A book about old alpine home interiors gave her the idea of painting a mural on one of the cafe’s wall but she found it was easier, and more effective, to break up the space into "panels".
The imagery painted in panels is a potpourri of Russian folk stories found by Boris’s wife Alona from Kyrgyzstan and Adriana, whose mother is Russian. Incorporated into the designs are drawings adapted from European-influenced images of plant and fruit tree imagery from early Maori figurative painting used in some of Turanganui a Kiwa-Poverty Bay’s meeting houses from the latter half of the 19th century.
A sunny interior with trees"Boris wanted the design to be sunny with lots of trees," says Adriana.
"I incorporated more plant forms and urns with flowers into the imagery. The urn is a universal European vessel."
With the help of Gisborne artists Kath McLaughlin, and Toihoukura School of Maori Visual Art and Design students Bronwyn Williams and Mokena Tumaurirere, Adriana painted the designs in panels on the walls.
The students were initially a little nervous about painting directly onto the wall, says Adriana.
"I said ‘we haven’t got time to worry about it. Just try to go as fast as you can. Don’t worry about making a mistake. You can wipe it off and start again. They got better and better and became relaxed with the whole process.’"
The paintings depict plants, trees, birds, deer, rural scenes and buildings in sepia tones.
"Because of our deadline, so many hands were needed with producing this much artwork, the painting grew organically," says Adriana.
A couple of panels were painted by an employee at the cafe.
They are lovely, says Adriana.
"She has a talent she should foster."
The Eastern European rusticity suggested in the images connects with the character of the tables, seats and service counter that retired farmer Keith Donaldson created from Douglas fir. Keith also helped with details such the rustic menu board frames and the giant alpine-inspired wood cabinet behind the counter.
Adriana applied to her design for the cafe interior skills she learned from art direction in film over 16 years.
The pressure and demands of art direction training for film is like training for the SAS.
"These people are highly trained. Afterwards you wonder what to do next."
Skills transferrable to interior designLeaving the film business was a mixed blessing, she says. She missed the people she had worked with but transferred her skills and experience to interior design and ran her own business for four years.
That business began when she landed the opportunity to design the interior of what is now Auckland’s popular Grey Lynn cafe, The Gypsy Tearoom.
Along with distressed paintwork to capture a sense of faded beauty, Adriana drew on a range of influences from Havana, Cuba to the pink and white terraces of early Rotorua.
Since moving to Gisborne to live with her partner, a local farmer, Adriana has designed a set for a Unity Theatre production of David Geary’s play The Learner’s Stand. The play is based around a shearer’s stage. Adriana’s convincingly lanolin and tobacco smoke seasoned timber set was an actual shearers’ platform.
A reviewer for The Gisborne Herald was so struck by the concept he considered it the star of the show.
Adriana also designed the interior of the small curio shop that features in the movie about Gisborne chess master, Genesis Potini, The Dark Horse.
To create the desired effect, Adriana and her team scoured Barwicks and A1 Mart for authentic props and furnishings.
Adriana applies to her interior designs what she learned from the film industry.
"I love working with interiors and giving them a fine art look. You give a client a one-off treasure."
