natural materials: wood, stone and – increasingly – steel. I also like to go for fabrics, patterns and colours, but in a subtle way so that they don’t dominate but rather complement.
What are your experiences of working with clients? What do you think is the key to a successful collaboration?
I have had different experiences because I get to meet very different individuals and very different personalities through my work. I believe that design is partly about working with interiors and partly about working with people. It is impossible to design an interior isolated from the user. It is the meeting and relationship with the client that becomes key, so we first need to figure out what the investor’s motivations, goals, needs and resources are. Things are not always clear-cut and obvious, which is why I believe that the key to successful collaboration is a willingness to communicate from both sides. The basis for a good and satisfying project is open discussions about needs, expectations and ideas – both those of the collaboration and the target interior.
Can you describe the most interesting project you have worked on?
Each project is interesting in its own way, and I approach each one with great enthusiasm and excitement. There are plenty of moments of this excitement because there is something going on at every stage and, on top of that, interior projects are completed relatively quickly. I enjoy the dynamics.
At the moment, the most interesting projects for me are the latest ones, because I am noticing a greater level of openness among clients to what we offer as a studio. Having a great deal of trust from our clients, we can create projects with more flair, full of creative solutions and interesting materials.
Do you offer a consultation service?
No, I don’t.
