DON'T MISS A THING

Architect Danylo Koshulynskyy and designer Karina Mayer are united by their discerning vision, artful execution, and specialized approach to both private and real estate endeavors. Through their Ukrainian studio, Koshulynskyy & Mayer, they strive to bring personality and ergonomic design to the stylish and chic interiors that they craft for their clients.

Danylo and Karina are selective when it comes to their work, only accepting projects that can be fully realized with cognate taste and thoughtful collaboration. The individuality of each interior requires knowledge of the clients’ lifetsyles and habits. The resulting interiors, which have garnered international attention, are a perfect marriage of elegance and comfort.

Since its inception in 2013, the studio has completed projects in Ukraine, Spain, Croatia, and Austria. Danylo and Karina lead their team with experience, insight, and a dedication to all things beautiful.

Read on for a peek inside the inspiring and creative mind of Danylo and Karina in this edition of Love Happens’ Design Questionnaire!

The Lh Design Questionnaire with Koshulynskyy & Mayer

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Karina: In my opinion, happiness is to be in harmony with myself and with work, feeling harmony in family relationships. Since we spend a lot of time at work, it is extremely important that it is enjoyable, so as not to become a boring and tiring routine. 

Danylo: Of course, the environment is very important when it comes to happiness. Where you are, with whom you communicate—all this greatly affects any person. When you feel peace and balance everywhere, at work and in the family, this is really happiness.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Каrina: The greatest achievement for us is to be a “family” design and architecture company. When, upon completion of the project, everything ends not just with one beautiful interior but we become friends with the customers, then creating a house for the customers’ friends, children, and grandchildren—this is the highest indicator and distinction of our work for us. 

Danylo: And it is also important when the developers themselves contact us because they think the same as we do—not to sell real estate, but to make a dream home for people!

What profession does your alter ego have?

Karina: For as long as I can remember, I have always been concerned about the issue of making everything right and fair. Therefore, my alter-ego profession is a lawyer, and that’s how I am in designing: everything must meet the requirements, although, of course, in my real profession, there is creative freedom, which I value very much. But “listen to a lawyer” is the same for me as “listen to a designer!”

RIVIERA by Koshulynskyy & Mayer | Photo by Andriy Bezuglov

The project you will never forget.

Danylo: It’s an ongoing project that we conventionally call Central K-Park. A very serious project, as owners bought the entire floor. The area is simply unique and the house is uniquely inscribed in the terrain. On one side—a panoramic view of the central botanic garden, and on the other side a private area (although the apartment is on the 3rd floor). 

Karina: We also love this project because the customer of this interior has extraordinary taste. Everything in this property makes sense: every object and detail. We really enjoyed working with this client, although to many he would seem a very picky person. It’s not so often that you work on an object where the owner understands the value of art, like when we bought a sculpture here that symbolizes the depth of feelings.

Your favorite business tool or resource.

Danylo: A smartphone (laughs) is probably not a very creative answer, but thanks to the phone today, a lot of issues and processes, even materials and, of course, interior items, are agreed upon. Thanks to the smartphone, even part of the repair work can be controlled—of course, we are talking only about things that can be controlled visually. 

Karina: As for the tools that inspire and help us to make decisions when working on real estate objects, my favorite is exhibitions. It’s the best living resource that introduces you to products and materials and really keeps you informed about innovations and trends.

The most timeless design.

Karina: Timeless design is still a very abstract thing, because if we talk about design within Ukraine, each city has its own. It’s just like in Paris, which must have been visited by a lot of people: there is a kind of history that is layered. These can be windows that belong to a certain era, stucco, etc. With a competent approach, such an interior will always be relevant, even if it is filled with modern furniture. And, of course, there are very progressive modern cities that are rapidly moving forward, and here we are already talking about minimalism and futurism. 

Perhaps the most correct definition of timeless design would be that which corresponds to the present. What is practical. Nowadays, we are in a hurry, we need everything now. Therefore, ergonomics, comfort and, most importantly, matching the lifestyle of the specific people who will live there are very important in modern and timeless design. If “functionality” was thought out, then no matter what year the interior was created, it will be relevant. Regarding my personal beliefs, natural materials will always be timeless: wood, marble, natural textiles, and other natural surfaces.

The biggest design faux pas.

Karina: Thinking that you are already at the top, accomplished and “perfect”. A good designer-architect cannot wear a crown, turn up his nose, and not listen to the client. It’s important to remember that even if we dictate the style and trends, the guide is the client because he is the one living in this property.

Your design motto.

Karina: Our motto is Respond to your dream!

Above all, this means for us as designers to remember that each property represents someone’s dream, perhaps one that has been carried over many years of life. It reminds us that the happiness of a person or an entire family depends on our ability to listen and architectural flair.

Danylo: For our customers, this motto should show that they are in the right place. That they got to designers who understand that a home is not just drawings, repairs, and expensive furniture. A home is a way to realize your biggest dream. Dreams of wealth, comfort, and happiness.

If you were to design a room around one KOKET piece, which would it be, and why?

Among the beautiful KOKET pieces, I think we would choose the Neurotica Sculpture, as we consider it one of those unique handcrafted objects that we often use in our projects for its functional practicality and beauty in aesthetic terms as an art object.

Love happens when…

Karina: Love happens only when you believe in it. When you want to live in it. And, of course, love happens only when we know how to love ourselves.

Love is faith and without it is impossible to achieve anything, and likewise love. After all, through these important feelings—love and faith—all good and desirable things are attracted to us. Our heart must be ready to receive this love and give it back.

And this applies to anything: relationships in family and with friends, attitude to your work, or creativity.

Explore more from Danylo and Karina of Koshulynskyy & Mayer

Introduction and copyediting by Bridget Kitson
Images Courtesy of Koshulynskyy & Mayer

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