María Eugenia Fernández, a pioneer of professional decoration in Lanzarote, has been at the helm of the studio that bears her name for almost three decades.
In an interview with Ekonomus, she reviews her extensive career, the challenges overcome in major projects, the keys to current decoration, and the influence of César Manrique on the island's aesthetics and interior design.
María Eugenia Fernández trained in interior design for three years in Tenerife and then completed a master's degree in heritage rehabilitation at the University of La Laguna.
She took her first steps in the professional world of interior design as a freelancer until she decided to return to Lanzarote and set up her own company with her partner and brother Antonio Fernández, who handles administration and marketing. Currently, Amanda Delgado also forms part of the team, taking care of 3D and technical projects.
"I was clear that I wanted to be an entrepreneur"
“My business idea was already formed when I was studying interior design. I was clear that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and dedicate myself to it, and I still have the same enthusiasm 28 years later”.
In her extensive career, the interior designer has developed a large number of decoration projects throughout the island, both in private homes, with commercial and hotel clients, as well as professional offices.
Although it is difficult to choose among so many successful projects, one that María Eugenia Fernández is most proud of is the Cetacean Museum in Puerto Calero, an impressive pioneering and reference space dedicated to dissemination, which unfortunately had to close in 2011 due to lack of funding.
“Another project that also tested me was the renovation of approximately 300 rooms at the Hotel Beatriz in Puerto del Carmen,” with a complete refurbishment of each of the rooms, to which the decoration of the buffet was added in a third phase.
A third project highlighted by the Lanzarote entrepreneur is the renovation of the Bitácora aparthotel in Puerto del Carmen two years ago, “it was facilities that were quite aged and it was a challenge, but in the end it was turned around and it is a project with which I feel very comfortable”.
"The client ends up being almost like a friend"
Asked about what she likes most about her job, Fernández highlights "contact with people, for me that is the basis of my work. One of the things I enjoy most is communication with the client, who in the end doesn't end up being a client, but rather a friend, with whom you have a lot of trust".
Contrary to the belief of many people that hiring an interior decorator is only within reach of a few, in reality redesigning a space with an expert can be cheaper than not doing so.
A person can have many ideas, especially now that people access networks, magazines... but they don't know how to carry them out and in the end they end up spending more money than it would have actually cost, explains Fernández.
Asked what should be prohibited in decoration, Fernández explains that the key to decoration is that it has a common thread so that the space is pleasant. "I would tell you that mixing crazy colors in the same home that has neither order nor harmony because in the end what it creates is stridency".
Past and present trends, César Manrique and Lanzarote
The world of decoration has undergone a great transformation worldwide, but also on the island. "Before everything was more classic, now people inform themselves and look for more contemporary lines".
“We have gone through several phases in these 28 years, from having a classic line trend, we went through a pure and hard design interior design model, and now it is once again heading towards a contemporary line, but with more warmth”.
The interior designer from Lanzarote shares that neutral spaces are currently in vogue again, "with very light floors, ceramic tiles very much in the style of stone, lighting can range from classic to technical, contemporary line sofas, but in a warmer atmosphere".
César's legacy Manrique remains very present in the island's decoration. "An excellent person who knew how to highlight the benefits of an island. Personally, Manrique and everything he meant for the island and for its traditional houses, we carry it tattooed, we carry it in our blood".
I believe the island generates two sensations. On the one hand, some arrive and say that the island looks like it's burnt." While others, "see that we were born surrounded by the sea and a volcanic environment that transports you to an island where, as soon as you go out in the morning and return to the same place at noon by car or walking, you have different light approaches that make it wonderful."
“I believe that was Manrique's inner feeling regarding his island and that 90 percent of Lanzaroteños share," she completes.
María Eugenia Fernández shares that the entire island is a great source of inspiration for her, but especially the sea, which is her weakness. "I get mesmerized looking at it," she shares.
Located opposite Manrique's El Almacén
María Eugenia Fernández's studio began 28 years ago in a tiny shop until she moved to a beautiful old house in Manolo Millares as she was no longer just asked for furniture, but for complete interior design projects.
Currently, the interior design studio is located right in front of Manrique's El Almacén and, in addition to housing the team, it has a showroom with an exhibition of different sofas and settings, as well as a small representation of lighting so that potential clients can get a good idea of interesting options before starting a project.
The studio is open to the general public from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and in the afternoons, as well as on Saturdays, María Eugenia receives clients by appointment to develop specific proposals.
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