It is not the place that makes the man, but the building in which he livesMark Rees looks pretty ordinary - it's a standard house, the kind you'd find in Cardiff. So why did he choose to live here? "It's the flat - I liked it straight away. When I first saw it, it was an empty 'box' with white walls, so there was nothing to tie my imagination to. Plus, it was built in the 1960s, so I knew the retro elements I loved would fit right in."
Flower ornament
Everything at once There is so much in this interiormixed: vintage furniture and modern designer lamps, IKEA products and hand-made bedspreads. I wonder if there is any logic to this?! «I lived in Berlin for several years and fell in love with its architectural fusion: in this city, socialist-era apartment blocks and intricate Art Nouveau buildings surprisingly coexist. Another revelation for me was the Berlin bar Wohnzimmer, whose interior mixes vintage wallpaper, Louis XIV chairs and items from the 1960s and 1970s. I decided to decorate my home using the same principle». Sentimental novel So what was the starting point? «I wanted the interior to reflect my Welsh roots and childhood memories. So I based it on furniture and accessories that belonged to my family. For example, the kitchen interior is «twisted» around the table and chairs that I brought from my parents' house.
Increased activity I wonder how Markmanage to combine wallpaper with such active patterns in one interior? «As they say, risk is a noble cause! Although I must admit that from the very beginning I had no doubt about success. The most important thing is to achieve a balance between active patterns and monochromatic calm surfaces. I like interiors that tease the imagination: you enter a quiet, neutral hallway and suddenly notice something intriguing behind the half-open doors of other rooms: a bright pattern on the wall or an unusual piece of furniture». Positive balance Okay, everything is clear with the wallpaper. But the color! Where does such a love for bright colors come from? «In fact, I simply had no choice. To balance the active pattern of the wallpaper, I needed paint of an equally active color. A rich red was chosen for the living room, and when it came to the kitchen, green was added. But along with them, I used chocolate brown and soft gray; there is nothing radical about them. Color for me is not an end in itself, it should work for the overall result. By the way, I selected interior items according to the same principle.
The owner is the master. In theory, all this soundsgreat. But what is it really like to live in such an apartment? «I travel a lot, spend a lot of time in the studio, and my evenings are usually devoted to various meetings. Only a few hours are left for quiet leisure at home, but that makes them even more valuable to me! The main advantage of this apartment is the variety of sensations. I am constantly shuttling between the bedroom and the study, the kitchen and the living room. And I get great pleasure from it!»
HOW TO WORK WITH ORNAMENTS
If you choose wallpaper with an active pattern, do nottry to cover the entire room with them - such a lekor is too tiring for the eyes. Another important point: patterns used in one interior should not look like twin brothers, otherwise they will merge into a "mush". You will achieve a much more interesting effect if you take wallpaper and fabrics with different types of patterns.
HOW TO WORK WITH COLOR
If you really love red,azure blue or, say, jaw-dropping green, let this passion speak out loud. No need to "muffle" the bright paint with whitewash - instead of the shade of your dreams, you will only get its pale shadow. It is much better to alternate brightly colored surfaces with neutral ones.
