Today we’d like to introduce you to Galina Holechek.
Hi Galina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I own Yellow Alchemy Studio, an interior design practice in Los Angeles. A few years ago I was 21 and answering phones at a creative agency and I was asked to pick paint colors, and that was it. I had been asking for a more expansive/creative role and ended up running the interior design department of that company for a year before moving to LA. I had been designing churches and schools (eek), and I really wanted to work with people on a more personal level on the residential side which I’ve enjoyed doing ever since. That said, lately I’m itching to design a restaurant (heyyyy) …. But truly, it really started when I was a kid and would design and build entire Barbie villages, huge portions of which I handmade with whatever I could find. The Barbie Corvette even got a new paint job in our childhood garage once, and I was not careful with the paint, and my dad was not happy, oops.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! Breaking into a competitive, creative industry in one of the biggest markets in the country is never smooth sailing. Luckily, I had amazing mentors and learned under some incredible designers. Isn’t everything really just talent, drive and a (lot) of luck? My first big client referred me to someone else, and that kept going. It’s important to realize and be cool with the fact that not everyone is going to get your style or how you run your business- and that’s ok. I’m vetting the client as much as they are vetting me when we meet. That said, I have definitely had to learn how trust my gut when it comes to potential clients. This takes time. No project is worth sacrificing your sanity and emotional health if it’s not a big win for both sides. Learning to gracefully turn down work can be scary when you’re starting out, but it gets easier as you are better able to spot the potential red flag of clients or incompatibilities early, even in a first conversation.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Yellow Alchemy is a full-service interior design studio, and my proverb is “Drama with Restraint” for anything that I design. It’s a unique privilege to get to know a client so that I can translate their personality, needs and taste into something that can be lived in and experienced. Homes are living, breathing works of art. I like to introduce new ideas and materials to my clients that stretch the limits of what they already know they like. If I find something new that I love, I can’t wait to find the right client to implement it for! I’m very proud of the long list of resources I’ve accumulated. A client of mine bought a large house a few years a back with 20’ ceilings and lots of white walls. I really wanted to hire this female painter I’d worked with previously to create a marbleized texture on a few of the walls. The client was sold after a few mock-ups and samples, and it turned out to be one of his favorite things in the new house.
Most of my Clients are artists in some form or work directly with other artists. They require homes that function as open, inviting and beautiful entertainment or workspaces. At the same time, their homes also need to feel comfortable and intimate when it’s just them. I provide unique solutions to layout and design that serve several purposes without the client having to physically manipulate their layout before guests arrive or after they go. My specialty is working with creative or creative-adjacent clients to design their dream homes, and allow them to feel confident in their choices. My Client’s have great taste, but it’s about having that keen, trained eye to help narrow down and guide the design that really makes what I do unique.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Two things: drive (no giving up) and people skills. This could be said about lots of industries, but working with someone to create a home is super intimate, and you can never forget that this is someone’s private space. I hold Client Privacy in high regard and it’s always going to be their desire over what I wish they would choose when it comes to selections. Especially in residential, Clients need to feel safe and respected with you and your team.
Contact Info:
- Website: galinarenee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galinaholechek/
Image Credits
Photo credit Steven James Studios https://www.instagram.com/stevenstagrams/ All other images – Jess Isaac https://www.instagram.com/jess_isaac/
