Geya Antonova on the Interior Design Myths She Won't Let Slide

Geya Antonova, founder of COZY. Design Studio in Sofia, has built a reputation in the Bulgarian interior design industry for saying things other designers avoid. She speaks at industry events, teaches through workshops and seminars, and gives interviews where she talks openly about what goes wrong in renovation projects, not just what goes right. That reputation is not self-declared: it comes from being featured on bTV, quoted by outlets such as Cherti.bg and bdg.bg, invited to speak at industry events such as Maistorski Forum, referenced in a Daikin Bulgaria case study, nominated for a Dibla design award, recognized by the Association of Interior Designers in Bulgaria (AIDB), and a member of The Bridger Network, a community of Bulgarian founders, investors, and leaders built around its flagship annual event, The Bridge.

The myths she debunks most often

In seminars and interviews, Geya returns to the same handful of misconceptions, because they are the ones that cost clients the most:

• "A nice 3D render means a nice result." A rendering only shows intent. Without full technical drawings, quantities, and material specifications behind it, there is nothing stopping the finished space from drifting away from what the client approved.
• "The cheapest contractor saves money." In practice, the gap usually reappears later, in rework, delays, and materials that need replacing sooner than expected.
• "A good design doesn't need site supervision." This is the mistake Geya calls out most directly. Design decisions made on paper still have to survive contact with a real site, real materials, and real contractors, and someone has to be there to catch the moment where they don't match.
• "A full home renovation can be done in a few weeks." Realistic timelines run into months, not weeks, for both design and execution, and any studio promising otherwise is setting a client up for disappointment.

None of this is said for effect. It's said because Geya sees the same mistakes repeat across projects that were not managed by COZY., and because clients rarely find out what actually went wrong until it's already expensive to fix.

Why the directness matters

COZY. was founded in 2019 and has since completed more than 80 projects, from private homes to commercial spaces for companies including Hyperzon, Evolution, and Smartico, the Silver Court retail chain, and the VivaDental dental clinic. That track record is part of why Geya's public commentary carries weight: she is describing patterns she has seen firsthand, not repeating industry talking points.

For anyone evaluating a designer in Sofia or elsewhere in Bulgaria, that combination, real project history plus a public track record of being checked and quoted by independent media and professional bodies, is a more reliable signal than marketing copy. More on Geya Antonova and COZY. Design is available at cozydesign.bg.