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As AI and immersive tech transform creative industries, Interior Design is stepping into a bold new era, thanks in large part to pioneers like Elise Kotelnikova. As the founder of Virtualistic Interiors, Elise is blending Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Sustainability into a seamless eDesign process that’s reshaping how interiors are imagined and built across the globe.
Elise’s journey began in Las Vegas, where she ran a successful traditional interior design studio. But even then, she had one eye on the future. “About five or six years ago, I started integrating eDesign into my projects, long before it became a trend,” she explains. That forward-thinking shift laid the foundation for Virtualistic Interiors, a fully remote, tech-enabled design firm now headquartered in Dubai, serving clients worldwide.
Artificial intelligence, combined with a fully digital eDesign approach, powers nearly every aspect of Elise’s design process. From analyzing floorplans to optimizing layouts, AI helps create more efficient and sustainable spaces. The digital nature of eDesign reduces the need for on-site visits, cutting down on transportation emissions and material waste. By streamlining the entire process online, Elise can deliver smarter, more efficient designs that are both functional and environmentally conscious. This method significantly lowers the carbon footprint of each project, aligns with Virtualistic Interiors' sustainability goals, and supports a more eco-friendly design process.
Elise began exploring virtual reality in 2018 with a clear goal: to offer her design clients the ability to experience the space and design concept long before construction began. “I didn’t want my clients to face the uncertainty of not fully understanding the design, relying only on mood boards or static images. I wanted to find a way for them to truly experience the space and feel confident about the vision, without having to wait for the project’s completion,” she explains. At a time when VR was still rare in Interior Design, Elise was one of the first to adopt it, teaching herself the technology without formal training or support.
Today, Virtual Reality is a vital tool in her process, especially for large-scale projects like new developments and hotel designs. It allows clients to immerse themselves in a virtual walkthrough of the space, experiencing the design in detail before and during construction. This helps ensure clarity for both clients and construction teams, reducing miscommunication and minimizing costly errors on site. This approach helps reduce revisions, minimizes material waste, and supports a more sustainable, efficient design process. For developers, it also offers an opportunity to market and promote the project before construction begins.
By shifting to a fully digital, eDesign-based business model, Elise has broken down geographic barriers. Whether a client is in Dubai, Miami, or Milan, they can collaborate in real time, view immersive updates, and approve designs without ever leaving home. It’s a more efficient, cost-effective, and streamlined approach compared to traditional methods, while also supporting sustainability through reduced travel, minimized material waste, and fewer on-site revisions.
Beyond her practice, Elise is also an influencer and keynote speaker, presenting at industry events like the Global Architects and Builders Awards (GABA). Elise provides mentorship to design firms and individuals looking to modernize their workflows and embrace the power of AI and eDesign, offering both online training and in-person workshops for those seeking to integrate online practices into their operations.
Elise Kotelnikova isn’t just adopting technology, she’s using it to elevate purpose-driven design. With eDesign, powered by AI and VR, Elise is demonstrating that the future of interior design is not only digital, it’s innovative, efficient, and sustainable.
