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Idée Chic Designs, the award winning interior design boutique located just outside of Seattle in Bellevue, Washington, was founded in 2004 out of principal designer Natalia Smith’s love for creating highly functional, yet chic and sophisticated interiors. Working from a cozy studio, Natalia and Studio's design team, skillfully execute interior design projects of all types including kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Natalia’s commitment to exceptional customer experience and practical designs fuels Studio’s continuous quest to introduce their clients to the best blend of design-value-quality solutions. Talented Studio's designers utilize their polished skills to orchestrate remodel and new construction projects, offering spectacular, client pleasing, nationally recognized designs. Principal Interior Designer, Natalia Smith
As a child, Natalia learned the invaluable skills of sewing and knitting, which provided a solid foundation for her love of textiles. To Natalia, fabric is an essential material that can truly transform a space with touches of brilliant texture and color on walls, windows, furnishings, and floors. She possesses a great understanding and respect for textiles, and flawlessly incorporates layers of fabrics, wallcoverings, and area rugs into her designs. Natalia also acquired a profound appreciation for quality and a reverence for antiques through her early travels to Europe and Asia. Memories of elaborate Parisian decor, elegant English gardens, and romantic Italian streets, as well as the vividness of Asian cultures continue to influence Natalia in her work today. Her design aesthetic blossomed upon witnessing the dichotomy between historical neighborhoods and progressive designs in Europe, as well as the minimalism contrasted with the colorful and elaborately adorned carvings in Asia. Subsequently, Natalia’s interiors illustrate a balance of antiques and modern elements, resulting in designs that are full of meaning, and provide long-term satisfaction for her loyal clientele. Natalia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Pre-Law, as well as her Masters of Business. However, she soon realized the overwhelming force of her creativity, and decided to pursue a degree and career in Interior Design. The two sides of education blossomed into a successful, established business. As an interior designer, wife, mother, and active community member, Natalia finds it important to incorporate efficiency and livability into each interior space she designs, and does so by custom tailoring each design to fit the client’s everyday needs. Natalia is fully dedicated to her work, and believes in the importance of comfortable, peaceful, elegant surroundings, and works closely with her clients to deliver designs that are distinctive and refreshingly unique. Interior Designer, T. Eric Goffrier Originally studying Fine Art and Art History for two years as an undergraduate, Eric made the shift toward the study of Design to better suit his passion for creating everyday objects and spaces with extraordinary appeal. With a keen eye and well developed sense of style, Eric has been making a mark on the design industry since 1998. Eric’s is skilled in conceptualizing the "Big Picture" and communicating that to clients with quick understandable sketches, and if required color 3d renderings. Richness of texture in subtle variation has been an ongoing theme in his design work, as well as a finely balanced contrast of color. Eric's attention to detail is carried through to the project management phase along with his ability to manage diverse teams of artisans, engineers and suppliers to meet strict time and budget deadlines. This skill set or "designer’s tool box" has led Eric to many innovative interiors in residential, as well as custom yachts. While living abroad with his wife and exploring various cultures Eric’s approach to design which is grounded in Northwest style has been influenced to include an occasional international twist into his projects. In his most recent trip to South Africa, Eric brought back with him furniture, fashion, and an admiration for intricacy of the local craftsmanship. When not consumed by design, Eric and his wife enjoys getting out on the water in the summer and skiing in the winter. Studio's Awards Professional Affiliations Publications An interview with Natalia To get to know our Principal Designer's style and preferences, we will use Architectural Digest's format for their feature publication "Designers tell all." When I begin with a new client, I always... listen very carefully to what they are saying and question them about their lifestyles and things they don't like. In general, I am more interested to know what they don't like before we begin the process. My favorite room to design... I love doing any kind of room, from master bedroom suites to home spas to comfortable entertainment areas and gourmet kitchens. What I enjoy most is creating something entirely fresh and unique–which is why clients come to me. There are many rules designers should bear in mind. One is... There are no rules aside from the rule that interiors have to work and to be safe. The interior space has to be beautiful, of course, but it also has to be practical, livable for everyday life, and it should have a sense of unobstructed movement either through textures, patterns or space planning. Interiors have to flow, connect and relate. The order I follow when I design is... It is not always the same, and it depends on the room. Sometimes it is the particular dimensions or architectural details of the room that kick off the process; other times, it's the pattern on a fabric, unique furnishings or a family heirloom. My designs are different because they originated in different ways. Every home must have... a place to share good food, close friends, and a place for a favorite book. Who or what has influenced my style... This question has several answers. To begin with, my upbringing in Russia taught me to be practical and use space wisely, appreciate resources and give old things new life rather than starting from scratch. Designing and making clothes from early on also influenced me. It polished my innate ability to combine color and texture, thinking through the entire process from conception to the end before the first material was cut. My travels though Europe and Asia shaped two styles I love. One is transitional ("comfortable modern," I call it) with simple geometric forms in a warm, inviting palette of exotic materials. The other is traditional with gorgeous veneers and an abundance of textures and textiles. Lastly, the work of Peter Marino, architect and designer, influences my thoughts on cohesiveness of space by the way he warms and balances his designs. The clients can make the design process go more smoothly by... Trusting the designer, being honest and upfront, and making decisions promptly. The design process is about solving problems. I don't dictate what and how things should be, I guide. Consequently, the clients have some decisions to make and be comfortable with the outcome. I will provide all the support to make the decision process easy but ultimately, the final word comes from the client. So, honest and open communication is key to success. |
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Natalia’s early experiences significantly influenced her design sensibility. From a young age, the artisans and engineers in Natalia’s family taught her the importance and value of deeply understanding a craft. Through her work, Natalia offers the perfect balance of intense creativity coupled with an engineer’s attention to detail.
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