Nazara Lazaro
Portrait · Interior Designer
Crafting Spaces, Shaping Stories:
Inside the Creative World of
Nazara Lazaro
In the quiet yet vibrant corners of Berlin, where creativity and mindfulness intersect, we find the unique world of Nazara Lazaro, an interior designer whose journey is as eclectic as her work. Born in the Canary Islands and raised amidst the free-spirited energy of a hippy community, Nazara's path has been one of exploration and constant evolution. From her early years immersed in the natural beauty of Tenerife to her travels across South America, her experiences have deeply shaped her approach to design—an approach that is as much about creating spaces as it is about nurturing a sense of place and self. In our conversation, Nazara shares her thoughts on the meaning of good design, the challenges of staying true to her artistic vision, and the spiritual practices that ground her in the bustling life of Berlin. Join us as we delve into the life and work of an artist who sees beauty not just in objects, but in the stories they tell and the emotions they evoke.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you grew up …
I was born and raised in Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands. During my first years, my parents lived in a hippy community. After they separated, I moved with my mom and younger brother to the south of the island, where I had a pretty normal childhood, going to the beach and playing Sims on the computer. When I was 15, I went on a month-long road trip with my dad from Chile to Brazil, crossing Argentina. That experience blew my mind and made me want to spend the rest of my life traveling and discovering different cultures.
When I returned to Tenerife, I moved in with my grandparents and finished my studies at an Arts High School. I then moved to Madrid and studied Interior Design. When I finished, I thought I should have done Fine Arts instead, but I ended up doing sculptural furniture design, so I guess I kind of did what I wanted anyway.
You work in design. What does your job look like?
When it comes to my own practice, I spend a lot of time absorbing inspiration from exhibitions, books, and things I see while traveling. When I have an idea, I start playing with shapes and materials and building some things in 3D. In recent years, I have also been using a lot of AI as a way of exploring new designs.
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What is your earliest memory that is related to design?
That’s a hard question. I was always a very sensitive and creative kid. I loved beautiful things. When I was 4 or 5, I would spend hours changing clothes in front of the mirror until I found an outfit that I liked. When I grew up and had my own room, I put a lot of effort into making it beautiful for me. Beauty and beautiful things, in general, were always very important to me. However, more than design, I think I had a very early connection with contemporary art because my aunt had an art gallery. I would visit it often and be amazed by the art pieces, which, of course, I didn’t understand.
Was it always clear to you that you want to work in this field?
More or less. I was torn between studying architecture or fine arts, and in the end, I chose to study interior design, which led me to furniture design as well. I always knew I had to do something creative, but I was not sure what that would be in the end.
What does good design mean to you?
Good design is something that touches you, survives time and trends, becomes timeless, is made of high-quality materials, and inspires others.
What does success mean to you?
Doing what you love and being able to live from it, while still having a good quality of life, and having time for yourself and others.
Do you ever doubt your art?
Yes, sometimes I ask myself if what I’m doing is good enough, but in a healthy way. I struggle a lot more with how I show my work to others and with how I present myself, on social media for example.
What do you struggle most with in being an artist?
Mental health, lol. And economic stability, of course.
Would you say that you have already found your own style that you stick with or is it a constant evolvement?
It is always evolving and changing. It’s important to have your own signature, but in my case, I also allow myself to explore and try different things. I have had a blog since 2009 where I have been collecting and archiving images that inspire me and help me explore and define my own style.
I keep updating it on instagram now.
Do you have some kind of spiritual practice?
Is psychotherapy a spiritual practice? Well, I have to say that I was always a very spiritual person, especially given the fact that I was born in a hippy community and had the hippiest parents ever. This spiritual vision of life led me to spend two months in a Zen monastery in Japan, practicing up to 15 hours of meditation per day, and then take a Vipassana retreat where I did a lot of meditation too. Right now in my life, I’m trying to keep a healthier approach to “spirituality.” So my practice is more about writing, taking a long bath when I’m stressed, doing sports… and ikebana. Yes, ikebana might be my new spiritual practice. It is a kind of active meditation, and it brings me so much joy and happiness.
You have a beautiful home in Berlin Kreuzberg with very selected items. Do you have a vision of what you want your home to look like or do you decide on pieces spontaneously?
Most of the things I have at home were impulsively purchased at some flea market, so I usually don’t have a plan. However, I have to say that I have kept a 3D model of my apartment since the time we moved in, and I have used it to design our kitchen. Sometimes, I still open the file and play around with it a bit.
What are your favorite places in Berlin?
The canal, the flea markets (especially the ones at Arkonaplatz and Maybachufer), La Maison (although it got so crowded in the last couple of years), Kitten Deli, Ryoko, Hasenheide, the Turkish Market, the Berlinische Galerie, and Mamecha in Weinmeisterstraße.
And lastly please share with us some film or book tips that inspired you.
My favorite film is called Tampopo. It’s a Japanese “ramen western movie” from the 80s. It’s really good.
