December Q&A
- Carolina Mendonça
- Dec 26, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 7
December tends to move fast — full of gatherings, transitions, and moments layered with meaning. It’s a time when home becomes even more important, not as a backdrop, but as the place where life unfolds. This month’s Q&A reflects on those in-between moments and how thoughtful design supports the way we live.
Q: How do you approach designing small, intimate moments within a larger space?
I think about purpose and mood before anything else. This corner was designed to stand out visually, but also to be lived in. A place to sit, have a drink, flip through a book, or simply pause within the rhythm of the home.
Small moments like this add depth to a home. They create layers of experience, turning a functional space into one that feels personal and lived-in. Often, these are the areas people connect with the most.

Q: What role does art play in your designs?
Art brings emotion into a space. It introduces color, movement, and meaning — often in ways furniture alone can’t. For me, art should feel connected to the people who live there, reflecting their history, values, and the life they’re building.
I often use art as an anchor, something that gives a room identity and soul. A home without art can feel finished, but incomplete. Art is what makes it human.
Q: How do you balance function and atmosphere?
Function should always come first — but atmosphere is what makes function enjoyable. Lighting, materiality, and proportion all work together to shape how a space feels when you’re actually living in it.
The goal is never to choose one over the other. The best spaces are the ones where function disappears into comfort.
Q: What does it feel like to work with an interior designer?
Working with a designer should feel supportive, not overwhelming. My role is to help clients navigate decisions with clarity — translating their needs, lifestyle, and story into a cohesive vision for their home.
It’s a collaborative process. I guide the big picture while handling the details, so clients feel confident, understood, and excited as their space comes together.
In the end, thoughtful design shows up in the way we live — in the moments we pause, gather, and return to every day. When a home is shaped with intention, it becomes more than a space to admire; it becomes a place that truly supports your life.



