Polski
Symmetry, harmony, tranquility, austerity are the main features of the japandi style. It is a response to the hustle and bustle of today’s world and the challenges of civilization. Interiors decorated in this way bring solace, allow you to truly relax and understand that less is more. Paula Steuer, an artist photographer, talks about living with passion and her own apartment decorated in japanese style, in cooperation with Majewski Furniture and Interiors.
You are a photographer, specializing mainly in wedding photography.
Yes, and in this area I also have a rather narrow specialization. I primarily focus on international, foreign weddings. Photographs of such events are extremely interesting, they also allow me to look at what is going on around me from a slightly different perspective. Photographing just such celebrations is pure fun, I absolutely love doing it. Such colorful, non-standard circumstances also allow me a lot of artistic freedom.
Editorial recommends: GentleWoman’s dream bedroom – How to create the perfect interior for sleep and relaxation?
Multiculturalism has also influenced the design of your apartment.
A few years ago I decided to do an internship with one of the best photographers in the world. It was held in Mallorca. My husband and I, as a result, had the opportunity to live on the island for a bit. We absolutely soaked up the Spanish climate. We liked immensely how the apartments there are decorated. Minimalism, brightness, concrete structures, wood dominate. When we were deciding what style we could have our apartment decorated in, we naturally gravitated toward japanese. We saw a hint of Mallorca in it.
Majewski Furniture and Interiors Group Contractor: A japanese-style interior is a combination of minimalist aesthetics and functionality. The key is to maintain harmony and balance between the rawness of the materials and the warmth of natural elements such as wood. Our challenge was all of Ms. Paula’s suggestions and ideas for proportions and consistency, so that the space was both cozy and orderly.
How did you translate island minimalism into the design of your own apartment?
For example, we introduced a lot of microcement – we have it everywhere: on the floors, wall and ceiling. A lot of wood has also arrived – that’s in terms of materials. And the spouts and curves – on the subject of form and dominant shape. Plus the laths, made by Majewski Furniture and Interiors, which gave some lightness and provide a beautiful background for the details. And then there are the plants – there must be as many as possible. Palms or strelitzias – species associated with a warm climate.
I imagine that the apartment is dominated by beiges, browns and whites, all interspersed with dark greens.
That’s just the way it is. This makes our apartment a great place to relax. Nothing distracts you, you can really calm down. And this was also the goal, which was realized perfectly. The heart of the project is the kitchen with an island – white rules there, but even here we decided to interweave it with wood, which is a basic material in the apartment, a design leitmotif. We also introduced it in large quantities into the space where we work. We wanted lightness to prevail in it as well – that’s why there are a lot of open shelves and elements that let the light through. All forms were made with the utmost care, so that they are comfortable and durable. These are also features of the japandi style: comfort combined with high quality. The sides of the desk, on the other hand, are covered with thin planks, which makes the design seem more delicate.
The apartment gives the impression of being very harmonious and orderly.
This is thanks to a lot of well-thought-out spaces for storing things – everything that often stands outside and gives the impression of chaos, here is enclosed. But again, we have lightness – because, for example, some of the cabinets, i.e. large units, are covered with mirrors, so that we got an optically enlarged space and relieved the heaviness of the generally heavy surfaces. Everything in our house has its place – there is perfect order. And this is precisely a matter of great design, which fit into our ideas about the interior, which is certainly due to good cooperation with the design and construction company. We have room for all the cleaning equipment and detergents, clothes and trinkets. This way we make room for breathing. There are no unnecessary things in sight. Instead, there is harmony – of shapes and colors.
There is a lot of playing with the eye, playing with the image – just like in photography.
I guess it’s already a bit intuitive – when creating a design, I turn it into an image. Everything here had to form a cohesive composition – from the big things, like the aforementioned cabinets, to the smaller things, like the dressing table or the smaller cabinets, like those in the bedroom. “The dot over the i” is a picture frame that matches the whole. Our vision was turned into reality really on a medal, and, since as a finished element it was not possible to purchase it was made and delivered to us personally by the owner of the company Mr. Majewski – which was also very nice and confirmed that this realization was very important not only for us.
Majewski Furniture and Interiors Group Contractor: When realizing a japanese-style interior, the process begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s needs. This style, which combines Japanese aesthetics with Danish minimalism, requires special attention to detail and careful selection of materials. The next steps include choosing the right raw materials, planning the functional layout and working on details that emphasize minimalism and harmony in the space. One of the key elements of the realization was the decision to use Polish natural oak. This noble material not only perfectly harmonizes with the idea of japandi, combining natural beauty with simplicity, but also adds a unique character to the interior. Polish oak, known for its durability and aesthetics, was used in both the furniture and finishes, emphasizing the warmth and authenticity of the space. The biggest challenge for us was to find the golden mean when realizing the kitchen furniture between minimalism and functionality – Ms. Paula’s kitchen was to be and is aesthetically pleasing, but at the same time practical for everyday use. The use of natural oak allowed us not only to achieve aesthetic consistency with the rest of the interior, but also to ensure durability and convenience of use for years.
What elements of the japanese style were key for you?
As a photographer, and therefore a person in a profession that operates with chiaroscuro, I have set my sights on unique lighting in the house. The form and shapes of the lamps, but also the materials they are made of, reflect a bit of the wabi-sabi philosophy. They are all made of natural materials and play beautifully with light thanks to openwork interlacing.
How was the cooperation with Majewski Furniture and Interiors design company, which carried out much of the project from a furniture angle?
From the very beginning, everything was in top order. From the measurements to the handover of the last cabinet, everything was done as it should be. Add to that the hassle-free contact. We are very satisfied and recommend the contractor to all our friends.
MAJEWSKI KUCHNIE I WNĘTRZA – expert advice
What is a japanese style kitchen like?
The kitchen is often the central and, it is worth noting, the most costly project in the entire apartment. Expectations are therefore many times much higher than those for other parts of the interior. Everything here must go like clockwork and be carefully thought out. Because a lot of time is spent in it, not only for cooking, but also for important conversations. Ergonomics, high quality workmanship should go hand in hand with beautiful design. Japandi is a style that does not forgive shortcomings. Japanese minimalism with a touch of Scandinavian coolness works perfectly in kitchen spaces, but every detail must be taken care of. In the project presented, the owners of the apartment wanted to organize a comfortable island in the middle and cabinets – capacious, but also reflecting the spirit of the style – light and bright. All this was done in a quality wooden setting, for which a beautiful, calm background is white surfaces. One simply wants to spend time here and experiment with the kitchen – not only in japandi style.
Editorial recommends: Coffee tables: an elegant accent in your living room
