From their chic studio in Santo Spirito neighbourhood of Florence, dynamic duo Vina Matos and Anne Herzog inject creative spirit and innovative ideas into their interior design partnership.  Bringing their diverse backgrounds into the mix, Matos being from Portugal and Herzog growing up in Norway with Swiss roots, they contribute their collective sense of cultural flair to each project. 

“Sometimes we call ourselves the ‘psychologists’ of interior design,” smiles Herzog.  “We constantly have to interpret and understand the needs of our international clients, how they live, what their needs are and the type of lifestyles they lead.”   

With their designs ranging from renovating Tuscan villas to Mediterranean island houses to interiors of boutique hotels and restaurants, there are many facets to consider above and beyond maintaining the original integrity of the space.  With their professional eye for detail, the partners possess that special art of mixing contemporary objects with antiques that lends sophistication and warmth to a space, breathing fresh life to it.

Although both women originally met in Florence during their design school years, their working partnership began twelve years ago and has grown from strength to strength with each new project and each new design they develop.  Invariably, with every new opportunity, they find themselves, producing and re-creating their own designs to weave into the particular interiors they create for clients.  “We love taking old pieces of furniture or aesthetically pleasing objects we have discovered and re-purposing them to create something new,” explains Herzog.  “We are so fortunate to live and work in an area where artisans can more or less make anything we design or refurbish old pieces in a more contemporary style.”  The artisan studios of Tuscany, with their long lineage of craftsmanship and passion for innovation, is nothing short of a blessing for these two clever designers.

With their close connection to nature from their countryside homes to their many travels throughout Europe, there is no lack of things to inspire for these two imaginative creatives.  A special vintage glass covering from Venice might prompt them to create a new overhead lighting for a client, or the shape of a gecko from their garden leads them to design a new handle for a cupboard.  “Our creative process has no end as we constantly are surrounded by the textures, colours, and shapes of nature,” Matos says.  “The inspiration is continuous.”

Their most recent collection of beautiful ceramic vases was inspired from the shape of artichokes that grow so prodigiously in the Tuscan countryside in season.  Comissioning a ceramic artisan from an area close to their homes, each vase is beautifully hand made.  “We take our inspiration from many different sources,” explains Matos.  “We try and maximize the usage of all-natural materials in our work: ceramics, stone work, linens, marble.”  Living and working in Italy, a country still considered deeply rich in primary materials and craftsmanship, the team is spoiled for choice.