A Q&A with Andrea Yateem of STudio 502

This month, we speak with Andrea Yateem. Renowned for creating interiors that are both playful and deeply personal.

Tell us about your background in the design industry, and what led to setting up your own studio?

I began my career in fashion, where I refined my eye for colour, texture, and material storytelling. After training at the KLC School of Design in London, I founded Studio 502 in 2022, focusing on interiors that combine craft, context, and atmosphere. Alongside me, architect Jovana Boskovic has brought her expertise to several projects, and we often collaborate with artisans whose work adds depth and authenticity.

What materials, textures, or colour palettes are you currently drawn to?

I’m drawn to natural, tactile materials—walnut, stone, wool, ceramics, and hand-finished metals. My palette tends to balance grounded neutrals with moments of intensity: deep green, cobalt, warm terracotta, or inky blue. The aim is always a timeless base with a sharp accent that energises a space.

Hikira Flatweave Rug in Colour Blue - Photography by Dusko Vlaovic

 Tell us about this project - what was the brief?

Mokosh is a restaurant set in Villa Tončić, a protected Secessionist villa in Split. The brief was to bring new life to the building while respecting its heritage. Some rooms couldn’t be altered, so we layered in contemporary joinery, artworks, and furnishings that would sit in dialogue with original murals and detailing. The result is a restaurant that feels both historic and current—timeless but not frozen.

How do you approach building soft furnishings into your schemes?

Soft furnishings are essential—they ground the architecture and create warmth. Rugs and textiles bring acoustic softness, comfort, and a sense of life to a room. We look for pieces with visible craft because they connect the historic with the contemporary, as in Mokosh, where A Rum Fellow’s rug played a key role.

What advice would you give to emerging designers entering the field today?

Be curious and trust your perspective. Avoid chasing trends—focus instead on listening to the space, the client, and the context. Collaborating with artisans and makers will bring an honesty to your work that can’t be replicated.

Andrea, thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. We have loved gaining a deeper understanding of your creative process.

Our HIKIRA rug is available in both Hand-Knotted and Flatweave styles, offered in a beautiful range of colours as below.

HIKIRA FLATWEAVE IN COLOURS MIST, GREEN, BLUE, OYSTER, EMILIA, BLUSH

Each A RUM FELLOW rug is the result of a close collaboration with skilled artisans, where contemporary design meets generations of weaving expertise. Crafted with care, every rug carries a story of integrity and tradition — timeless pieces designed to enrich interiors and support the communities who make them.

Every rug is made to the highest standards of quality and integrity, certified by Label STEP and GoodWeave to ensure fair trade practices and a supply chain free from child labour. This responsible approach celebrates traditional artistry while creating pieces that stand the test of time.