Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcela Lombana
Hi Marcela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Where do I start, someone said life is a circle and mine is not close quite yet.
I’m not an artist and entrepreneur at heart. I was a brain child young artist very talented with oils. Although big part of me wanted to study fine arts, and dedicate my life to the canvas, life organically took me towards Interior Design. It was not planned, it was just the smart path.
Early on I mixed architecture with Interior design which has been key part on my process.
I’ve been designing projects in South Florida for 25 years, however I’ve kept a very low profile, in the background, whispering ideas to the right people to get the project where it needs to be.
I’m like the orchestra conductor, “ The Maestro”; hehe. Quietly shaping the identify of the spaces.
I’be had my studio since 2009, I travel to where the projects take me. Literally the world has been my office since then. I’ve had an actual physical studio twice before, yet it became a material library and a place to meet vendors. Client’s always want you to come to them, so I do.
The past 5 years I’ve steered Design Concepts and teams for different local Developers for very high profile Luxury brands like MrC Residences, Baccarat Residences.
Before that, a mix of hospitality and rest lux projects was my bread and butter.
Have you been at Michael’s Genuine in the Design District, I designed the renovation at the start of of the Pandemic.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My Professional path in Interior Design has been very natural, organic and rewarding.
Nevertheless there are always challenges, one of my professional struggles is quite personal.
Since I’ve always kept a low profile, and stayed in the background its a struggle to step into the light spot and allow my work to be seen and recognized.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is very broad, from a private yacht catamaran concept, to a cruise ships hospitality venue that accommodate 1500 people.
From a Private Flat gut down in Barcelona to a Master Planning Schematics Resort of 500 key plus in Puerto Rico.
We can be designing the renovation of a simple hotel bar one moment and then new concept for a Michelin star chef. This has been very fun, and has taken us to projects in destinations like Cartagena, Ibiza, and of course Miami.
My Design style is flexible, it has to be. I design for Brands or for humans nor for me.
I do try to play with textures and layer materials without saturating the space with unnecessary elements. Always sophisticated yet casual, subtle.
My work is also very personal, this is the artist in me that makes it personal. There is a “light ” to all the projects I Design … a JE NE SAIS QUOI
My design practice is focused on design for Luxury Brands and unique private residences.
All my private clients/project usually come unexpectedly and referred by a friend, they have always been very unique, one of a kind property and location.
One of business focus, designing for Brand Developments, established brands or creating an interior design language for projects from scratch.
A brand can be many things, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a spa.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That I wanted to be a a professional artist and Study Fine Arts.
Pricing:
- It really varies from project to project as every client is very scope and program are very different from each other, however we average about $15 a square foot in design service fee. And my flat starting design fee is $15 K
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marcelalombana.com
- Instagram: @marcelalombana
Image Credits
The Restaurant Image with the banquette is by Antonio Cuellar Photograpy. The rest of the photos i own the image
