Olga Kovalevskaya is a furniture designer and founder of the Bambini studio in an exclusive interview for Moda Topical.

      What is the philosophy of Bambini as a brand working with commercial interiors, rather than just producing soft furniture?

      For me, the philosophy of Bambini is about creating a space where aesthetics and practicality exist in balance. In practice, it is not always easy to combine these, but this is where I see the meaning of our work. We create furniture that shapes the atmosphere: it provides a sense of coziness, home comfort, and beauty while remaining functional and durable. An important feature of Bambini is that interaction with clients happens directly with me, as the creator of the brand and designer. In many furniture manufacturing companies, communication is handled by managers who may not always be able to delve deeply into the details of the project. In our case, the client works directly with the author. Therefore, every detail—from the construction and internal filling to the fittings and seating of the furniture—goes through my personal control. It is important for me that the product is brought to perfection. Each model contains my energy, attention, and love for the craft. Therefore, Bambini is not just furniture production, but an author's approach to creating interiors.

      How does Bambini build its work with restaurants, hotels, and design studios: at what stage do you get involved in the project and what task do you take on completely?

      Most often, the interaction scheme is established by the clients or project designers themselves. In practice, we get involved at different stages. Sometimes we are invited right after the design project is approved. Then we have enough time to work deeply on the furniture: order designer fabrics, create test samples, refine ergonomics and construction, and conduct all approvals before starting production. But there are also other situations—when we are brought in at the stage of active project implementation, when deadlines are very tight. This happens quite often in project furniture. Our work is generally quite dynamic. But we love what we do and can work even under very tight schedules without lowering our quality standards.

      What are the key differences in soft furniture for HoReCa compared to private interiors—and how does Bambini take these requirements into account in production?

      The main difference in furniture for the HoReCa segment is the increased requirements for wear resistance, fire safety, and material durability. In public spaces, furniture is subjected to significantly more intense use, so fabrics with high technical characteristics are used. But upholstery is not the only important factor. The construction of the product and internal filling play a huge role. Furniture must retain its shape for years: it should not sag or deform, so that seams and seating remain neat even with active use. In the restaurant business, the typical life cycle of a restaurant is about six years. This means that the furniture must maintain its appearance and comfort throughout this time. In a private interior, a sofa can be replaced if it has lost its shape. In public spaces, this becomes a significant expense. Therefore, I always pay special attention to the construction and quality of the filling. For me, this is a matter of professional reputation. In private interiors, on the contrary, aesthetics often come to the forefront: the textures of fabrics, shades, color combinations, and the overall emotional impression of the space.

      How do you help designers and architects maintain the concept of the interior without sacrificing the practicality and durability of the furniture?

      We have a large collection of fabrics from various manufacturers at our disposal. We work with both available materials and custom items from European suppliers. This allows us to find solutions for almost any concept and budget. Since Bambini is a furniture atelier, we have very broad customization capabilities. If the concept of the interior requires it, we can change the construction of elements, proportions, and decorative details. For example, we can develop custom legs for a sofa or armchair—from minimalist geometric shapes to complex decorative elements made by casting. It all depends on the project idea, the designer's imagination, and the tasks of the interior. My task is to preserve the artistic idea of the space while ensuring the correct construction and durability of the furniture.

      How deep can the customization of Bambini furniture be for project orders: shapes, seating, materials, sizes, technical solutions?

      Customization can be as deep as the constructive and technological capabilities of production allow. This is one of the main principles of our atelier. In fact, each product is created individually. Even if it is a model from our collection, it is almost always adapted to a specific project: sizes, proportions, seating, type of filling, or materials are changed. If the item is created according to a designer's sketch, the possibilities become even broader. We can use various decorative elements—such as ropes, leather, complex fabric textures, or non-standard combinations of materials. I am always open to bold solutions and love projects where clients are willing to experiment and create unique pieces of furniture.

      How does Bambini address the task of comprehensive filling of space with soft furniture so that the interior looks cohesive rather than a collection of separate items?

      For the interior to look cohesive, there are certain professional principles for working with color and textures. For example, one can use related shades within the same color palette—then the space will look harmonious and calm. Another approach is to take one shade and reveal it through different textures: velvet, boucle, wool, or leather. Sometimes we use an accent material—such as a patterned fabric. In this case, one piece of furniture is made from this material, while the others are selected in solid colors that are present in the pattern. As a furniture designer, I usually accompany the client in these decisions and help select fabrics so that they work as a single ensemble. It is important to use different textures—otherwise, the interior may look too flat.

      What types of projects do you find most interesting to work on—restaurants, boutique hotels, apartments, public spaces—and why?

      I generally enjoy working with interiors. Each type of space has its own character and mood. Restaurants, boutique hotels, and public spaces involve scale, complex tasks, and teamwork. Architects, designers, developers, and engineers participate, and each project becomes a large collaborative process. Such projects allow for constant development and consideration of new nuances in future work. Private interiors—apartments, residences, children's rooms—are a completely different story. They are much more personal and emotional. Behind each such space are memories, habits, and the character of the family. In a sense, this is very delicate work. People entrust us with part of their personal environment, their home, and we become a small part of that story.

      How do you balance aesthetics, comfort, and durability in projects with high traffic and load?

      Sometimes it is necessary to set priorities. It is not always possible to perfectly combine all characteristics at once. There are areas with high traffic—such as the main halls of restaurants or public spaces. There, practicality comes first: the most wear-resistant fabrics and constructions designed for intensive use are used. But in more intimate or secluded areas—lounge spaces, separate halls, or private corners—one can afford more aesthetic freedom. More delicate textures and materials are used there, where tactility and visual impression are more important. The balance is always built based on the usage scenario of the space.

      What is the value of Bambini for the client as a partner: why do designers and developers choose you repeatedly?

      For me, the most important thing is the attitude towards people. Every client should feel that they are not just another order in the production flow, but a separate individual. I greatly value the trust that people come to us with, and I strive to do everything to ensure that the result justifies that trust. We listen carefully to the client's wishes, try to take into account all the nuances of the project, and make the collaboration process as comfortable as possible. We always maintain a lively contact with the client. Each relationship develops differently, but people feel this attention. That is why many clients return to us again and recommend Bambini to their colleagues, friends, and family.

      How do you see the development of Bambini in the project furniture segment: in what direction is the brand moving and what tasks does it want to address for the market in the future?

      The history of Bambini began with the production of children's soft furniture. Over time, we started to expand our range, creating different types of soft furniture and working on interior projects. The next stage of development was case furniture. Today, we can already handle projects much more comprehensively and provide clients with a full cycle of furniture manufacturing. In the future, I see the development of Bambini towards comprehensive interior outfitting. So that clients can come to us and receive a turnkey solution—for both residential spaces and public objects.