‘Perfect’ design

A talented designer once told me that I should start living out my passion for design by trying to furnish my flat to perfection.

I didn’t ask what he meant by the term ‘perfect’. I knew he wanted me to recognise spaces, to perceive them consciously and to design every metre with care. Regardless of whether I was following a particular style or not, I always assumed that the space itself came first. That’s why it’s important to recognise the spatial conditions and work with them. I began by consciously taking in the rooms in my own flat and asking myself whether I was making perfect use of every metre, and whether more or fewer pieces of furniture would serve perfection. In doing so, the concept of ‘perfect’ was constantly being redefined for practically every room. It dawned on me that there had to be a common thread running through my flat and that I had to make a certain style the central theme of my living space. I soon realised that merely emulating certain styles meant nothing more than adopting a style without it actually resonating with me. For the first time, I asked myself what ‘perfect’ actually meant to me. And I came to the conclusion that ‘perfect’ meant, on the one hand, doing justice to the room itself with its given characteristics – being able to perceive and acknowledge it as it is, with all its features – and, on the other hand, being able to live a style that I liked, one that blended well into the space but, above all, suited my taste and made no compromises on comfort. A style that appeared aesthetically pleasing, light and fluid to the eye, yet had just enough character to justify its existence.

I’m a huge fan of modernity, pure elegance, clean lines, floating furniture and delicate textures. At the same time, however, I’m thrilled by substantial stones such as marble or granite, and I’m fascinated by antique chests of drawers. I’m also enthusiastic about new, young designers who, driven by their passion, develop sustainable, perfect solutions that don’t necessarily cater to opulence. For me, however, one doesn’t exclude the other. At most, you might ask yourself whether one can really be combined with the other. Ultimately, though, it should be about finding a way to live the style that’s perfect for you, without having to compromise who you are.

I’ll soon be furnishing a new flat – my own – to perfection. Stay tuned. It’s going to be an exciting journey. I’m really looking forward to it.