Nadia Kuzenets is an associate professor at the University of Louisiana School of Architecture and Design at Lafayette, where she teaches interior design.
She is originally from Russia and came to Lafayette in the early 1990s via Ukraine. Nadia loves to apply her creativity to everything she does, especially her garden and cooking.
She is Vice President of Designing Women of Acadiana, a group of women in creative fields who come together to expand women’s horizons and harness the power of design and its impact on social and economic issues. They also have a lot of fun and have created a vibrant community around what they do. You can find it on Facebook.
Nadia is a pleasure to be around, she is hard working and visionary and I always learn something from her.
What was your first job? I worked in the Black Sea port, for ship shipments, during my first summer after graduation.
Describe a typical day in your life. Always have tea in the morning, followed by walking my dog. We talk for the rest of the day. Playing with the dog. Gardens.
What advice would you give your little one? trust yourself more; Others are not better.
What most happened in your life shaped who you are now? It is not a single event, but a series of events. First, allowing me to be independent at a very young age, then being a nomad my whole life, and finally, being alive after brain surgery
What values do you live by? Kindness to people, nature and animals
What do you value most? Experiences and sharing life with others
What is your favorite excursion? The journey itself, not the destination.
Where is your favorite place to be alone? Walk along the streets of any big city.
What live shape inspires you the most? Contessa Barefoot, Ina Garten.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Life will pass quickly, so don’t waste time.
What book would you ask everyone to read? Any good book, preferably borrowed from our local library.
What is the best thing about where you live? I love luscious evergreen foliage and am not a sterile American city.
How do you “let the happy times roll?” Good food, true friends and plenty of wine
What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a designer.
What is your motto? “Be yourself and not a copycat of someone else.”
How would you like to be remembered? I would kindly remember.
What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself? What is the alternative?
What are the three things vital to being you? curiousity; openness. kindness
Which words or phrases do you use the most? “etc etc etc”
What is your favorite word? imagination
What do you collect? Plates and cups of tea
What food can you live on for a month? macaroni
What do you want to change about yourself? Nothing really. Everything is asleep now.
Which literary, cinematic or cartoon character do you know the most? Nobody
Describe yourself in five words. smiling; sincerity; pattern; Stay in power and imagination.
What is your idea of happiness? A day at the beach
What is your favorite movie? Any good romantic comedy?
What music defines who you are? Classical (true cruciform), s. Rachmaninoff
Who is your example in fashion? Annie Lennox and English actress Charlotte Rampling
What do you regret the most? ‘There are no regrets, only lessons learned.’
What is the question I wish I had asked? How do you deal with life going so fast?
What would the answer be? Learn to slow down.