The Zhytomyr company “Interdesign“, as its manager Lyudmila Boyko said, was able to stay afloat last year – perhaps the most difficult in its history – as they say, afloat, resuming its usual furniture work after a break of several weeks, large thanks to brave customers. And she explained why she was brave. These are pre-war orders. Most of the customers who made them – some earlier, some later – still dared to complete the planned interior design projects of their homes, despite the war and all the difficulties it caused. Their gradual completion provided the company with work almost until mid-autumn. And there began to be new clients who were not deterred by the war from wanting to live the way they want and to invest considerable funds in it, not without risks. There were cases, as Ms Lyudmila said, when clients were still abroad, and the company furnished their apartments without their presence.

– We do not manufacture serial, but non-standard furniture – for specific interior projects, delivering objects on a “turnkey” basis. When they decided to start work in April, they had to reorganize to a large extent due to the fact that the male part of the team was mobilized. In general, during the war, the company’s staff was reduced by three times, but it still did not paralyze production.

They were forced to select new ones to replace those who were taken into the army, but two of the newcomers who had just adapted to work adapted to the team learned something, were also mobilized.

But despite all the current difficulties, the company successfully implements residential projects of customers – often unique ones, creating beautiful and functional furniture for them.

– With the beginning of the war, prices in the furniture industry increased due to the increase in the price of materials and components, especially imported ones. You completed the pre-war projects at the prices stipulated in the pre-war contracts.

– We fulfilled all pre-war orders as stipulated in the price parameters before the war. And this is due to the fact that they had a sufficient supply of materials and components purchased in advance of the war. Of course, we conclude new contracts taking into account current realities. And again, as soon as we receive prepayments, we try to purchase everything necessary for a specific project, because the prices for everything are unstable these days – they are not decreasing in price. Almost everything needed for furnishing can be purchased in Ukraine today. If we do not find something, we select analogues, change the structure of the products or the design, and coordinate, of course, with the client.

You know, there are more problems in this regard not so much with materials and components for furniture production, but with built-in household appliances and sanitary ware, with which we equip objects. Probably, due to the fact that many warehouses with purchased household appliances were destroyed by the enemy, and their suppliers do not risk importing them to Ukraine en masse.

– Are the furniture projects that you implement for private customers developed by your own designers, or do you take on projects offered by other designers?

– The company has its own staff of designers. Although there is an intention to start cooperation with other designers, design bureaus and studios. Unfortunately, nowadays there is simply not enough time to do it up close. But I will not abandon this intention.