At Home with Alina Buschke

We had the opportunity to visit Alina, a young, aspiring architect, at home and let her sense of style in her charming old building apartment inspire us. In an interview, she tells us how to find your own living style and how her values are reflected in her furnishings. 

My interior design has a minimalist, linear, and monochrome character. Some would even describe my style as cold, but with a neutral color scheme and reduced design, I feel most comfortable. True to the motto: "Less is more".

Finding your own living style is something very individual. It depends enormously on your own needs for the use of the rooms. In the beginning, it is important to seek a lot of inspiration from, for example, Pinterest, interior bloggers or magazines. Collect all the pictures that you find aesthetically pleasing and create a mood board from your favorites to get a feel for the direction you want to go. Once you have found the mood you want to achieve, consider which color concept you want to choose for the room.Aim for a maximum of five colors that harmonize well with each other, create a common thread in the room, and match your personality. Focus on the materials, textures, and textiles so that they together form a coherent overall concept. If you are unsure, creating a lookbook can also help.

It is unmistakable to ask what use is intended for the room. Adjust the arrangement of the furniture to your leisure activities and focus on functionality.Do you need a reading corner or a large table for sociable evenings in a large group? The needs should be included in the planning so that the room is maximally tailored to you.

Sustainability and timeless design are important to me. I expect my furnishings to still please me in ten years and I like to invest in products that I can assume are durable. I also have a great passion for second-hand shopping.I have bought many design classics for my apartment second-hand, thus saving the environment and my own wallet.