Rooms Studio

16 Sept

Nata and Keti, please introduce yourself:

We are Nata and Keti. We founded Rooms Studio in Tbilisi in 2007, a practice between furniture and interior design that since 2021 operates between
Georgia and Paris.

Nata Janberidze, Keti Toloraia © Alex Domingo

#1 Rooms Studio resists easy categorization – positioned somewhere between design, architecture, and art. How would you describe the identity of your practice?

Keti: Our practice exists in the in-between — a space where disciplines blur and new forms emerge. We see design as a language for shaping both physical and emotional landscapes.

Nata: Our practice is rooted in intuition and functionality. We work across different scales, from interior design projects to limited-edition furniture. Through our work, we often question themes of cultural identity, explore memory, and reflect on the presence of everyday life.

#2 ⁠Many of your projects feel like self-contained worlds – rich in symbolism, atmosphere, and cultural references. Where does the initial impulse for a new work usually come from?

Keti: A project often begins with a memory, a texture, or a fleeting image. We follow it until it becomes a world.

Nata: It depends on the project. When it comes to interior design, the impulse often emerges from the sensations and atmosphere of the existing space and its surroundings. From there, we respond to functional needs through our own personal perception and interpretation.

Rooms Studio

#3 ⁠Georgian traditions and cultural contexts are often embedded in your designs. How deliberately do you integrate local references, and what does “locality” mean in your current design practice?

Keti: Locality for us is not about reproducing tradition, but about translating its essence into a contemporary context. It’s a sensibility shaped by our surroundings: light, landscape, and the quiet presence of history.

Nata: Much of what we create reflects our inner processes and personal experiences. Locality, in this sense, becomes part of who we are as individuals and as a studio, which is why it naturally appears in our work. However, it is not always present - its expression depends on where we are and what we are working on at the time.

#4 You work with a wide range of materials – from clay and textiles to stone. How important is the physical interaction with materials in your creative process?

Keti: The physical encounter with materials is essential. Each material carries its own rhythm and resistance, and it’s through touch and experimentation that its true character reveals itself.

Nata: Working directly with materials is very important for us. Each one has its own character, and through touch and process, we can bring out the qualities and feelings we want to express.

Sculpural Chair II _ photo by Lile Revishvili.jpeg

1. Silver Lingering Lights, 2. Historic Bench small, 3. Sculptural Chair II © Lile Revishvili

#5 How do you approach the creation of spaces or objects that are not only functional but also evoke strong atmospheres and narratives? Are there guiding design principles behind this?

Keti: Atmosphere and function are inseparable. Scale, light, and texture guide the narrative.

Nata: Our approach is mainly instinctive, with functionality as the base. Atmosphere and narrative develop gradually during the process, rather than being planned in advance.

#6 ⁠Many of your projects seem to tell stories through form, context, or atmosphere. Is storytelling a deliberate tool in your design process, or does it emerge intuitively?

Keti: It emerges intuitively. Storytelling is less something we impose and more something that naturally unfolds as the project takes shape.

Nata: Storytelling usually comes naturally. Sometimes it appears at the concept stage, but often it develops step by step throughout the work.

Table N3 (Fragmented Supra) © Ilaria Orsini

#7 How do you see the role of an architect in today's society?

Keti: The role is to create spaces that hold beauty, connection, and reflection in equal measure.

Nata: Of course, the role of an architect is significant because of the social and environmental responsibility it carries. Good architecture can impact everyday life and bring beauty and meaning to us.

#8 How does your environment influence your work?

Keti: Our surroundings are a constant reference - the city’s layers, its courtyards, its shifting light.

Nata: Rooms Studio is based in the historic part of Tbilisi, in a quiet street within a beautiful 19th-century building. The spacious rooms, high ceilings, and a typical wooden Tbilisian terrace create an inspiring space to work and think.