A visit to Lukáš Kimlička

He studied fashion, worked as a designer and stylist, and today his main domain is fashion photography. Welcome to the stylish apartment of Lukáš Kimlička; we traveled all the way to Slovakia to discover his unique aesthetic and collection of glass vases.

A year ago, you left your life in Bratislava and found a home in a smaller town. Do you feel "at home" here?

I'm still getting used to it. Everything is new to me here, and it will take a while longer before I start to feel at home. But I live well here, and the feeling of home is also provided by the fact that my grandmother once lived in this apartment. Many beautiful memories are connected to it.

And what do you think makes a home?

Comfort, a sense of security, and of course, good neighbors.

"I like to combine things, materials, and structures that seem disparate at first glance."

Did you design the apartment's interior yourself?

Yes, I drew a lot of inspiration from the internet, social media, and magazines. I knew I wanted to preserve the feeling that my grandmother had lived in the apartment, meaning some original elements should remain. At the same time, it was important to me that it be modern and tailor-made for me.

And where did your passion for interior design come from?

I've had a connection to beautiful things since childhood. I studied fashion design, so I suppose I have some sense of aesthetics. I like to combine things, materials, and structures that seem disparate at first glance. I enjoy minimalism, but at the same time, I also like maximalism. When furnishing the apartment, I often faced the dilemma of which direction to take. I think I chose a happy medium. :)

What three words would you use to describe your apartment?

Cozy, clean, stylish.

The bedroom in neutral colors is complemented by Lejaan bedding collections Father's Playground, Deep Secret, and Afternoon Storm.

How often do you change, move, or rearrange things in the apartment?

Quite often. I try to find a permanent place for things, but I still have the urge to constantly change something in the apartment and move furniture, decorations, or pictures on the wall. I am quite indecisive about some things, and I always feel like I have to constantly improve something here.

What piece for the apartment did you search for the longest?

I searched longest for a marble table for the study. I couldn't find one anywhere that was exactly what I envisioned. In the end, I had it custom-made according to my own design.

Lukáš's study and custom-made marble table.

Where in Slovakia can you find the best second-hand items?

There are many second-hand shops in Slovakia where you can find vintage furniture or home accessories. One such place is in Malacky, where I live. For example, I bought the lamp on my bedside table in the bedroom there.

I bought other pieces of furniture through design stores that offer renovated vintage furniture imported, for example, from Italy. And I went to Košice for chandeliers; I bought them through Bazoš.

How did your collection of glass vases come about? Do you have all of them displayed?

Glass fascinated me back in high school. Even then, I told myself that if I ever had my own apartment, I would definitely want a lot of glass in it.

I bought the first vase online. I was surprised by its low price, so I started collecting vases made of studio glass. It slowly became a passion, and I learned about the names of individual collections, as well as the names of the artists and glassworks where the vases were blown. Over time, it became increasingly difficult to find them, and prices went quite high. I still have many vases stored away; I don't have enough space to display all of them, so I will probably have to have new shelves made.

Glass vases of all shapes and colors adorn an entire wall of Lukáš's study.

What piece of furniture or accessory are you looking for now?

I think I have everything I need. So I'm not looking for anything. But I still follow vintage furniture websites and visit various second-hand shops. It fascinates and inspires me at the same time.

Did you make anything in the apartment yourself?

The only thing I made in the apartment myself is the door frames in the bedroom. Basically, I just covered the old frames with decorative moldings and painted the whole thing white.

The Woven Monocolour collection brings new texture and a cozy feel to the interior.

What do you think makes any space cozy?

Definitely accessories. At first, I avoided accessories in the apartment, fearing it would be cluttered, but without them, it looked sterile and absolutely unwelcoming. I resisted pillows on the sofa and curtains, and now I can't imagine it without them. I think home textiles make any space cozy.

And what should everyone have at home?

A big bed. I always told myself that when I furnished my own apartment, I would want a bedroom that looked like a hotel room. With a big bed and lots of pillows.