This interview is with Milana Bahbout, Founder + Principal Designer at Milana Designs Inc..

Milana Bahbout, Founder + Principal Designer, Milana Designs Inc.

As an interior designer, can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to pursue this career?

As a child, I enjoyed doing art as a way to escape my busy professional-level tennis expectations. My mother was a civil engineer, and I was fascinated by the way we can build walls and spaces in software. I believed that this way, we can make anything we can imagine. I always enjoyed problem-solving, and I love helping people. This was my way of bringing both creativity and the need to help people improve their day-to-day lifestyle. I love every aspect of what I do, and I truly don't feel like it is work. My clients notice that about me right from the start, and I am grateful for that.

What's been your most challenging project to date, and how did it shape your approach to interior design?

Strangely, I still haven't come across a project that was challenging enough or one that I couldn't problem-solve. It's not that we don't have problems in our projects; of course we do. Anyone who has been a part of a home renovation would tell you that no project can be done without coming across some issues. I believe our approach to problem-solving is a bit more of an eye-opener for the next blessing in disguise. I worked on a new addition project where the hallway was angled to connect between the two spaces. As one could suggest this being unattractive and out of place, I decided to incorporate a beautiful stone slab on the floor to give it an intentional abstract feel. It is a showstopper and tells a story. I truly believe every problem has a solution; you just need to see it as an opportunity for something unexpected.

You mentioned designing an outdoor kitchen with a hibachi-style grill island. Can you walk us through your process for blending functionality with aesthetics in outdoor spaces?

I believe that every space should be designed to be both aesthetically appealing and functional. If you don't have both, then the space wasn't designed properly. Of course, being aesthetically appealing is defined specifically for each project. I start the design process by first understanding how my clients use the space and what feeling they want to achieve when entering the space. Often times, words might be difficult to express for most clients, so I ask them to provide a couple of inspiration photos. Once I see these, I know exactly what is appealing to them. When it comes to functionality, I ask many questions to understand and study my clients' lifestyle and locate the key words in finding a problem to solve. Meaning, how will my design help them live better and more comfortably? For example, I worked on a project where the husband wanted a hibachi-style grill in their indoor kitchen. Alternatively, he loved the idea I proposed of having it outdoors where he can have a larger cooking surface instead of a regular BBQ. We kept a small griddle in their indoor range so he can enjoy both. As for the outdoor countertops, I have selected a porcelain slab that is a low-maintenance material, easy to clean, and is a heat-resistant surface. It is the perfect material when considering hot oils splashing from the hibachi grill. It comes in a nice variety of finishes from concrete look to white marble and can suit any style in mind.

In your experience, what are some often-overlooked elements that can make a big impact on a home's interior?

I see oftentimes homeowners focusing on updating their living spaces with new furniture, updating their kitchen and bathroom, but then they leave the accessories, artwork, and light fixtures untouched. In fact, these are the elements that give a space more personalized characteristics. A painting can bring all the colors together for a space and make it a focal point. It can instantly tell the story that you want to relay. Another element that remains overlooked is lighting. Sure, picking a beautiful light fixture to set the style of the space is essential, but the question is: what type of bulb should one pick in order to set the right mood? LED lights are energy-efficient, and any home should be upgraded with that in mind. Bulbs can go anywhere from warm to cool grades. I prefer installing 2700K or 3000K bulbs in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms to give a warm and cozy atmosphere. For spaces that need brighter, cooler visibility such as bathrooms, kitchens, and home offices, I would introduce 3000K or 4000K bulbs. Keep in mind, in an ideal space, I would combine both accent lights and task lights with dimmable switches to give flexibility and set the mood as preferred. Lighting has a direct impact on our mood and needs to be well thought-out before selecting.

You've worked with smart home technology like thermostats. How do you integrate these modern conveniences into your designs without compromising on style?

I highly recommend introducing smart home technology to your home when the opportunity arises. In fact, with today's technology, there are companies that are allowing you to combine your whole home system into one platform. Imagine having your lighting, thermostat, security system, heated floors, and motorized shades all in one platform—controlled from anywhere. This innovation was meant to enhance our style, save time and energy, and improve our lifestyle. Both motorized shades and smart recessed lights give a seamless look, and the controllers are minimalistic and require a small wall surface to be mounted on.

We'd love to hear about a time when you had to work with a client's existing pieces. How did you incorporate them into a fresh design?

I think it is magical to see my clients' existing pieces come to life in a newly designed space. One of my favorite types of projects is, in fact, doing just that. I worked on a few projects where we reupholstered vintage pieces with new fabrics and introduced them in a modern space. When doing that, it is important to make the vintage pieces accents to make them look as if they were art. For example, we can paint an old wooden chair in a bright accent color. I love setting vintage dining chairs at the head of the table combined with new chairs for the rest of the seating. I will never forget when my client brought me his late mother's silver serving bowl, asking if we could do anything with it. I had made it into a centerpiece for his dining table with beautiful faux-silk flowers. Moments like these make what I do so meaningful to me.

Sustainability is a growing concern in home design. What are some eco-friendly practices or materials you've successfully incorporated into your projects?

There are many ways to implement eco-friendly practices in home design. When remodeling the kitchen and bath, it is important to introduce energy- and water-efficient fixtures. There are also materials that can be used such as recycled glass, eco-friendly countertops, and materials that are manufactured in energy-efficient facilities. As mentioned previously, I enjoy incorporating vintage pieces, which is a subtle way of being eco-friendly by repurposing materials in the same concept of using reclaimed wood. Another way of helping the environment is installing a filtered water faucet to reduce consumption of bottled water. There are many ways to be creative and yet preserve our environment. The two can be worked hand in hand, and we don't need to compromise in either.

Many of our readers are interested in DIY projects. What's a simple yet impactful design change you'd recommend for someone looking to refresh their living space on a budget?

There are many ways to update a space on a budget. I would recommend first to declutter. Look around and see what doesn't belong in the space. Once you are left with only the pieces that coexist, you can add elements to complement each other. For example, if your current furniture is in neutral tones, you can create an accent wall with removable wallpaper and introduce similar-colored accent pillows. Focus on creating one or two focal points in the space; if you have too many, things will start to compete and feel overwhelming. Accent lights are always a great way to make a space feel well-designed. There are plenty of options for wall sconces that can be installed without hard-wiring—they are operated with a remote-control bulb. Lastly, paint can go a long way. Once, I had painted an exterior home's trim in white and was asked if the whole exterior was painted. The change in the trim color made the walls' paint look different and fresh.

Looking ahead, what interior design trends do you see emerging, and how do you plan to incorporate them into your future projects?

Trends tend to come back in more modernized ways. Personally, I don't pick design elements based on trends. If something is beautiful and it fits the client's style, I would incorporate it in the design, but I will limit it to one or two items. In one space, I want to avoid mixing a couple of materials from the same trend so it doesn't prevent it from looking more timeless. The scalloped wood is being used often, and I recently incorporated it in a design. However, I introduced it in a small area and treated it as an architectural element rather than a trendy concept.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

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