Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Fernández Jorge.
Hi Cristina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi Jessica, first of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to present the story of La Villa Interior Design to all Voyagemia readers. I have always believed in the power of stories to carve memories, and memories are to people what ruins are to a city: its foundations.
My childhood was dotted with incredible stories. Between seams, my mother – and before my grandmother – were inspired by the experiences of their clients to create unique dresses. They understood design as a metaphor for life, made of memories and desires. La Villa Interior Design was born with that same purpose and need: to tell each story through a unique and unrepeatable design.
That is our goal, as Ithaca. And our history, as Ulises, is the result of a journey that began more than twenty years ago in the Mediterranean- where we learned about light – passing through Germany – where we learned from artisans – and finally Brazil – where we learned about warmth.
Can you talk to us 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 grandmother always thought that I had a very well “furnished head”. I have never taken excessive risks in life, but I did not settle for the traditional Spanish model either: get married, get a job in public administration, and get a mortgage. I am a true believer that the biggest constraint of a woman is to risk her life dreaming of princesses’ tales.
I have faced, of course, some challenges; In the Canary Islands, still a student, financially. I remember reciting poems in the street to make ends meet. In Germany, it was the language barrier. In Spain, it was the housing bubble crisis of 2010 when our office stopped all the projects, and we had to reinvent ourselves from scratch. In Brazil, it was the execution of projects for luxury brands with the country’s limited materials and resources. Finally, we are in Miami, a city with strong cultural vibes, challenges, and opportunities that only a border city is capable of offering.
On the other hand, I always visualize success as an equilateral triangle with three vertices: as a Woman, as a Professional, and as a Mother. It is curious to see how throughout life the geometry changes. In this sense, I am very optimistic: I believe that the decade of the forties is the best age, when we get closer to the Holy Trinity –hahaha-.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I enjoy beauty: a landscape, a good book, a melody… anything with a certain depth, certain poetry, certain mystery. Maybe because, as Schopenhauer said, contemplating beauty is the best way to calm our desires, those that shake us.
So in addition to growing up in a creative environment, I was a fairly precocious artist. I read and wrote poems, learned piano, and when I grew up architecture and brand design.
Our know-how is based on combining all the technical and artistic tools acquired over the years to create unique universes. Whether for an individual in their home or a brand in their store, we base ourselves on their history to create experiences that go further: sensory and evocative projects that are capable of moving people.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am fortunate to have found several “Numen” throughout my life. The first one, the teacher, taught me about courage and determination.
The second one, the poet, taught me about the magic of the border. The third one, my friend, taught me about justice and beauty. I would not be who I am today if I had not been to these people along my professional journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lavillainteriordesign.com
- Instagram: @lavilla_interiordesign
- Other: https://shoutoutmiami.com/meet-cristina-fernandez-jorge-architect-interior-designer/
