Interview with NJ interiors

The studio is located in Florence. It is the fruit of the collaboration between the sculptor Jacopo Candotti and the designer Nicole Valenti. Each object is monitored at every stage, from the early design phase to the finishing touches. NJ Interiors collaborates only with the best Italian artisans, so each piece is unique and carries within itself a story. Our creations are inspired by nature. A particular form, such as the beak of a tropical bird, the texture of a stone or the shape of a coral are transformed into door handles.

"Design" for us is the union between aesthetics and functionality. It is the creation of an object that enhances people's life. It goes to solve practical problems and add the pleasure of being surrounded by something unique.

We like to design any object that can be used in interior spaces.

Our favorite design does not exist yet. We wouldn't have had to make one ourselves if it did.

The first item we designed was a door handle.

Our favourite materials are metal, wood, molds and castings.

We express our creativity in the experimental application of forms to everyday objects.

We focus on the experimental aspects of shapes and finishes of everyday objects.

The excitement of designing something that does not exist yet in the world makes us feel authentic.

As claimed by certain conceptual artists, once it has been designed, the work is finished. In this case, we would add that being able to experience it in spaces adds value to the intentions.

The freshness and originality of the form and finishes that we chose for our door handles

If the content goes well with the "container," it is a good design. The same applies to a work of art.

Designers should create something that improves the quality of life

We think that over the next 20 years, design will experience a "formal" development. We will witness to a return to decorative-aesthetic research, which will be accompanied by a research for new technologies, and eco-friendly materials. We also believe that design will be more and more present in our lives.

Our last exhibition was at the 7th Milan fuorisalone, in the Ventura Lambrate space. In the same days, we also exhibited in a contemporary art collective exhibition (in Milan) at Care/of in Via Farini. The latter focused on developing an artwork that can be enjoyed only by one person at a time. The next one? Who knows, maybe in a private home collection or in Paris at the Maison & Objet.

Our projects stem from the union of the world's magic and nature. A special form, such as the beak of a tropical bird, the texture of a stone or the shape of a coral are enough to develop our first models. Also travelling, knowing new places and cultures, especially non-Western ones, feed our creativity and vision.

We have a design approach that is rooted in the art world, in particular, in that of sculpture. Our style focuses on a new idea of decorativism, which is able to create original, unique and signature objects, as well as open a positive dialogue between architecture and furniture.

We live in the very Italian, historical and artistic city of Florence, but we were born and raised in Bolzano, a city close to the border between Italy and Austria where three cultures (Italian, German and Ladin) meet. Therefore, we grew up in a place where diversity plays a vital role. Our works combine many different aspects, therefore, we do not belong to a specific culture or idea, we absorb the best from all that is around us.

Our company is very young. We will be able to answer this question only when we begin to collaborate with other companies.

A way to recognize a good designer is looking at his or her critical sense and general vision. At the root of an idea, there must be an enlightened and innovative vision, and not necessarily glamor or fashion.

The first insights are often born far from the studio, while traveling or walking down the streets of a city. Our senses then show us the way. If we see something that we find interesting, it may become a possible starting point for a new work.

The tavolo '95 (table '95) by Achille Castiglioni, a Moroccan Berber carpet, a small table in Nordic style (specify), a hand-turned wood chair and the NJ interiors' Prisma door handle

An early rise with a large breakfast. We sit down and plan the week ahead beginning with the priorities. We decide whether to focus more on pure research or advancing a new model. Some days, we go travelling somewhere to recharge the spirit and body, and others when the foundries become our second home.

Dreams do not come true without a fair amount of failures and hopes.

The mental freedom that allows you to imagine something that doesn't exist and the possibility of manufacturing it is definitely the most positive. As in all freelance work and above all in Italy, the downside is that, in the first years of activity, one must prepared to make many sacrifices.

Never stop dreaming.

Great technical skills combined with an enlightened vision of the world

We use tools of any kind because ours is a laboratory where experimentation is at the heart of everything. In our laboratory one can find everything, from gas tanks to heaps of printed paper rolls, wax, bronze, wood and obviously two computers.

You have to put yourself in the mindset that it's not a 9 to 5 job. There are weeks in which "Sunday falls on Tuesday" or those in which there is no Sunday at all. On the contrary, sometimes, you have plenty of time to travel and find new inspirations.

It depends on the object, it can take a week or many months.

That's beautiful! What is it?

Working in a foundry for a few months

Privates who purchase only one piece for their home, entrepreneurs for their hotels and restaurants, as well as architects and interior designers.

Everything about interior design, ranging from less successful projects to those seemingly perfect. We are interested in all of them.

To continue designing new beautiful objects but also to see our dreams, in other words our projects, come true.

We are a team of two people. Between the two of us, we have it all covered.

We prefer to keep that to ourselves until we reach what we consider a result.

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