Interview with Sara Sobiech of KODO studio|PdD

Interior design draws inspiration from many different sources including art, history and nature. One of them is fashion. We talk to Sara Sobiech of KODO studio about how these two fields intermingle and how to implement fashion trends in interior design.

Kasia Szostak: Both interior and fashion designers work on the same elements - materials, colors, textures, patterns and shapes. Does this mean that an interior designer should follow fashion?

Sara Sobiech: Fashion and interior design are parallel worlds. One only has to look at current trends to see similarities in terms of colors, materials or motifs. Take, for example, the color of the year 2023 according to the Pantone Institute. Shades of fuchsia and magenta have entered the world of fashion and interiors. Previously, we mainly observed monochromatic styling and the popular shade of greige. However, this is not the only area where this two worlds intersect. Just as fashion designers give shape to a silhouette, architects give a new dimension to interiors - enlarging them, changing the optics, layout and functionality. In both cases, the base is also important, which is then styled with appropriately selected accessories. It's a good thing when clothes and arrangements are "tailored" and their users feel comfortable in them. In order for an interior designer to develop his sense of aesthetics without copying the solutions of other designers, we should draw inspiration from many sources, including, as much as possible, the fashion industry.

Interior in greige color

Kasia: How would you design an interior if a client brought a moodboard created from a fashion collection?

Sara: It is certainly necessary to ask the client which of the solutions presented on the moodboard are most important to him. Is it about colors, fabrics, textures or perhaps interesting forms appearing among the inspirations? The next step is to create a moodboard of finishing materials corresponding to the client's suggestions. It is also worth noting that we change our closet frequently, while interior finishes should be considered in the long term. At the design stage, I encourage clients to think about what materials and colors they feel best surrounded by.

Kasia: The similarities in the two fields mean that more and more fashion designers are choosing to create interior design collections. For example in Poland it was Joanna Przetakiewicz and Maciej Zień. Recently, Rebekka Bay, creative director of Marimekko, made a collection for IKEA.

Sara: Such cooperation, which also pursues marketing goals, perfectly shows how both industries are close to each other. It develops the creators' creativity, builds the brand image, introduces freshness and allows them to offer something more to users. There is a reason why both big fashion houses and popular fashion chains have their interior design brands and "home" departments.

Kasia: How do you use fashion-inspired elements such as jewelry chandeliers, gold accessories or quilting in an interior?

Sara: It all depends on the style of the interior and the investors' preferences. Consistency with other finishing elements is also important. Such accessories are like jewelry. Translating this to the fashion world, not everyone is a fan of richly decorated styles. If the client has a taste for a trend in which crystal chandeliers, gilding or quilting play a major role, the architect may suggest a glamour or modern classic style. If the investor is a fan of fashion-inspired elements that are diametrically opposed in style, such as typically colonial elements juxtaposed with colorful plexiglass, the designer's knowledge and experience are essential, as well as a more thoughtful concept. We always suggest to the client which elements harmonize with each other and which ones should be abandoned.

Gold accessories can be jewelry for the interior

Kasia: Trends in fashion pass quite quickly. Implementing them into the interior can be a way to keep those elements that we particularly like. how not to get carried away by fashion trends and create an interior that won't require changes every season?

Sara: We should build both the closet and the arrangement based on our own style, tastes, needs. The basis here is the base. It is worth thinking it over well, and then supplement it with accessories that can be changed at any time. We always give clients time to get acquainted with the design, selected materials or fabrics before proceeding. During design meetings, it is very important for us that clients see them live, check how they work with light, what they feel like to the touch, how they behave in the long term. After all, it may turn out that fabrics taken from fashion are difficult to maintain, while they work fantastically as dominants and details, such as an armchair in a bold pattern, a coffee table with an interesting form, or wallpaper that will appear on selected walls. It is worth remembering, however, that trends pass but individual style remains close to us for a long time.

We are betting on bolder colors

Kasia: Fashion trends are inspired by history, art, but also by what is currently happening in the world. After the pandemic, we noticed a turn to vibrant, bold colors. In Valentino designs, strong pink reigned supreme, sparking the Barbiecore trend. Not long after, the Viva Magenta mentioned by you before was announced as the color of the year 2023 according to Pantone. These influences can already be seen in interior collections. Do you expect a move away from earthy colors and bolder arrangements in the near future?

Sara: Over the past twelve months, I have seen quite a change in terms of boldness in the choices made by clients. Previously, the vast majority of projects were subdued, with investors assuming that they could liven it up with color or accessories over time. Now I see a complete breakthrough. More and more people are opting for a kawaii style, in which pastels and edgy forms reign supreme. Gradient has also become popular - passing through entire rooms, referring to light traveling through the interior. Semi-transparent materials have also come out of fashion into interiors, as they work fantastically with light. Such designs can be seen, for example, in the Ikea Varmblixt collection designed by Sabina Marcellis or the Transparency matters collection - Draga & Aurel, whose designs caught the attention of designers from around the world and reigned supreme at Salone del Mobile this year. Referring to the question, natural style is evolving, and designers are very unconventionally combining elements inspired by earth colors along with a range of Plexiglas colors or colored glass, which is an absolute novelty on the market. It is worth looking at these two worlds. How they inspire and intermingle with each other. This opens us up to innovative, fresh and surprising designs.