The infinite lives of furniture: Interview with Mally Mizrachi of Studio Alis
If well cared for, a piece of furniture can last a lifetime. And if you have imagination and talent, it can last as many lifetimes as you like.
As we have already highlighted in several articles in our section on decorationAt Monapart we are great lovers of recycled furniture. But if anyone knows what it means to rescue and restore furniture, that's Mally Mizrachi, from Studio Alis. From their workshop in Poblenou, Mally and Alon are not only dedicated to furniture, but also to its context, carrying out interior design, decoration and decoration projects. home staging. In this interview we find out about Mally's creative process, what her favourite piece of furniture is and which one she would like to have in her home.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
I remember when I was a little girl, a friend's parents gave her some money to decorate her room. We went to a shop and bought some paints, rollers and brushes. We spent the whole weekend painting the furniture in her room: the bed, the desk, the shelves... All in shades - quite horrible - of royal blue and burgundy. It was quite a mess, but we had a great time.
What do you find most satisfying about your work, and is there anything you are particularly proud of?
I love to see the before and after, to see how a piece of furniture goes from being something that someone might consider junk to a jewel that looks great again.
It can be radical, when we take a piece of furniture and change its use, its shape, add colour or integrate different materials. And it can also be a more classical restoration when I remove layers of old, dark varnish and let the wood show its original characteristics.
I am passionate about combining these pieces in the interior design projects we do. Creating an eclectic mix of styles and eras by combining unique vintage elements with modern touches for a timeless result.
What is your creative process like? What are your sources of inspiration?
My creative process changes a lot depending on what I do, but I usually plant a seed idea in my head and wait. Usually at 4am I wake up with a clearer idea.
Favourite colour, book, film and record - in that order!
The favourites of the moment, as they change often...
Juniper green is a colour that I mixed by mistake on a confined day when I decided to repaint my living room wall. I liked the result so much that I am now going to use the same colour to paint a wall lined with old doors in our shop window.
On the subject of books, I'm a little behind... I'm enjoying it now. Sapiens. From animals to gods. A brief history of humanityby Yuval Noah Harari (Editorial Debate).
The last film I saw and liked was The Gentlemenby Guy Ritchie.
Alanis Morissette's new album is like listening again to something known and loved.
Is your home a reflection of who you are? Tell us if you have a favourite corner, decorative object or fetish piece of furniture?
In the middle of my house there is a big dining table that I restored. There we do everything: we cook, eat, work, draw, study, watch TV, fold clothes, play board games, do handicrafts... It is the beating heart of the house.
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
A pool table. I think it can fit if I take out my bed.
A great plan at home always includes...
Well... before the pandemic we used to have big dinners with friends on a Friday of every month. It was our family dinner. Now it's just having a beer on the terrace.
Do you have a signature dish?
Fish with hot sauce (my aunt's recipe) is a dish my friends insist I make for every Friday night dinner.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
Levinsky Street in the south of Tel-Aviv has a very special atmosphere. It is a narrow street with many small shops that fills with people on Friday mornings. The combination of different shops specialising in spices from all over the world, other delicatessens with cured fish, cheeses and cold meats and a wide variety of street food shops, gives the street magnificent colours and smells that you can't fail to notice.
Anything you want to tell us that we haven't asked you, speak now or forever hold your peace!
What pressure, can we start again? ;D
To find out more about Mally's work, be sure to visit the Studio Alis website.
