In Conversation: Martina @ The Venetian Pantry
Hello Martina, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Can we start by you telling us a little about yourself?
Sure! I am originally from a small medieval town in the Venetian countryside. After graduating in Industrial Design over ten years ago, I moved to London to do my master's degree in Graphic Design and have stayed here ever since. I met my partner Joe almost six years ago, and together we bought and renovated our current home in Stoke Newington.
These days I am wearing many creative hats – I still work as a graphic designer, but also as a photographer, recipe developer and (occasionally) interior designer.
You’re a graphic designer by trade, so what let you to create a page about homes and renovation?
We moved in our home right in the middle of the second lockdown in January 2021, and so the account was initially born out of the desire to share our home with friends and family who couldn't physically come to visit, as well as document the progress in the renovation. It was my first ever project in the world of interiors but soon realised I had a real passion for it. From there, the account quickly became a creative outlet for everything I love: design, food and photography.
What is the most challenging part of renovating your home?
Patience. We were lucky enough to have an amazing team of contractors working with us, so the whole process went fairly smoothly (despite some predictable delays due to both Covid and Brexit), but the one thing I really struggled with was keeping my impatience at bay! I remember thinking at one point we were never going to see the end of it!
As first-time renovators, we also felt the daunting weight of all the decisions that needed to be taken – more so at the beginning of the process. We were very aware of trends going in and out of fashion, and we tried very hard to choose things and materials that we wouldn't regret later on, that would last the test of time.
What advice would you share to anyone starting on their own home improvement journey?
Surround yourself with good contractors: don't just go for the cheapest option, as it is not necessarily the best (or cheapest, for that matter) in the long run. Always get a few different quotes and trust your instincts, both on people but also on what you like: you're going to be the one living in that space, so you can't really go wrong as long as it makes you happy!
And finally, and perhaps most importantly: enjoy the process! As I said, it can be very daunting at first, but it is also such an exciting time to experience. Having the chance to completely forge your surroundings in whichever way you like is (for many of us) a once or maybe twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so make sure you enjoy the ride.
We believe that clothing can be transformative. How do you relate to this?
I would wholeheartedly agree! They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover (and it's true of course) but I think we are the first to judge ourselves based on what we wear. The right piece of clothing can really boost our confidence and make us feel at ease in our own skin and in the world, and sadly the opposite is true too.
I love wearing Beaumont because the shapes are so easy and flattering! There is also a timeless quality to each piece, which really resonates with me. It all goes back to the idea of investing in good quality, long standing pieces rather than chasing the latest trends!
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