"How those who design every day live" is a series of short interviews with interior designers who open the doors to their apartments and homes, showing what daily life is like in the space they designed. In today's episode, Julia Holos, founder of the Julia Hołoś Wnętrza studio, shows her apartment.
The apartment of interior designer Julia Holoś
photo: ZASOBY STUDIO
1 - What does the interior you live in look like?
My apartment is 46 square meters and is located on the top floor of an urban villa in Wroclaw. It houses a living room with a kitchenette, a bedroom with a hidden dressing room, a bathroom and a separate entrance. It is a space that is one hundred percent mine - eclectic, personal, full of memories. It is dominated by shades of pink, pistachio greens , dove blue and black and white geometric accents, manifested on the floor. There are quite a few vintage elements here, as I have an extreme appreciation for items with history. Some of them come from local antique markets, others I inherited from my grandmothers. I love giving them a second life and juxtaposing them with modern examples of Polish design. The whole comes together in an eclectic fusion of childhood memories sprinkled with good design.
Apartment of interior designer Julia Hołoś
photo: ZASOBY STUDIO
2 What were the main assumptions and inspirations when creating it?
I wanted to create a place that reflects my personality. Style for me is a space of freedom. I have a slight tendency towards eccentricity. I like things that catch the eye, break the pattern and are "some". I treat clothing as a tool for expression, not just something "to wear". It was the same with my apartment. I wanted it to speak for me.
My inspiration came from childhood memories, colors and shapes I associate with my favorite Alice movie and things I already had or had collected for years. I didn't plan everything from A to Z, rather I assembled this interior from fragments that resonate with each other, creating a collage out of them. More than trends, I was guided by intuition and what I really like, what tells a story about me.
The apartment of interior designer Julia Holos
photo: STUDIO RESOURCES
3 Which elements of the interior are of particular importance - aesthetic or functional?
For me, the details are of great importance. Ceramics, functional art elements, unique vintage furniture. I love objects that have a history, even if they are slightly bitten by the teeth of time. Aesthetically, I value color the most, it builds the mood and is the main source of expression. Functionally, I focused on good lighting, hidden storage and compact but comfortable furniture that doesn't overwhelm the space. The console or tables, although small, have character and are a strong accent of the interior.
Apartment of interior designer Julia Holos
photo: ZASOBY STUDIO
4.Did you consciously use solutions beyond the current trends?
Yes. I didn't want to follow a fad, so I gave up, for example, a very neutral color palette in favor of expressive colors that are emotionally close to me. The pink ceiling in the bedroom or the graphic black and white floor in the bathroom were intuitive but thoughtful decisions. Some of the furniture or accessories used may not be "on trend," but they have a value to me that nothing from the showroom can replace.
The apartment of interior designer Julia Holos
photo by RESOURCES STUDIO
5 How does this interior change over time?
This apartment is alive. Every week the vases are filled with new compositions of flowers - always collected around the apartment, as I live surrounded by nature. Regularly, some new painting arrives, decorations rotate, candles change, sometimes I add a newly hunted vintage piece like ceramics or a table lamp. I don't treat this space as a closed project, on the contrary, I value its flexibility and the possibility of continued creation.
The apartment of interior designer Julia Holos
photo by RESOURCES STUDIO
6 Is there anything without which this interior would not be "yours"?
Certainly without color and peculiar objects, those family, personal, found, with history. And without elements of Polish design. I support our creators and love to have things around me that were created out of passion. And then there's ceramics, which I have a weakness for. It is functional, but also carries sentimental and artistic value.
Apartment of interior designer Julia Holos
photo: STUDIO RESOURCES
7 What's the most important piece of advice to give to a person who wants to create an interior close to himself - but is not a designer?
Start with what you already have and love. Don't create an interior "for a trend," but around your own emotions, memories and needs. Give yourself time: not everything has to be ready at once. And don't be afraid to mix-new with used, color with neutral, function with form. An interior close to yourself is not what's perfect, but what you just feel good in.
