About Me

A little about myself

My name is Oksana Shirvanova and I am an interior designer based in Tyumen, Russia. I am not especially fond of writing about personal things, but I am always open to a conversation, so please feel free to ask. I am an introvert, which does not mean I am reluctant to talk. Quite the opposite: I enjoy it.

The directions I love in interiors

I have my favourites, and they are the classics in all their variations: contemporary classic, American classic, French, Scandinavian, and the mixes that come out of them, eclecticism and fusion. I adore art deco, and I take on contemporary style and minimalism with pleasure. My love for contemporary classic is mutual, since most of my clients come to me for exactly that. I can, of course, work in any style.

How I became an interior designer

I used to work in banking, as a deputy branch director and head of retail. I hold two degrees, one in economics and one in marketing and management for the banking sector. After that I studied at the British Higher School of Art and Design and took a course in photography. I am still learning, picking up new skills and exploring different directions on my own.

Somehow design simply flowed from a hobby into a profession, and it is the one thing I would still be doing even if I did not need to work. Photography and Teddy bears stayed on as hobbies.

I completed my first project in 2010 and it was published in the magazine Stolnik. Later one of the best known interior magazines in the world, ELLE Decoration, published a project of mine. I have written about that publication separately.

When I created an interior for myself, I built the base like a clean sheet of paper: I wanted to be able to change everything easily if I ever felt like it. What I value in an interior is that it should stand outside time and rest on a solid foundation, so that years later it is still relevant. I approach my clients' projects the same way, and I go into that in more detail in "How I Work".

Frequently asked questions

Why work with an interior designer based in Tyumen?

A local designer knows the regional market, the suppliers worth trusting and the building crews worth hiring, and can be on site to run the project in person. That said, I also take on remote projects for other cities.

Which styles do you work in?

My favourites are the classics and their variations (contemporary, American, French, Scandinavian), art deco, eclecticism and fusion, contemporary style and minimalism. I can work in any style the client asks for.

What is your background?

I hold two degrees (economics, and marketing and management for the banking sector), studied at the British Higher School of Art and Design and took a photography course. I keep studying and picking up new skills.