Alevtina Grishina: You don’t get what you want; you get what you are really dreaming about!

Many creative individuals and organizations showcase the impactful fusion of well-being with design and creativity. These forward-thinking professionals actively engage with their communities, pushing for a shift in mindset fueled by a collective desire for positive transformation. Dive into these cutting-edge approaches that showcase the powerful connection between outstanding design and the nurturing concept of well-being with Alevtina Grishina, a Carpenter, Decorator, and Object Designer whose talent and craftsmanship in the realm of design and crafts inspire awe and admiration. Her creations exude sophistication, originality, and individuality, captivating attention and earning acclaim in the design sphere. Alevtina will discuss today what it means to craft something that seamlessly fits into the puzzle of one’s living space, like the missing piece that completes the picture.

Object Design – love from the start

Alevtina was born in Russia, and after obtaining 2 degrees in biotechnology and veterinary medicine there, she discovered her true calling in Object Design. Already having a scientific background, she was eager to do something new, and her creative mindset led her to pursue a career in design. Crafting console tables became her path to success, earning her recognition and gratitude from those around her.

Alevtina Grishina states: ‘Object design to me embodies the crafting of functional pieces of art.’

It all started with Pinterest in 2017-2019 when she was renovating her home. Alevtina shares: “Pinterest was filled with various console tables, which at that time were not widely popular in Russia and therefore were not available on the market. I became obsessed with console tables – noticing them in hotels during travels abroad, excitedly pointing them out to my husband on the TV screen whenever a console table appeared in a movie. It is difficult to overstate the functionality of this piece of furniture in everyday life – it simply becomes a magnet for keys, documents, and hats!” Alevtina truly believes that for women, a console table is a special island of self-expression! It is precisely a form of creative self-expression, the domain where she can showcase her innate desire to decorate her home. She adds: ‘For a period, I focused on crafting minimalist console tables in neutral tones of white, black, and beige, which were intended to seamlessly complement any interior space. However, limiting myself to creating monochromatic tables would be a missed opportunity, so I delved deeper into the realm of object design, expanding my creativity beyond the constraints of a single color palette.’

Needless to say, a beautiful, unique, and distinctive console table itself supports this mission of creating coziness. Alevtina is convinced that a console table will find its place in any home.

During the COVID-19 isolation in 2019, there was a lot of leftover wooden material from building a gazebo at the country house, as well as plenty of free time – and woodworking became a part of Alevtina’s life. By utilizing online resources, Alevtina learned the basics of cutting and woodworking joints. The first item she made was a China cabinet, followed by furniture for the gazebo, and finally, a console table! This two-meter magnificent piece of furniture still serves as both a decoration and a stand for books, souvenirs, candles, and other wonderful items. ^[c][d]

The first furniture design and manufacturing techniques that Alevtina learned were from the course by Dina Samokhvalova called “I am a Decorator.” Self-study of the possibilities of FractalPaint materials gave the biggest boost to Alevtina’s development as a decorator, while woodworking skills helped solidify her expertise at the DIY academy. Alevtina there and continued her education with advanced training courses in the field of decorative arts, such as “Upcycling Vintage Furniture with Painting Techniques” in 2022, “Art Course” in 2022 “Tile Decor 2.0” in 2023, and many others.

Thanks to her constant desire to improve her skills, Alevtina mastered a plethora of amazing techniques: glazing, wax aging on top and between layers of paint, craquelure, inlaying, patinating, metal imitation, frescoes, wood textures, making moldings from thermoformed materials and air dry clay, the list is really endless, and this helped create her a uniquely innovative approach that involves a synergy of restoration techniques and redesign of vintage and antique furniture with woodworking craftsmanship. It is the raw wood that transforms metal imitation, frescoes, patination, crackling, and other standard techniques into unique textural solutions. The combination of sticky crackle finishes with chalky, mineral paints and water-based waxes on wood fibers allows her to disrupt standard application techniques by taking advantage of the surface porosity. Through experimentation, she arrives at unique visual effects of layering by altering the standard drying time and playing with the thickness of the applied layers. This decorating technique enables the client to have a completely new, durable piece that has never been used before but has the appearance of vintage or even antique.

Furniture with an emotional bond

A breakthrough for Alevtina as a decorator was the design of the blue table featuring a pattern inspired by W. Morris’s “Strawberry Thief.” This project marked the beginning of brand recognition, emphasizing the unique stylistic approach and the ability to create aesthetically pleasing and memorable decor pieces. After such an impressive success, Alevtina rightfully attracted a plethora of orders. Her works are not only visually appealing but also infused with individual style and talent. Alevtina’s clients appreciate her professionalism, original approach to design, and ability to create unique pieces that highlight their taste and style.

Online masterclasses, where she shares her techniques and design secrets, have gained wide reach and constant popularity. Alevtina’s desire to share knowledge and inspire others with creative ideas has helped to create a strong community of fans and supporters of her work. What’s especially essential is the deep emotional response her creativity evokes.

She recounts: “One woman wrote to me saying that I literally pulled her out of depression after the death of her husband by involving her in repainting! She repainted all the furniture in the house in light tones got involved in the process, and it’s not the easiest work—it’s physical labor that stops the racing thoughts, heavy thoughts fade away, and a pleasant fatigue sets in. The result continues to delight both the hostess and guests. I know for sure that by immersing themselves in creativity with me, people get distracted from everyday worries and problems, creating their own masterpieces under my guidance!”

Alevtina has achieved success not only in the virtual space but also by participating in various exhibitions. She says: “The recent Handmade Festival exhibition really surprised me—by the middle of the exhibition, I was left with an empty booth. Everything was sold out. The organizer told me that many people were coming to the exhibition specifically for my tables! Many approached later, when everything was already sold out, and were deeply disappointed that nothing was left.”

Don’t follow fashion. Create fashion

Alevtina’s talent and passion for design have helped her create unique and visually appealing furniture pieces that are not only functional but also visually stunning. The combination of creative vision, attention to detail, and craftsmanship in handling materials has attracted the attention of fans and experts in the field.

At present, despite attempts by competitors and clients to replicate Alevtina’s tables, she remains the only carpenter-decorator whose works consistently evoke admiration and interest from clients and exhibition visitors. These works are praised by journalists and have been successful at elite private sales.

The style and design of the console tables created by Alevtina Grishina stand out for their refinement, sophistication, and originality. Her works have become the epitome of modern design, blending elements of modernity, elegance, and functionality. Thanks to this approach, she creates works of art that not only serve a practical purpose but also become objects of admiration and inspiration.

The designer of console tables, Alevtina Grishina, has made a significant contribution to the development of the furniture design industry with her unique creative approach and innovative ideas. Her works not only showcase a high level of craftsmanship and creativity but also influence the perception and trends in the field of table design.

Through her masterclasses, she contributes to the development of the decorating and redesign industry, helping decorative material manufacturers increase sales by popularizing new techniques and approaches to furniture styling. Her success at elite events and  exhibitions confirms the high level of her craftsmanship and influence on the design industry.

Alevtina Grishina’s story is an example of exceptional professionalism and creative inspiration, demonstrating how talent and passionate dedication to one’s craft can lead to great success and recognition.