"10 Questions to an Interior Designer" is a series of short talks inspired by the series "10 Questions to...".This time our attention is turned to interior architects. In today's episode, architects from the Kontraforma studio talk about their approach to design.
Kontraforma - the team is made up of graduates of the architecture faculties of the Cracow and Wroclaw Technical Universities - Ania Białkowska, Dariusz Michałkowski, Magdalena Kuranowska and Klaudia Jarmuła. The Krakow-based studio has in its portfolio both multi- and single-family buildings, as well as a growing range of interior designs.
1 Home is for us...
A place to which we return and in which we rest. At home, the most important thing is a space just for you, created on your terms.
2.The key to a successful interior design is...
Courage and confidence. We believe that a courageous investor who trusts us 100% will get the best design. A lot for us means an uncompromising approach to forms and colors.
3 We look for inspiration....
The biggest inspiration for us is a person. The unique set of characteristics of the client allows us to look at the space in a different way. Once we know what to follow in creating an interior, we look for inspiration in the world around us. We look out for organic forms in nature - rocks, stones, soil. Inspirations for bold and strong shapes are objects we encounter, materials, cityscapes. We are often inspired by film and fashion. Everything that surrounds us, in a non-obvious way, can be a direction for creating art.
4 In cooperation with the developer, the most important thing is....
Communication. We always try to "extract" as much information as possible from the investor. We shorten the distance to get to know him better. The better we understand the client's lifestyle, the more tailored the interior will be.
5 Our favorite design style is.
For us, there is no concept of an arrangement style. We love to combine colors and shapes. Sometimes we do it in an elegant way, other times we go crazy. We hate boredom and shuffling.
6 The most valuable object in my home is....
In private life, we do not get attached to individual objects. We believe that in the interior it is experiences and memories that count. We shape a space where investors will build their history. We love objects with a soul, family heirlooms.
Magdalena Kuranowska: The most valuable to me are witnesses of history - furniture and paintings brought from Lviv during World War II. It is worth surrounding ourselves with objects with which we associate memories and thoughts.
7 The most common mistake made when decorating interiors yourself is....
We see several such mistakes, e.g., lack of zoning, monotonous compositions, unreasonable budgeting and continuing bad habits from previous apartments or family homes.
8 Our favorite material is....
We love natural materials, but also those with a twist. At the moment we're crazy about stained plywood, recycled plastic and are increasingly thinking about the return of lacobel. However, we will certainly never get tired of natural stone and wood.
The 9th trend we wish would pass away already is....
Brrr... Lacobel, loft interiors, the combination of wood and anthracite, cashmere kitchen fronts. It's a fashion that is long gone, yet still pretends to be a "modern interior". This too will get boring! Ba, it has long been bored!
10 I would like, someday, to live in a...
Magdalena Kuranowska: a house in the countryside. I dream of simple architecture, with subtle regionalism and eclectic interiors. Zero fakery and pretense.
Check out other conversations in the series 10 questions to an interior designer
