We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katya Thompson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Katya, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Travel, especially to places like Eastern Europe where I grew up, and visits to Italy and France, is what truly motivates and energizes me for my workday like nothing else. Exploring the unique architecture, interior design, and ambience of hotels and restaurants in these regions provides me with a deep well of inspiration. It’s this immersion in diverse environments that refreshes my creativity, allowing me to bring innovative ideas and a sense of worldly elegance to my projects. The distinct blend of historical and modern design elements I encounter in my travels enables me to craft spaces that are not only beautiful but also tell a story, creating a unique and immersive experience for my clients.
What also truly motivates and energizes me for my workday is the opportunity to bring my clients’ dreams to life through design. The challenge of creating luxurious spaces that exceed expectations ignites my passion. Collaborating with clients, architects, and artisans fuels my enthusiasm. Each day brings opportunities for learning and inspiration. Seeing a project come to fruition and bringing joy to clients is immensely gratifying and drives my dedication to design.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a co-founder of Luxury Interior Design Studio and Furniture & Home Decor Showroom named Artistic Elements. We run the business together with my husband Drew. The concept of Personalized Luxury is our driving force, and our main goal is to provide exceptional experience to all our clients and customers. It is reflected in our bespoke designs, project management, through to completion. We work on the high-end projects all over the world. We’re known for our unique style (that we called “Sophisticated Elegance”) that is a perfect combination of luxury and comfort. If you want to see more of it, check out our Instagram page: @the.artistic.elements.
We believe that luxury Interior Design should go beyond the visual, but to reflect the personalized style and functionality of our client. We are your creative partner, providing a turnkey solution to make your dreams a reality.
We work on the whole range of projects — from the new construction homes to condo and townhouse redesign. We dive deep into every project, identify the needs and desires of the client and develop the best possible solution (that’s always a beautiful and comfortable home).
But we don’t only do interior design. Artistic Elements is also a furniture and home decor showroom in the heart of Boca Raton. We offer only the best in high-end home decor, providing products from the most exclusive and luxurious brands from around the world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Perfectionism. Growing up, I was always very particular about the way I dress, the way my room looks, and the way things are done. In college, I was known for obsessing over the details of my design projects, staying up all night working on group projects to make sure everything was perfect
Being such a perfectionist wasn’t always seen as a good thing. Some people didn’t want to hear my criticism or see the flaws in what they do. But when I started my own business, it turned out to be a positive trait that makes our business stand out.
I’m relentless when it comes to making things perfect. For example, one of our clients had a problem with their outdoor furniture leaving black marks on their light tile. The initial response was to say there was nothing to be done, but I insisted on exploring all the options. Eventually, we found a solution through a vendor and a manufacturer to change the feet from black rubber to white that wouldn’t scratch the floor.
These little details mean a lot to me. As a business owner and principal designer, I want to make sure everything is thought through. This is what I’m known for and this is what sets Artistic Elements apart from other companies. Some people just want to finish a project, but we always go the extra mile for those little details. Our designs are comfortable and tailored to our clients, and in construction, we make sure nothing goes wrong to provide peace of mind to our clients
In the end, my passion for perfection and attention to detail have become strengths that define my work and help me deliver the best results
Being curious. This means always keeping your eyes open because inspiration is everywhere in the world around you. Curiosity fuels learning, innovation, and personal growth. Anywhere I go, I’m constantly observing materials, textures, check how things are attached, noticing what draws my attention. Paying attention to the world and learning on your own is crucial — it’s something you won’t necessarily be taught in school, and you need to continually educate yourself.
Curiosity isn’t solely about finding answers; it’s about asking the right questions and embracing the journey of discovery, even when it involves failure or uncertainty.
Being an overachiever. This quality goes beyond mere ambition; it’s about consistently striving to surpass expectations and reach new heights of excellence. Overachievers don’t settle for mediocrity; they relentlessly pursue greatness in everything they do. For me, being an overachiever means setting audacious goals that push me out of my comfort zone, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, and maintaining a relentless work ethic to consistently deliver exceptional results. It’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and refusing to accept anything less than my best effort. Developing this quality requires a combination of ambition, determination, and a willingness to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. It’s a mindset that demands continuous self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
If you have a particular strength, it’s amazing to concentrate on it. They say if you do something for 10,000+ hours, you become a professional in that area. For example, before transitioning into residential design, I ended up in a small niche within Interior Design, focusing on retail stores. We designed high-end boutiques worldwide, and after a few years, I was getting fantastic job offers with generous salaries because there aren’t many people in the field. Specializing in something you love pays off. By immersing yourself deeply in your passion, you not only become exceptionally skilled but also develop a unique perspective that sets you apart from others in the industry. This expertise and distinctiveness make you highly sought-after, leading to numerous opportunities and recognition for your work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartisticelements.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katya_the_designer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtisticElements
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@the.artistic.elements
Image Credits
Daria Koso, Living Proof
