logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
25m 35s

64\\ The Secret of Balancing Aesthetics ...

Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Designer, Interior Design Mentor, Designers Coach
About this episode

Function plays a critical role in the creative field, where aesthetics should complement comfort and usability. Understanding your client's needs and habits to create spaces that support their purpose and lifestyles will set you apart and earn you acclaim and success.

No one knows this better than today's guest, Anna Popov, who is not easily influenced by the crowd or by trends but instead prioritizes creating functional spaces that resonate with the occupants.

She is just a wealth of knowledge, someone I greatly admire.

Whether you are an aspiring designer or you've been running your design firm for a few years already, you are going to learn from Anna the secret behind designing spaces that not only look beautiful but also serve their purpose flawlessly. 

Featured Guest:

Anna Popov, the founder and creative force behind Interiors by Popov is a true original. Having resided and worked in some of the most diverse and design-centric global cities, she is guided by quintessential European practices of design and craftsmanship to create spaces that are beautiful, functional, and tailored to the precise needs of her client’s lifestyles.

Recognized as one of the leading designers in Seattle by Architectural Digest, Anna brings her extraordinary visual vocabulary, point of view, and technical savoir-faire to her work. She is passionate about sharing her deep knowledge and rarefied aesthetic to craft transformational spatial experiences.

Prior to founding Interiors by Popov in 2016, Anna led numerous high-profile high-rise, institutional and commercial projects for a prominent casework manufacturer, and worked as a lead designer for a bespoke artisanal collective in Toronto. Through the experience of being immersed in every element of the process from concept to completion, Anna has gained a holistic understanding of design—a skill that has proven essential to the success of her practice.

Anna Popov received a degree in business and marketing from The Academic College of Tel-Aviv, and a subsequent degree in interior architecture and building systems from RCC Institute of Technology in Toronto.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

  • Discover a unique and organic approach to design that prioritizes functionality
  • Learn the importance of maintaining high standards in design, the value of accountability, and the need to create spaces that support and elevate the well-being of the occupants
  • Recognize the importance of both aesthetics and function when designing spaces for your clients

Check out the show notes >>> The Secret of Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality in Design With Anna Popov

NEXT STEPS:

Take the QUIZ!! Find Out What Type of Interior Designer You Should Be!

Grab your freebies:

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.

Enroll in Business of Design with Kimberly Seldon or DesignYou with Tobi Fairley today to scale your interior design business!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Up next
Aug 18
152 | Build a Thriving Interior Design Business Without a Design Degree: Insights From Michelle Lynne
Have you always loved furniture, picking out paint colors, making spaces feel beautiful, or helping friends with their homes, but never thought you could actually get paid for it? That’s exactly how Michelle Lynne felt.In this episode, she shares how she followed a corporate path ... Show More
32m 31s
Aug 11
151 | Mindset Shift Series #3: Step Into Your Power as a Creative Business Owner
“I’m not a numbers person!” “I just want to design, not run a business!”Does this sound like you?Many interior designers have a passion for dreaming up beautiful spaces, but stepping into the role of a CEO can feel uncomfortable, like wearing a hat that doesn’t quite fit. I under ... Show More
18m 59s
Aug 4
150 | Building a Design Business From the Ground Up With Caron Woolsey
Do you ever wonder if it’s really possible to switch careers and succeed in interior design—even without a design degree?In this 150th episode, I chat with Caron Woolsey, a self-taught designer who left her job in oil and gas to follow her love for design. What started as decorat ... Show More
24m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture.🎙️
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture🎙️In this lively episode, Hayley and Cheryl are joined by architect Pippa Jacobs to explore the intersection of architecture and interior design. Cheryl, with her background as a Part 1 architect turned interior designer, bridges ... Show More
1h 37m
Mar 2024
100 Strategies to Grow Your Design Business with Chris Do
It's a milestone worth celebrating! The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is proud to announce its 100th episode! Over the past 100 episodes, we've had the privilege of hosting some of the sharpest minds in the creative industry. Our guests have shared their experiences ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2025
From Ground Zero to Luxury Resorts: Designing Spaces That Transform Lives
Kevin Kennon is an internationally renowned architect with over 40 years of experience, specializing in environmentally sustainable and innovative design. As the founder and CEO of Beyond Zero DDC Inc., Kevin leads the development of zero-carbon emission luxury eco-resorts in rem ... Show More
37m 28s
Dec 2024
Meet Rabah Saeid: Redefining Design with Emotion
This week, we’re delighted to have the acclaimed AD100 designer, Rabah Saeid, founder of Styled Habitat, on the Design Pod podcast! In this episode, we explore Rabah’s philosophy of creating timeless and sensual aesthetics, her approach to integrating cultural context into design ... Show More
49m 21s
Mar 2024
97 Building Your Design Agency Dream Team
In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we talk about expanding your design business and building your dream team. From feeling swamped with administrative tasks to struggling to attract top-notch clients, we've all been there. If you've heard my other ... Show More
32m 37s
Feb 2025
Meet Meshary Al Nassar & Mishari Awadhi: Crafting Timeless Spaces with Elegance and Innovation.
In this episode 12, Meshary Al Nassar Creative Director & Founder and Mishari Awadhi Managing Director & Associate Architect of Studio Meshary Al Nassar share their journey of designing spaces that transcend functionality to become deeply meaningful and timeless. They discuss how ... Show More
50m 44s
Oct 2018
010: What Makes You a Designer
There are many things I do during a typical day – designing “stuff” is just one very small portion – but I still consider myself a designer more so than a project architect. Since I work at a smallish firm, everyone wears many hats and nobody has just one task or label. To be con ... Show More
53m 39s
Nov 2024
135. Creativity without limits: Finding balance and inspiration, with Khyati Trehan
In this episode, host Katy Cowan welcomes Khyati Trehan, a designer and 3D visual artist at Google Creative Lab in New York, to share a glimpse into one of the most innovative spaces in the design world. Known for her unique balance of intense creative work and personal projects, ... Show More
58m 20s
Apr 2024
102 Running a Small Design Agency with Kristy Campbell (Pink Pony Creative)
Get ready to explore the vibrant world of design entrepreneurship with Kristy Campbell, the innovative force behind Pink Pony Creative. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we uncover Kristy's journey from a solo designer to leading a successful design ... Show More
51m 59s
Apr 2025
157 What Separates $3K Designers from $10K+ Designers
Most designers stay stuck at $3K projects because they’re pricing wrong, targeting the wrong clients, and positioning themselves as just another freelancer. The difference between a $3K designer and a $10K designer isn’t design skills. It’s how they run their business. In this ep ... Show More
22m 17s