THE PASSION FOR LIVING

• date
  November 13 2025
• publication
  VENEZIA NEWS
• author
  Mariachiara Marzari
• ORIGINAL CONTENT
  EXTERNAL LINK

A Interiors: Saudi heritage and global design woven together in beauty

At Palazzo Mora, as part of ECC’s Time Space Existence platform, Portal by A Interiors is an invitation to travel through Saudi traditions, craftsmanship, cultural values, identity, and art. An interview with Alanoud Khalid Mishaal, founder of A Interiors.

Craft is not about nostalgia; it’s about continuity – preserving identity through creation.
At Palazzo Mora in Venice, as part of the Time Space Existence platform of the European Cultural Centre, Portal by A Interiors revolves around portals, both tangible and symbolic, serving as a threshold between the past and present. It is a testament to resilience in the face of transformations. The project explores this world not in words, but through a multi-sensory language informed by design, symbolism, and visual storytelling. Each portal becomes a passage through time, connecting ancient heritage with contemporary expression and encouraging contemplation of what is carried forward, transformed, or reimagined. Thanks to careful spatial design, the exhibition offers an immersive experience, where each threshold reveals different layers of meaning, reflecting the rich history, survival, and adaptation of Saudi culture in the modern world.

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Prince Sultan University in 2010 followed by an MBA from Al Faisal University in 2013, Anoud Khalid Mishaal honed and perfected her craft by freelancing on design projects. An appetite to do more paired with a vision to conceptualize, orchestrate and develop multi-functional spaces that balance form and function led Anoud to establish A Interiors. The firm’s driving purpose was not to merely design and decorate residences and functional spaces, but to define and enhance lifestyles. A Interiors’ continued success is attributed to Anoud’s contagious enthusiasm, eye for detail and hands-on styling approach, as she tells with equal enthusiasm in the interview below.

What is the idea behind A Interiors brand? What elements define its character and style?
A Interiors was created from the belief that design should feel personal, emotional, and enduring – grounded in culture while embracing evolution. The brand lives at the intersection of heritage and modernity, where spaces become stories told through materiality, proportion, and sensory experience. Its character is defined by the tension between softness and structure, restraint and warmth, minimalism and memory. Natural textures, handcrafted details, and thoughtfully sourced vintage pieces form our design language, celebrating authenticity and the beauty of imperfection. Each project is approached as a narrative – layered, intuitive, and deeply connected to the people who inhabit it. The result is an aesthetic that is quiet yet compelling: spaces that invite reflection, honor craftsmanship, and pair sophistication with comfort. Above all, A Interiors creates environments that feel lived-in, loved, and lasting – where simplicity carries soul.

What are the fundamentals of your vision of living space, balancing modernity and tradition?
I see living space as a dialogue – between past and present, structure and softness, innovation and identity. Modernity and tradition are not in contrast; they complete one another. A space becomes timeless when it acknowledges where it comes from while confidently imagining what comes next. In Saudi Arabia, heritage is all around us – in the textures of the land, in artisanal knowledge, and in the profound culture of hospitality. I reinterpret these roots through a contemporary lens, using light, proportion, and craftsmanship to give familiar elements a new voice. The goal is not to replicate the past, but to evolve it with intention and sensitivity. When design honors culture and responds to the way people truly live, balance emerges naturally – quiet, grounded, and deeply human.

What inspires you the most in your creative process?
My inspiration is shaped by lived experience – travel, art, nature, and human connection. Greece continually influences my palette: sun-baked tones, raw textures, and the serenity of land meeting sea. Paris inspires my love of curation – where the discovery of a single vintage object can spark the direction of an entire space. Most profoundly, my Saudi heritage anchors me. The warmth of gathering, the intimacy of craft, and a cultural memory carried in materials and forms. Inspiration, for me, is not only visual – it’s emotional. It’s the calm of filtered light on stone, or the beauty created when the old and the new are allowed to speak to each other. My work becomes a tapestry of these influences – rooted, tactile, and personal.

What role do traditional and custom materials, as well as craftsmanship, play in your design and in the creation of architectural and furnishing elements?
Craftsmanship is the heart of A Interiors. Materials hold memory – whether stone, wood, or metal – and the hands that shape them give a space its soul. Working closely with artisans allows us to blend traditional techniques with contemporary forms, ensuring each piece feels both culturally resonant and relevant to how we live today. Custom elements bring distinctiveness to every project – designed for a specific place, purpose, and story. This fusion of heritage and innovation results in environments with depth: tactile, authentic, and quietly luxurious. Craft is not about nostalgia; it’s about continuity – preserving identity through creation.

How do you balance functionality with beauty in your designs?
For me, functionality and beauty are inseparable. A space must first support the life within it – through comfort, flow, and the intuitive placement of every element. By understanding how people gather, move, and feel, function becomes the foundation from which form can flourish. Beauty arises through the senses – the feel of a material, the shift of daylight across a surface, the acoustics of a room, the subtlety of scent. When these elements are orchestrated with intention and restraint, practicality transforms into poetry. True beauty is not decorative – it is lived, experienced, and felt.

Your presence on the Time Space Existence platform during the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale – what does being part of this context mean for A Interiors? Which emblematic projects are you presenting?
Being part of Time Space Existence at the 2025 Architecture Biennale is a defining moment for A Interiors – a chance to engage in a global conversation on design, culture, and the evolving relationship between heritage and contemporary living. Our installation, Beyond the Portal, reinterprets Saudi traditions through a modern architectural language, inviting visitors to explore the idea of passage – between past and future, craft and innovation, memory and possibility. The portal acts as both symbol and structure, using materials, light, and spatial rhythm to show how cultural identity can be honored while continually moving forward. Venice offers a powerful platform to share this perspective – positioning A Interiors alongside international voices while representing the rising creativity and vision of Saudi Arabia.