We spoke with Valentina, a Paris-based interior architect and founder of AT'INS ARCHITECTURE, a studio known for its commitment to design and advice for the project, from start to finish.

Her projects are creative and in the bathroom and kitchen the tap fittings play a very important role.

How do you balance aesthetic appeal with functionality in your designs?

This relationship was my primary objective when I began to design the interiors. Design is largely aesthetic, but functionality and comfort are major factors in my projects. When given a project, I approach it as if I were going to live in it, carefully selecting the materials. We all appreciate visual impact, but it must be maintained over time. That's the key to my creations!

Your ARAGO project is the refurbishment of a studio apartment with a minimalist design in which you have managed to make the most of all the space. Could you tell us a bit about it?

ARAGO is a real estate buying and selling project by a former colleague with whom I worked. It was in very poor condition when he purchased it, but we transformed it into an incredible two-bedroom apartment with a top of the range bathroom. We did not have a limited budget, which was helpful, but the specifications were extremely detailed, and we wanted to execute a large portion of the project down to the millimetre, particularly in the bathroom.

The choice of materials is no coincidence; in fact, it is a minimalist yet modern apartment, although the fact that it is south-facing left us with less-than-optimal lighting. This is why we placed emphasis on the use of very natural and mineral cladding, playing with the contrast of the warmth of the wood and the black of the tap fittings to give a final touch to the project.

It was certainly a complicated project and you have achieved an incredible result. How did you ensure that the design was both functional and attractive?

In this profession we love complications because they heighten our appreciation for the end result. I prioritised the convenience of daily life and the flow within the apartment. The aesthetics came to me later.

I was delighted to design the project as Architecte d’interieur and I would like to thank the Nouvel Espace team for doing the work.

You chose our Cuadro Exclusive family in a matte black finish for both the bathroom and the kitchen. Why did you opt for this collection?

The Cuadro collection was the avant-garde touch that the project was lacking! Combining design and functionality, the fittings make themselves felt in this apartment as decorative elements, with their geometric and square shapes. In fact, this collection has been very popular among many of our clients!