“10 questions to ask an interior designer” is a series of short lectures inspired by the “10 Questions for…” series. This time our attention is focused on the following Interior designers. In today's episode Joanna Klimczak and Jakub Kudela from JK+PARTNER Studio talk about their design approach.
Joanna Klimczak and Jakub Kudela – a duo consisting of an architect and a civil engineer. Together they run a studio that specializes in turnkey interior design and interior design. They have been in business for about 6 years. During this time they have completed more than 100 projects.
1 Home is for us.
In material terms it is a place of escape. An asylum where we can relax and isolate ourselves from the world, worries and problems. Enjoy life with your loved ones in a place designed for us. A space that coexists with us in a certain harmony and is a bit a reflection of ourselves. Interiors speak, even when we sit still.
2 The key to successful interior design is…
Joanna: It is the sum of the many “ingredients” that we have to mix together to create THIS interior. However, the most important thing for us is the relationship with the future owner. The key is conversation. We need to get to know him enough to best understand his needs, passions and expectations and then be able to suggest things that he didn't even expect.
James: The implementation of the project is a mission that is climatically comparable to the emergency room. The most important thing is the mutual trust we have with our contractors. These are years of growing collaboration.
3 We are looking for inspiration…
Joanna: Future residents are the biggest inspiration. I love the unconventional approach to interiors and looking for inspiration in inconspicuous places. For example, I designed a bathroom inspired by the game “Cyberpunk” and the film “Atomic Blonde”, but also inspired after my return from Japan, I designed a house in the spirit of “Polish Japandi”.
4 The most important thing when working with an investor is…
Joanna: Understanding his needs, getting to know him enough to be able to suggest more.
Jacob: Sincerity, clear message and positive attitude.
5 Our favorite design style is…
Joanna: We like to mix styles and create custom and individual designs. We create a mix of Japandi and Mid-Century Modern as well as minimalism with color. We love renovating townhouses. Privately, we bought a ruin and turned it into a piece of jewelry. Our interiors are often said to be warm and muted, but with a special touch that gives them a certain uniqueness. We also do interiors that are very bold, crazy and therefore inspiring.
In general, I don't like the term “arrangement styles” because, in my opinion, it limits the horizon a lot. However, I understand their purpose – they are a kind of initial compass, not a path for further consideration.
6 The most important item in our house is…
The couch! It's modular. We love sitting on it, having cozy conversations and watching movies on movie nights. It's a step up from a brick and mortar cinema! Our guests love it too.
7: The most common mistake people make when decorating their own home is…
Joanna: We assume that when we do something for the first time, we will get the same result as we see in interior design profiles or on TV. Failure to give ourselves the opportunity to make mistakes leads to frustration, intimidation, and gut-wrenching at the thought of renovating. Poles like to do everything themselves (me too!). We have a culture of overwork and “Zosia Samosia”. This is why we sometimes fall into a trap. At first we seem to save money, but then we lose twice. Renovating is a real challenge mentally and especially financially! We have so many companies, goods and services that it is easy to create a bubble.
8 Our favorite material is…
Joanna: I'm currently a fan of microcement. It's great to clean, has no joints (just expansion joints), is suitable for wet areas (even showers!) and is a much warmer material than tiles (walking on it barefoot feels like it's between plastic and wood). It only has one disadvantage: the limited choice when drawing.
9 One trend we wish would go away soon is…
Joanna: “Polish glamour”
Jacob: Imitation of marbles
10:We would like Live in… one day.
Joanna: Japan, but so regularly because we love Poland.
Jacob: A large house to accommodate and host all our family and friends for a weekend. In an atrium style, with a cinema room and a home gym. Somewhere near water, a pond, a forest.
Check out other conversations in the series 10 questions to ask an interior designer