Mário Rocha
Nicolas Payet
Nini Andrade Silva
Interior Designer
She was born in Funchal and studied design at IADE, although she later added to her academic background, and at the same time worked in New York, London, Paris, Denmark and South Africa. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Nini Andrade Silva is one of the most prestigious interior designers in the world and has seen her work recognised and awarded both at home and abroad. But Nini has also designed different ranges of furniture, she is a consultant for IADE, she is a speaker, she is a painter… because «we are the ones who draw the line of our life».
You are one of the best recognised Portuguese interior designers. What led you to work in this area?
The expression «Designing Life» has accompanied me throughout my life and fits perfectly into what I believe! I think I can say that I chose to be a designer because I have always been ahead of my time. I have always seen myself in avant-garde movements and because I had a family that always supported me in making my dreams come true! I chose to be a designer because, somehow, I always wanted to be able to transform reality, to work on material and create new things!
What inspires you?
Everything! Absolutely everything, because I have a huge capacity to turn everything into something positive, new, different... I don’t shackle myself to fashions, trends, to the so-called right or wrong! I am completely free of these premises...
What is the Nini Andrade Silva brand?
The Nini Andrade Silva brand is a team of incredible professionals, who accompany me on this journey. They are women and men who make me what I am today! The Nini Andrade Silva brand is synonymous with quality, dedication and rigour and I owe this to my team!
«In Funchal, I created the Nini Andrade Silva Design Centre, where you can gain a better understanding of the work we have been developing over the years!»
Is there any project you are particularly proud of because it was a huge challenge?
All of them! Every project is unique and each one has an incredible story behind it! I dedicate myself body and soul and so each one has a bit of my DNA. I often say that there are no large or small projects, because they all can be designed with grandeur! In Funchal, I created the Nini Andrade Silva Design Centre, where you can gain a better understanding of the work we have been developing over the years! It is an incredible space and it is a place endowed with services and unique skill sets.
You have left your name in homes and hotels all over the world. Is internationalisation still a growth strategy for you?
Yes. My team deserves it when I continue to take risks for them (for us)! We are still strong in markets we consider strategic. There’s a story I was fond of telling... One day, at a party in Paris a few years ago, there was a gentleman who asked me what I did, and I, very proud of my career, answered that I was doing projects all over the world! He replied, «What a pity that your country does not have enough work for you!» I confess that I didn’t come to this realisation immediately, but the truth is that this gentleman was right! I started with a lot more strength abroad, because that’s the way it had to be, but nowadays I appreciate it because I have a lot of work in Portugal!
