February 14, 2023

Interview with Lukáš Kimlička at his home

Lukáš Kimlička studied fashion, then worked as a designer and stylist and, today, his main domain is fashion photography. This time, we headed off to Slovakia, to see his unique aesthetics and wonderful glass vase collection. Come look inside Lukáš’s stylish apartment!

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

I'm still getting used to it. It’s all new for me here and it’ll take while before I completely ‘fit in’. But I like living here and the fact that my grandmother used to live in this apartment helps boosts the ‘at home’ feeling. I have many fond memories linked to this place.

What makes a home?

Feeling good, safe and sound. And, obviously, good neighbours.

Did you design this interior yourself?

Yes, I did, inspired by things I saw on the internet, on social media and in magazines. I wanted to preserve its original elements, the ones that remind me of the fact that my grandmother lived here, whilst at the same time creating a modern and tailored-to-my-needs look.

Where does your passion for interior design come from?

From a very young age, I've had a soft spot for nice-looking things. I studied fashion design, so I guess I have a certain sense for aesthetics. I love to combine items, materials and textures that look, at first, to be unlikely to match. I like minimalism, but I also like maximalism. When I was designing this apartment, I often faced the two-way dilemma, not knowing where to go. I think I chose the somewhere in-between option:)

What three words describe your apartment?

Cosy, clean, artistic.

How often do you change and move things around in your apartment?

Quite often. Though I like to determine a permanent place for everything, I still often feel the urge for change, so I move around with furniture, decorations and pictures on the wall. I'm pretty indecisive about some things and always feel there’s room for improvement.

Which item here is your most searched and longed for?

I spent ages looking for a marble desk for my study. I didn’t come across any that would fit my idea of the ideal one. So, in the end, I had one custom-made, based on my own design.

Where in Slovakia can one pick up the nicest second-hand decor?

There are plenty of vintage decor shops in Slovakia, where one can find wonderful vintage furniture and home decor items. There’s one here in Malacky, where I live. It’s where I bought the lamp I have on my bedside table in the bedroom.

I bought some of my furniture from designer stores that refurbish vintage furniture imported from Italy. And I went as far as Košice for my chandeliers, which I bought online through Bazoš.

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

I became fascinated with glass decor at college. In those days, whenever I imagined the design of my own place, I knew it would be full of glass items.

I bought my first vase online. I was surprised by how little it cost, so I decided to start collecting solid glass vases. Slowly, it turned into my hobby. I familiarized myself with the names of each collection, the names of their designers and the glassworks where the vases were blown. As time went on, it became harder to get a hold of them, and their prices went up. I have a lot of vases stashed away, because there’s nowhere left to display them all here. I'll probably have to get some more shelves made!

What piece of furniture or home accessory are you on the lookout for now?

I think I have everything I need. So, I'm not actually looking for anything. But I still like to browse vintage furniture sites and visit vintage decor shops. They fascinate and inspire me.

Did you make anything in this apartment yourself?

The only thing I made myself here, is the door frames in my bedroom. I basically just put ornamental mouldings on the old door frames and then put a coat of white paint over them.

What makes any interior look cosier?

Undeniably, its accessories. I avoided adding accessories at first, fearing they would make the apartment look cluttered. However, it looked too sterile without them and utterly lacked cosiness. I had no cushions or curtains, but now I can't imagine the place without them! I think home textiles make any space look cosier.

And what should every home have?

A big bed. I always promised myself, that when I’d be designing my own place, I would have a bedroom that would look like a hotel room. With a big bed and a bunch of pillows.