Interview with Tandem & Co Design

Last week, I was interviewed by designers Marianne and Brigitte from Tandem & Co. The original interview was conducted in French and can be found in all its glory on their blog! This is the most comprehensive and candid interview I have done so far, and it was such a wonderful experience that I wanted to share it with my English readers as well.

So, read on, if you're interested in my story, in the driving forces behind my art, its mission and my own personal home decor style!

​The questions are those asked (in French) by Marianne and Brigitte. 

Pour lire l'entrevue en français, veuillez suivre ce lien vers l'article original.

How would you describe your business to someone discovering it for the first time? What do you do?

​I transform my local and international travel photography into wall art and home decor accessories. My mission is to inspire, transport and uplift you, and help you find a piece of art for your space that represents who you are, where you have been and where you dream of going. Veni Etiam is a celebration of the places, colors, moods, nostalgia and dreams that make us the unique individuals we are. 

Do you have a favorite out of all the art you have created?

​It is so hard to choose, because everything I have created through Veni Etiam represents a part of my journey as a person, as a photographer, as a writer (even as a scientist!), and each photograph is special in its own way. In fact, it is my slogan that everything is “from my heart to yours”. But one particular creation that represents me, my most profound inspirations and my brand is a photograph called “Barcarolle”. It is a photograph of a lone boat, anchored at an Italian port, waiting for its time to sail. Not only does this image summarize my greatest loves - the sea and Italy - it is also special because it represents how differently we may all see the very same scene. While I feel this scene is powerful and full of promise, others have told me the boat looks lonely, melancholy. What strikes a chord in each of us differs. I love this photograph best on acrylic, because the colors and the depth of the image just come to life on that medium. I have it hanging at the center of my gallery wall in my home office, as a representation of what Veni Etiam is to me. 

Tell us the story behind the creation of your business.

​I haven't always been a photographer. Rather, I always dreamt of being a writer and was professionally trained to be a researcher in neuroscience. My first camera was a graduation gift from my parents. I had finished my Bachelor of Science at McGill and I was moving to Europe to pursue my Master’s in three different countries. Through my studies, my work and my passion for world cultures, I traveled and traveled, not only while I lived in Europe, but during and after my doctorate. Those pivotal years enabled me to write my heart out and to fall in love with a new form of storytelling and collecting -- photography.

​In 2012, I began to get more serious about photography, becoming more experimental and artistic in my approach. I also started wishing to create postcards out of my photographs so I could mail them home when I travelled. Then a new dream formed: I wanted my photos to be "those free photos that come with a frame, and mine would be so beautiful that people would not want to replace the photo n the frame". Little did I expect that in 2015, I would decide to open an online shop selling wall art. What drove me to launch my business was the passion for stories, for travel, for that special way a place can play on your heartstrings, and for the feeling that your home is your sanctuary and it should contain your personal collection of objects and art that reflects and inspires you daily. 

If you had to choose an aspect about Veni Etiam that sets it apart, what would it be? What is its defining trait?

​I think part of what sets me apart is my shop’s combination of three principles: wanderlust, innovation and inspiration. My shop has an international spirit. Although the majority of Montreal and Quebec shops carry my local photography in fine-art prints of small sizes, what sets Veni Etiam apart is that there are actually hundreds of images to choose from - from various corners of the world - and everything can be customized on canvas, aluminum, acrylic, wood or paper, in the size of the client’s choice. Another important aspect is that every piece has a story. Each piece has a title and a description, and the stories are told on my blog and on Instagram - the two platforms I use most for storytelling. What sets Veni Etiam apart, I think, is that there is truly something for every decor, mood, memory or dream.

How would you describe your creative workspace? A. Your sacred space B. Everything has its place C. Organized chaos where I find everything easily D. Help! I am out of storage and I can never find anything! E. A work in progress...that never ends. F. Other?

F, other! My workspace is an unconventional mix of two personalities, two passions and two life journeys. On one side, my scientific space - a massive bookshelf, a desk, my diplomas, daunting texts about statistics and brain imaging. On the other side, my creative space - a gallery wall, an art desk, tools and supplies, colorful post-its for every idea and goal that springs to life. Both are my sacred zones, and I sometimes can’t believe that both can co-exist.

What inspires you? Where do you find inspiration?

​I am inspired by inspiration. By its existence and our search of it. I look for it everywhere, in the simplest daily details. Practicing photography has been an exercise of mindfulness. It has changed the way I view the world. There are many elements that inspire my style of photography. I love color, reflections, lines, textures, the beauty that can be found in the most ordinary sights and all things maritime. I love the richness of markets, the wonder of raindrops, the magic of changing light, the moods of urban scenes. I love symmetry, asymmetry, motion and stillness. I love to capture fleeting moments, because it makes me feel like I can cheat time once in a while. Venice and the sea are my deepest inspirations. I feel happiest and most inspired when I pause to take notice, when I feel gratitude, when I laugh with loved-ones, cook, drink, write, share, inspire and help others.

When you find yourself in a creativity slump, do you have a favorite ritual to stimulate your creativity?

​It happens often that I feel depleted, because there are always competing ideas and tasks, and I am always trying to pack my life to the brim. There are also moments of doubt that can paralyze you, at the worst possible time, of course. I usually take a step back. I try to take the pressure off myself. I sit in the sun (even in the winter) with only a notebook on my lap and a pencil that is waiting to break the ice. If I rest, get some distance and fresh air, and if I write only for myself without judgment, it helps enormously to restore creativity in all areas.

What is the story behind the name of your business? How did you decide on it?

​'Veni Etiam' is a Latin phrase, meaning "return again". I chose this name as I have left many anchors in the world, and returning is an important part of me - for each time you return, you discover new hidden gems, new angles, new perspectives, and new beauty. No place is ever the same (and neither are you), and this is at once beautiful and tragic. 'Veni Etiam' is also a phrase used by 16th century Italian poet to describe Venice and her effect on one's heart. As Venice is my deepest inspiration, this is my tribute to Her. 

How do you keep the environment in mind in your work?

​I work in a way as much as possible not to create waste. I print on demand. I recycle whenever possible. I do things electronically whenever possible. 

What does home decorating mean for you and your personal life?

​Home decorating is one of my favorite activities. What a blessing to create our life, to build our nest and to fill it with elements that represent our personalities, our loves and our life journeys. I love it when tastes change and when there is no one coherent theme or style in a house, because that is what our life journey is actually like.  

Who has the final say at home when it comes to home decor choices?

Hihi, it's me. My husband knows I love anything to do with decor projects and that I often have a vision for a space, so he lets me have fun with it, sometimes reeling me in with his opinions. But, ironically, for wall art, he's the one with the final say! 

Which space at home poses the most serious challenge for you and your family in your daily life? 

Hmm, I would say it's the guest room (the spare room). It's a beautiful, big room with an almost floor-to-ceiling window that opens up onto the back terrace. It's a lovely space - we added nice mouldings and we love the light of the room and the colors we chose for its walls. But two challenges actually result in the room currently being vacant. For one, which is very typical of our "Plateau" neighborhood in Montreal where the land is kind of marshy and continuously shifting, there is quite a noticeable slant in the room! The structure is solid but the slant kind of limits our options for furnishing it. The second challenge, and in truth the main one, is that health issues have caused troubles in the fertility area and have left us at a crossroads over the fate of this room. I am becoming increasingly outspoken about this because I know it's the reality of many couples who have to navigate these circumstances as well as others' expectations or judgments. Whether this room becomes a guest room for our visiting friends or a kids' room, it is a room full of hope that we can't wait to design and furnish.

Photo credit: Dallas Curow Photography

What's your main decor style at home?

​There isn’t really a unique style running through the whole place. The bedroom is more traditional in an Italian style, with Tuscan yellow walls and wood furniture. The living room has a lot of bamboo and some antique elements that my family brought with them from Egypt when they emigrated to Canada. The dining room is a mix of industrial and Italian wood furniture. My atelier is what I like to call “maritime industrial” and the laundry room is airy, functional but with a Burano (Venice) theme in its color palette and the art on the walls.

What's your favorite color?

In general, my favorite color is pink. I also really like purple. But this doesn't necessarily translate into my decor. I really like certain shades of yellow on walls because of the way it catches the sun, but I also really like dark blue. I don't have a favorite color for decor. 

Tell us about your love for decorating projects. Do you like to take charge? Does it intimidate you?

I love home decor projects. I love undertaking them and especially like it when a project is actually more long-term because this gives us the chance to develop our relationship with a space - to get to know its lights, its moods, its seasons - and to find original objects over time (rather than all at once) that represent our evolution.

What has been your most successful decorating project?

I would say the kitchen and my home office / workshop have been my favorite decor projects and rooms I am proud of. The kitchen is both modern and rustic. I love the open concept, the blue island, the exposed brick wall, the fact that everything is within arm's reach and that the space allows me to display art among everyday objects. In the summer, I spend most of my time in this room and going in and out of the adjoining patio. The kitchen is the center of the condo and of our daily life. We love to entertain and to cook - even for ourselves, even on weeknights - so it's really the most important room in the house. I am also really proud of my workshop because everything has its place and everything has its story. The energy is special in there, creative. I can close the old door (that I couldn't bring myself to replace because it's just too full of charm) and I could spend hours in there without even noticing how much time has passed.

Your worst decor blunder?

Not realizing that by putting a shelf unit in the wall in the spare room (the room with the slant) that we would immediately see that the shelf, the mouldings, the floor and the ceiling are not parallel to one another! It can be kind of dizzying if you stare for too long...

Your favorite piece of furniture?

It has to be my leather "thinking chair" in the office. I fell in love with this chair and I think I spent about 6 months visiting it at the store. I couldn't justify the purchase, it was SO expensive. In the end, I don't remember if I finally caved because I wanted it so badly, or if it finally went on sale. I'm not a patient person, so waiting 6 months for it was my limit! I love it. It's so comfortable, and I placed it just under the smaller window in my studio, in my little reading nook. My kitten is definitely not allowed in my office, not only because I don't want any of her fur close to my photographs or packaging, but also because I don't want her claws anywhere near my precious chair!

Three things you can't live without at home?

​My coffee maker, my bathtub and my Sonos speakers. 

A Quebec artist or public figure who inspires you?

Marilou (from "3 fois par jour"). It's clear that she inspires millions of quebecers, but what inspires me profoundly is her voice, her way of writing, of observing, of storytelling (in both French and English), and the way her personality shines through everything she does through her art and business.

On your decor bucket-list...

A dream bed frame from Anthropologie, a big screen TV that would like a discrete framed art piece when turned off, a reading bench integrated into the windowsill and a rooftop terrace.

On your life bucket-list...

Writing and publishing a book (or two, or three) is my biggest dream.

Your guilty pleasures?

Ice cream, marzipan and NERD candies!

Where could one find you around 5pm?

Probably in front of my computer, because I am usually most productive until 7pm.

I have a week off, and at the top of my list is...

To take a quick jaunt somewhere, probably to Italy. Ciao!

What does shopping local mean to you and your family?

Original creations that we can't easily find elsewhere, in mainstream stores. Products that are created with care and feeling. It means supporting makers who are trying to make a living out of their truest passions. It means supporting our local economy and helping it thrive. It means having a strong sense of community.

I hope you enjoyed reading this interview as much as I enjoyed giving it! If you're proficient in French, you can read the full interview in its original language here over on the Tandem & Co Design Magazine and Blog. 

Now that you know more about me, how 'bout you connect by leaving a comment below? What was your favorite part of this interview? What resonated with you? What surprised you? Your turn...