Meet Adri Clery | Founder and Designer – Atelier Interiors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adri Clery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adri, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance was something I struggled with for years. When you work for yourself it never really stops, especially initially. I was a driven 29 year old with a big vision and would dedicate all my time and energy to building the Atelier brand, and taking on increasingly more challenging projects — often to the detriment of my own wellbeing. The design and architecture industry is renowned for demanding hours, with each project having its own share of stressful deadlines and unexpected problem solving.

There were two turning points for me, the first was deciding that I didn’t want to run a big design firm, making the decision to downscale our studio to a more boutique offering. This took about two years but allowed me to become much more selective about which projects I took on. I now have the freedom to devote myself fully to a select few special projects a year.

The second big turning point was becoming a mom. Having children really puts everything into perspective, forcing you to focus on what is most important in life. Being able to spend time and be present with my kids each day is so important to me and as such I’m very conscious about not allowing unnecessary work stress to infiltrate my home life nearly as much as it used to do.

I don’t always get it right but have now found a much healthier balance between family time, work and self care. I’ve learned to have fun and enjoy the process of creating beautiful spaces, really concentrating on the energy that I bring to the projects I design and the people that I work with.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Atelier Interiors is a multifaceted studio that offers a boutique design service to each of our clients. We believe in creating immersive, lived-in spaces full of character and depth. We have almost two decades of experience in the design & architectural industry, specialising in progressive design that pays homage to classic principals. Our strengths include carefully-considered spatial design, bold finishes, elegant & unusual forms and meticulous attention to detailing.

I’m very passionate about building good relationships. The energy that we create not only flows into the spaces that we design and the people that enjoy them, but outwards through the hundreds of local suppliers and artisans we support and work with each year.

Every project is unique. Our passion comes from bringing the client’s narrative to life through beautiful design. For us the ultimate achievement is always effortless functionality through beautiful design.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are currently living in Bali, Indonesia with a month stop in India before heading home to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of the year. Working remotely and playing tourist makes me excited about this question!

UBUD, BALI

Brunch – Zest Cafe, they have incredible live musicians from 11am on Tuesdays (best work spot!)
Lunch – Mana Earthly Paradise – incredible food and wonderful play area for the kids.
Pool day Ubud – Get a day pass to Bambu Indah Resort, enjoy lunch next to the river and soak up the sun next to the natural spring pools.
Weekend – Do a trip via ferry to Nusa Lembongan and enjoy the true island style beach and sunset vibes
Yoga – Alchemy yoga centre
Daily practice – take a walk through the lush green forest, barefoot and grounded or a sunset stroll through the expansive rice fields

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! My husband, Vincent Clery. Vincent joined Atelier as Managing Director soon after it was founded. I am, what you may refer to, as a hopeless creative and needed someone to step in and help balance the business side of the company. We weren’t married at the time and he took a great risk to pursue what was ultimately my dream. Vincent ran the business side of things, project management and administration and in doing so allowed me to focus my time on my craft. It was not always easy, it stress tested our relationship in so many ways, but we came out much stronger for it. We now have two beautiful girls, our biggest project to date.

Website: https://www.atelierinteriors.xyz/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelieradri/

Image Credits
Nicole Layman Mickey Hoyle Karl Rogers Michael Ellis