With a keen eye for detail and a passion for timeless elegance, Eleonora Romano reveals how she crafts bespoke interiors that seamlessly blend classic materials with modern design. She shares insights into her collaborative process, highlighting how partnerships with brands like FCI London help bring her distinctive, client-focused vision to life.
On her design philosophy: "Design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting spaces where architecture, art, and emotion seamlessly blend, creating something timeless and deeply personal."
On creating timeless spaces: "Timeless design is about creating something unique to the client spaces that endure, not driven by trends, but by purpose and individuality."
On collaboration in design: "Collaboration is essential. Every part of the team must be aligned, ensuring the design feels unified and meaningful, where every detail is intentional."
On the role of FCI London in her work: "FCI London offers a perfect blend of choice and service. Their pieces help bring our visions to life, seamlessly combining function with beauty."
On the evolving concept of luxury: "Luxury has shifted from aesthetics to experience. It’s about creating spaces that reflect the client’s essence, where they feel a true sense of belonging."
On technology in design: "AI is a tool, but it can never replace human intuition. It aids precision, but only the human touch can infuse emotion into design."
On the future of interior design: "The future will see more customization in luxury design. While technology will advance, the essence of craftsmanship and personal connection will remain timeless."
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Book Your VisitImke Du Toit
Welcome to the FCI London podcast, where we sit down with some of London’s most influential luxury designers to explore the stories and inspiration behind their work. I am your host, Imke du Toit, and today I am joined by none other than Eleonora Romano, founder of Romano Interior Architecture, a London-based studio renowned for its refined, timeless approach to interior design. With over 15 years of experience in the luxury interiors sector, Eleonora is recognised for her precision, attention to detail, and the seamless way she transforms spaces from concept to completion. Eleonora, it’s an absolute pleasure to have you here and welcome to the conversation today.
Eleonora
Thank you. Thank you. How are you?
Imke Du Toit
I'm very good, thank you. So, Eleonora, we’re going to jump straight in and talk a little bit about the design thinking behind the studio. You founded Romano Interior Architecture with a vision for timeless, elegant spaces. How did that vision evolve as your studio grew?
Eleonora
Good. So, I’ve always been drawn to elegant, timeless spaces, but equally to the way people ultimately inhabit and enjoy them. I studied architecture, art history and restoration in Rome, so I’ve always been closely connected with classical traditions timeless materials, balanced proportions, and understanding how design should interact with the architecture it sits within. That foundation has shaped the way I work and continues to guide the evolution of the studio.
Imke Du Toit
Okay.
Eleonora
Italian tradition in furniture and interior design. So there's a contemporary hint there. I also had the benefit of having a female mentor early in my career when I was in my early 20s. And she taught me everything about luxury and how to focus on the client's needs and what it actually meant. Later,
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Okay.
Mm.
Eleonora
Well, 10 years later, I led a property developer in Chelsea, which widened my horizons on how design could add value to a property and how collaborations with different type of disciplines can make a project extraordinary. So when I founded this studio five years ago,
I already have 15 years of international projects and experience in London and already knew what I wanted to create. I thought most of our clients are art collectors because for me it's essential to integrate architecture, art and interiors. It's just one seamless experience and they're mostly families between
Imke Du Toit
Okay.
Eleonora
They're moving between London and abroad and they want something that is timeless but it's unique to them, speak to them. I keep intentionally my studio boutique so I can focus on a client myself and from concept to completion.
Imke Du Toit
That's wonderful. I love the fact that you said the seamless connection between interior architecture as well as art. And I think that is so important. And obviously with your background and also studying the history of art as well and having all of those beautiful skills come together.
Eleonora
I've always studied the discipline where everything is mixed together. There's no separation between architecture and art integration.
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yes, no, absolutely. I mean, your work carries an architectural calm where form and function are in perfect harmony. Is that more instinct or the result of painstaking process?
Eleonora
No, I'm a coffee person, so a lot of coffee. You have to balance architecture, the client's needs, and mostly we are human, so our perception of the space determines our behavior and how we feel. It's a very complex balance between the building and all the clients' needs.
Imke Du Toit
You're a coffee person. Same here.
Cool.
Eleonora
The space has to be functional to them in the minimal details in every drawer open. And it also fits your soul every day; when you wake up, you have to be fed by this space. It will inspire you to do things or not. So it's a very fine balance between all those disciplines. So you cannot focus on...
Imke Du Toit
All those little moving parts,
absolutely. No, I completely, completely agree. Like you said as well, it needs to be a space that's both beautiful but also functional because obviously it is people that are living in that space, living breathable, you know,
Well, that actually takes me to my next question. When clients come to you from all corners of the world, they're not just asking for a beautiful space, they're asking for a sense of belonging. Do you think designers today are really listening closely enough to deliver on that?
Eleonora
Yeah, absolutely. Well, from our studio point of view, interior design point of view, the client's needs are your main objective. It's the first thing you take into consideration. And I think how the process to get to know the client is essential for you to deliver a design. Otherwise, it won't have…
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Eleonora
It wouldn't be the right response. And once you have the briefing at a certain level, all the natural responses come in place. So it's an essential part of getting to know the client.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Absolutely.
No, I would absolutely agree and it needs to be that beautiful collaboration as well. And I think that comes back to that as well practice and precision and the art of detailing does come with collaboration, and obviously collaboration is key in design. How do you ensure that the architect, the client, the craftspeople are all singing the same without it turning into a choir of conflicting opinions
Eleonora
Collaborations are one of my favourite parts. I take a lot of time selecting the people that work with me. All have to be aligned with our design and I have to be completely aware of the design intentions. They have to have attention to detail and what I mostly look…
Imke Du Toit
Hmm.
Yes.
Eleonora
But you have to have a clear communication with them and the client and all the parties involved. There's a balance there. And it's critical for the design because the result has to be greater than the sum of the parts. So everyone has to work towards that. It's not just the designer, but everyone. That's it.
Imke Du Toit
Mm.
Absolutely,
absolutely.
FCI London is known for its contemporary luxury. How do you see brands like FCI London influencing or complementing your own work in shaping London's design identity?
Eleonora
So I use personally, at the studio, a lot of Italian brands. So it's very useful. Some of our clients, they really need to touch and feel the furniture and see the dimensions and sit on it literally. So the huge variety that you can find in FCI, it's amazing and you can see the interactions and…
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Eleonora
Compliments between brands as well there. And from the studio point of view, a partner that can help us with the logistics and mainly the customer service afterwards with the process of taking the design to reality is such a critical stage when we are procuring. It's fundamental for them. Their customer service is outstanding. So for us, it's a huge…
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Yeah.
Sure.
Eleonora
Benefit to collaborate with.
Imke Du Toit
Yes, and there's so much choice as well. I know, I'm sure that the creativity just goes and just sparks as well within the FCI London showroom.
Eleonora
Absolutely. Absolutely. To see the pieces in real life makes a huge difference.
Imke Du Toit
Talking a little bit about your creative mind as a designer, an interior designer and architect, has there ever been a moment when a project took you completely out of your comfort zone and what did it teach you?
Eleonora
From the creative point of view, I always like to be out of my comfort zone, always. This is a challenge and it's more fun to have a project that takes you out. But from the construction point of view, it's always when you have… what I've learned is having a clear process and when I have clear communication with everyone and do not assume anything ever. So I always have everything in a clear process and that helps me a lot to solve any issues that may arise.
Imke Du Toit
Mmm.
Yes.
Mmm.
Eleonora
So I've learned that the hard way.
Imke Du Toit
Yeah, I can imagine that it's always going to be some moments of being out of your comfort zone with, you know, any sort of curve ball that gets thrown your way. So I absolutely agree with what you're saying, knowing what you need to do and making sure you stay on track and focused. I guess it also really helps to have had that mentorship that you were talking about right in the beginning as well to obviously learn all of those very…
So many say architecture is structure while interior design is all about emotion. Where do you see yourself on that spectrum? More of a build-to-last type or a let's-evoke-some-feelings kind of designer?
Eleonora
Well, I'm an architect and an interior designer, so for me it's both. And architecture is not just a structure, it has to definitely evoke emotions. The interiors are the layer to the architecture and they both… everything is a seamless experience. You have to evoke emotions the whole experience from the building, from the lighting.
Imke Du Toit
Like.
Eleonora
The architecture, how it relates to the landscape, how the interiors see the landscape, how the art interacts, how it reflects to everything. So it's a whole. It can't separate and I can't see structure as different to interiors. And in my particular case, I'm in the middle of it. Everything is fundamental for me. I see interiors more from the architectural point of view.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
So.
Mmm.
Eleonora
From the materials, from the space, from the lighting. But I work every detail, I work every detail to the minimal textures. That's what I really want and what I really enjoy: the ultimate moment when the client experiences the space. But it's a layer of things that have to work out in the right direction altogether.
Imke Du Toit
Okay.
Two work together.
Yes, I can imagine that moment when the client actually does see the end product how wonderful it is to see their reaction as well. And I loved what you said: you're right in the middle of it. You see things from both sides. You see interiors from an architectural point of view. And it is really about art. It's creating a story, it's creating a piece of art in every moment. Like you said as well, with the lighting, the flow, and every little bit of detail really encapsulates what that end product is going to look like as well.
Eleonora
For me, in the process, there's a space for creativity and there's a space for being technically accurate because you want that creation to be materialized precisely when you're working with this type of materials and finishes and details. You want precision on site. So I'm very technical at that point, but…
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Yeah.
Eleonora
It also takes creativity to resolve all the technical issues on site.
Imke Du Toit
Absolutely,
Okay, so now we're going to do something quite different. It's called the Quick Fire Round, the This or That Design Edition. I'm going to ask you quick questions and it's just little one word answers. It's a little bit of fun, just a little bit of fun to break the ice. So I'm going to quickly answer and you just answer my questions as it goes, just one word answers. Okay, you ready? Natural light or statement lighting?
Eleonora
So always natural light and then statement art lighting as well to complement or to enhance architecture.
Imke Du Toit
Okay, yes. Okay, no, fantastic. Texture or color?
Eleonora
So I use mostly natural materials with a lot of textures and natural tones. And the color that I use mainly comes from a piece of artwork that has relation with the client, but mostly natural tones and materials.
Imke Du Toit
Mm.
Okay, London townhouse or Italian villa?
Eleonora
Well, I'm Italian living in London, so I'm a bit of both. I get the best of both worlds. So I would say I love the charm of the townhouse in London, I love that. But, you know, Italian villa the lighting, the architecture. So a bit of both. I'm a bit of both. So this is actually, this is virtually me. So that's it.
Imke Du Toit
So Italian.
Yes.
and
Yes, no, it's in the blood. A little bit of both.
Well, if you can have both, you can have both, you know. Yeah, no, you can. Form or function if you just had to pick one?
Eleonora
You can't have both.
No, because it's two sides of the same coin. So it's basically an integration. You have to balance aesthetics with functional usability, otherwise it doesn't work.
Imke Du Toit
Mm.
and integration.
Yes, that's a beautiful answer. Sketchbook or CAD, where do your ideas first come to life?
Eleonora
Yes, I know.
No, sketchbook. Always I sketch it on site, on the proper scene and then it evolves into obviously precision. I'm crazy, crazy precise on site. But at the beginning it's...
Imke Du Toit
Okay.
Yes, like you said it's necessary.
Quiet home or bold client brief which gets your juices flowing a bit more from a creativity point of view?
Eleonora
So I think
everyone likes a bold client brief, especially when it comes with art or something like that. But the quiet home has its challenges, so they're both creative in different ways. So a little bit of both, but the art.
Imke Du Toit
Hmm.
Yes.
Yes.
You want a little bit of the bold client to show what you can do. Yes, yes. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you so much for that round. Cause that's so much fun sometimes just to see quick answers, see what's going on there.
Eleonora
It's something interesting. It's always more challenging.
It's fine.
Imke Du Toit
Yes, always. Now, I just want to talk a little bit about where you think the interior design world is going with regards to trends and with clients. I mean, what does luxury mean to the modern client today? Has it moved from just aesthetics to something a bit more experiential?
Eleonora
So, absolutely. mean, now it doesn't have to be, it doesn't have anything to do with aesthetics per se. It has to be mostly with experience and how each client experience different materials, craftsmanship, the quality of the space. It's all about experience. So what can luxury mean from one person? can mean a totally different.
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Eleonora
thing for another one. So it's all about creating something unique for that particular client. It's all about experience now. So how can you enhance that experience?
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Absolutely.
Yes, no, for sure. But with social media pulling the strings on taste, how do you keep your work authentic without being influenced?
Eleonora
Well, basically that focusing on the client. And I've never given a lot of thought to social media or following trends. Just recently we use social media to put the studio, the work, our work out there and to have connections with people. And we focus mainly on our clients. And I take inspiration from my travel, from the architecture, from things that are more lasting than...
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Yeah.
Eleonora
I don't know any trends on social media but yeah it’s mostly on the clients, on the clients' need.
Imke Du Toit
Yes, plus you're pulling from all the years. And you're just pulling obviously inspiration from everywhere that you get. It's always going to just be embedded there.
Eleonora
I mean, travel is
a great inspiration and mostly that.
Imke Du Toit
Of course
yes, that I can definitely imagine. Are there any design trends you'd happily see quietly vanish into the ether, never to be spoken of again, if you had to pick a design trend? Not really.
Eleonora
No, not really, because since we work from a different point of view, we don't try to use everything that is decorative just for the sake of it. We try not to use it. When you work from your root, your work is into purpose and meaningful for the client's life around a property and a lifestyle. It really lasts instead of something that is purely decorative.
Imke Du Toit
close.
Eleonora
So, and we tend to work with natural materials, timeless materials that I also take inspiration a lot from my classical, from education. But I'm not a fan of any trends.
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Yeah.
And to find that functionality.
Yes, no. I absolutely agree. Something that's not just decorative.
Eleonora
I do like when there's some research on materials, research on new technologies or new ergonomics. I do like to be on top of that, but not like decorative trends, mostly movements, artistic movements.
Imke Du Toit
Mmm.
Yes.
Absolutely, no, very, very well said. I think I also really agree. There's nothing really functional about something that's just purely just decorative. It has its place and its time, but like you said as well, the design trend that needs to not be the main focus you know.
There's a big conversation obviously going on within a lot of different industries and in our everyday lives. And that is the ever fast-growing age of technology and AI, and let's just chat a little bit about the future that means for luxury interiors. What's your view on AI in the design process? Do you find it to be a helpful collaborator or a creative disruptor?
Eleonora
So I think AI is a tool. A tool is going to develop as a tool. I think it's very in its early days still. We've had, I've lived through the inclusion of like new tools during the design stage since I started studying, doing everything by hand and now. So I think it's just another tool that you need to ultimately it's fed by
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Eleonora
us by our creativity. It has to work for us. At the moment, I haven't explored that much because it doesn't give me any precise things as I need in the level that I need yet.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Eleonora
but I think that it's ultimately fed by human creativity that's all.
Imke Du Toit
Absolutely. It must have been quite a transition as well, going from you know, doing everything yourself from sketching to having all of these resources, you know, and all these digital tools. Do you feel it enhanced the craft of interior architecture? Are we losing the personal touch in favor of precision and efficiency? As you said, not all the tools can do what is required for your work. And obviously some there are. But do you think we are losing the personal touch in favor of precision and efficiency with AI digital tools?
Eleonora
I think there's a place and time for creativity and we start doing everything here with sketches and mood boards and things like to create the concept and then move on to stages that require to be precise and require to have more detail and you can have AI renders, everything to show as precise as possible. And then...
Imke Du Toit
Yeah.
Yes.
Eleonora
to materialize the design, you need to be really precise and there are technical tools there that saves you time and money and guarantee a result. So there's a place and time to do everything in the design process. I wouldn't start like a design doing an auto-cut of what I try to create. I will start with something that gets your imagination and your creativity together. So there's a place and a time for each.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Yes.
Imke Du Toit
I think you actually, you absolutely said it right. It's knowing how to use the tools for when you need it and how you use it as well that actually creates that balance between what you need and as you said as well from a technical point of view it's a great tool to have these digital tools as well as you said it saves money, time, gives you that precision as well and that efficiency does exist there.
How do you think the next decade of interior design will redefine luxury and craftsmanship? Will we be designing spaces for an entirely new species by then if we're looking at the ever-growing world of technology?
Eleonora
So, well, for me, a decade, it's a very short period of time. I think humans always create the same things, comfort, beauty, like a sense of belonging when they want their home to be designed. So I think there's gonna be a little evolution, mostly. Craftsmanship is always timeless. It's about quality, it's about refinement and...
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Eleonora
What is evolving is the concept of luxury. I think it's going to evolve in the type of personalization and customization of things. But in the 10 year time, for me, it's a very short period of time.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
Yes,
I actually absolutely agree. Time goes by so quickly. I mean, what it's been just within a space of five years.
And just a little bit about reflection. Finally, how do you want people to feel when they walk into a space designed by Romano Interior Architecture?
Eleonora
Obviously, I want them to feel at home and I want the space to be unique to them. For me, the moment when my client says, "this is so us, we're so happy, it feels so like us," it's when I know we succeeded and anything else. It's just an accessory. That's the essential for us.
Imke Du Toit
Yes.
That's absolutely wonderful. But Eleonora thank you so much for sharing your insight and perspective today. It's been an absolute pleasure just hearing from your approach to spaces such as your thought and precision. And I really look forward to seeing your upcoming work and having a little bit more of insight into what Romano Interior Architecture is going to get up to. And it's been absolutely lovely talking to you today.
Eleonora
Thank you.
Thank you so much as well. It was very fun.
Imke Du Toit
I'm glad. And to all of our listeners and watchers, thank you so much for joining us on the FCI London podcast. Keep following and keep designing and join us again as we continue our conversations with London's most influential luxury designers. I'm Imke Du Toit and thank you so much for listening.
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