Mila Yudina: Sculpting Interior Spaces with Emotion & Intention
people • MAKERS
Mila Yudina is a Toronto-based interior designer known for her sculptural narrative interior design approach—refined, understated, and rooted in timeless European-influenced interiors. With a background in art and design, her studio crafts spaces defined by clean lines, natural materials, and quiet sophistication. Whether designing residential or boutique commercial spaces, Mila applies a deep understanding of light, proportion, and purpose to create serene, intentional environments.
Her work reflects a commitment to materiality in interior architecture, blending subtle texture, contrast, and visual rhythm to achieve spaces that feel minimalist yet warm, elevated yet liveable. Guided by design principles that prioritise clarity, calm, and functional sculpture spaces, Mila Yudina Design offers a modern, enduring perspective on contemporary interiors.
In this interview, Mila shares the creative journey that shaped her distinct visual language—from her early influences in fashion to the development of her sculptural, detail-driven design philosophy.
Words: designeers
june 2025
WEBSITE: milayudinadesign.com
INSTAGRAM: @milayudinadesign
DESIGNEERS
Can you tell us about your creative beginnings? How did Mila Yudina Design come to life?
Mila Yudina
I grew up in a creative home and went to arts school early on, so a design path felt natural. My mother, a fashion and interior designer with projects spanning the US, Toronto, Monaco, and Italy, was my first mentor and inspiration.
I’ve always loved the arts, fashion, dance, photography, industrial design and music, and each discipline still shapes my work. I started in fashion, which led seamlessly into interiors, jewellery, and now custom furniture and lighting. I approach each project as a sculptural narrative, spending time visualising ideas before they ever reach paper. My process is all about materiality, contrast, and creating visual rhythm.
DESIGNEERS
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Mila Yudina
My work is about balancing old and new, sculpture and function. Over time, I’ve attracted clients who value originality and give me room to push boundaries with materials and texture.
With a decade of experience in construction, I think like both a builder and a designer. Every piece I create is envisioned as a “functional sculpture,” where structure meets soul. That concept guides my entire practice.
DESIGNEERS
What materials are you most drawn to, and how do they influence the character of your work?
Mila Yudina
Every project is client-driven, but I’m consistently drawn to marble, natural stone, mixed metals (chrome, stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze), walnut, white oak, and linen. Sculptural lighting, bold hardware, and curved forms are also key signatures. I have an enduring love for cobalt blue, neon yellow, amber, and lavender—those tones often sneak into my work as highlights or accents.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design hero?
Mila Yudina
Karl Lagerfeld, Zaha Hadid, and Joseph Dirand—all creators with a clear, unmistakable aesthetic. They built entire worlds around their vision, which I deeply admire.
DESIGNEERS
What’s your favourite object in your home?
Mila Yudina
Anything handmade by my daughter holds a special place. Beyond that, I love my Le Corbusier pieces, my De Sede Terrazza sofa by Ubald Klug, and a custom accent chair from my first furniture line, featuring stone arms and chrome detailing. Timeless pieces only grow more beautiful with age.
“I approach each project as a sculptural narrative, spending time visualising ideas before they ever reach paper. My process is all about materiality, contrast, and creating visual rhythm.”
Mila Yudina
DESIGNEERS
If your work had a soundtrack, what genre would it be?
Mila Yudina
It is a mix of jazz, old-school Italian artists, neo-soul, and avant-garde pop. It sets the tone—eclectic, emotional, and ever-evolving.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design hotel in the world?
Mila Yudina
Anywhere remote and near the sea. But Palazzo Margherita in Italy is a dream—intimate, cinematic, and layered with history.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite design era or movement?
Mila Yudina
Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modernism, and Mid-Century—each left a mark. Architecturally, I’m in awe of Notre Dame and Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia and creatively, Picasso and Zaha Hadid remain endless sources of inspiration.
DESIGNEERS
If you could design any space or project in the world, what would it be?
Mila Yudina
To design a civic space, an airport or train station, used daily by thousands. I’d love to create not just the building, but the furniture, flow, and experience. Something that makes people pause, feel, and remember long after they pass through.
DESIGNEERS
If you could design any space in the world, what would it be and why?
Mila Yudina
A home just for me. A manifesto in space, experimental, sensual, and authentic. A sanctuary that holds all of my design principles, free of compromise. That would be my dream.
